H. 8. 12. small staffe or sticke for correction and though he do draw blood S. Br. 28. Beating of a man that is franticke 18 If a man be franticke furious or mad 22. Assise p. 56. 22. E. 4. 45. and attempteth being at liberty to burne an house or to doe some other mischiefe or to hurt himselfe or others it is lawfull for his parents kinsmen and other friends to take him put him into an house to bind him and to beat him with rods to doe any other forcible act to reclaime him or to kéep him in a house or place alone where he shal do no hurt And he shall haue not action of trespasse of assault and batterie action of false imprisonment nor other remedie against them for in this case and the others before rehearsed the peace of the realme was not broken but a lawfull punishment was inflicted vpon those who had deserued it to the end they should be reformed and hereafter doe their duties the better Beating of one that will not yéeld to arrest 19 If one man do enter a plaint against another in a court hauing iurisdiction to hold plea of that suit 2. E. 4. 6. 21. H. 7. 39. and the Sergeant of the court doth arrest the defendant and the defendant will draw his sword to defend himselfe and after doth run away with intent to escape from the Sergeant if in this case the Sergeant and he that did enter the plaint do pursue him beate hurt him if he will not be apprehended and yéeld to the arrest they may iustifie the same in an action of Trespas of assault and batterie for they haue not broken the peace nor offended the Law in séeking to iustifie him who doth attempt to flie from the justice and indifferent triall of the law But if the partie had not béen arrested the Sergeant nor any other with him could haue iustified the beating of him 38. H. 6. 25. 20 In an action of Trespas of assault and batterie the defendant pleaded Beating of a seruant departing out of his seruice that the plaintife was his seruant retained departed out of his seruice and that he laid hold vpon him and led him home to his house to doe his seruice But this was adiudged no plea for it is not lawfull for the Master in this case to beate or forciblie to compell his seruant against his will to returne and do his seruice but to require him to do it and if he will not then the Master may haue an action of Couenant against his seruant and recouer so much in dammages as he hath receiued hinderance by the losse of his seruice But by the statute made AnÌ„ 5. Sta. 5. El. 4. Eliz. it is ordeined That if any seruant retained to serue in husbandry shall depart from his master mistresse or dames seruice before the end of his terme vnlesse it be for some reasonable and sufficient cause to be allowed by a Iustice of peace of the Countie or the Maior or other head officer of the Citie borough or towne corporat wherein the said Master mistresse or dame inhabiteth Or if any seruant at the end of his terme depart from his master mistresse or dames seruice without one quarters warning giuen before the end of his terme and before two lawfull witnesses Then vpon complaint made by the said Master c. to two Iustices of peace of the Countie or to the Maior or head officer of the citie borough c. they or any of them shall haue power to heare and examine the matter and finding the said seruant or the partie so refusing faultie in the premisses vpon such proofes and good matter as to their discretions shall be thought sufficient to coâ—mit him toward there to remaine without baile or mainprise vntill he shall be bound to the partie to whom the offence shall be made to continue with him for the wages limitted by this statute and then to be discharged vpon his deliuerie without paying any fée to the Gaoler where he shall be so imprisoned And as the Master cannot by beating nor by force compell his seruant 38. H. 6. 25. 21. Ass p. 85 to serue him against his will No more can a Lord compell his ward A Gardian may not beat his ward by beating or by force to come vnto him or to tarie with him against his will But if he doe depart from him then his Lord is to haue his action against him 22. Ass pla 59. 27. Ass p. 4. Fitz Trespas 238. 21 H. 6. 39. 21 If A. commaund procure or hyre B. to smite Commaundement of batterie or beate C. and he doth assault and beate C. in the presence of A. In this case C. may haue an action of Trespas of assault and batterie against A. and recouer dammages against him or against A. and B. together for here the peace was broken and wrong done to C. by the meanes and perswasion of A. And B. had not striken with his weapon if A. had not first striken with his tongue And the same law is if A. go to fight with C. and desireth B. to go with him and after doth méete with C. and doth assault and beate him In this case C. may haue an action of Trespas against A. and B. together or against B. alone though B. did not assault C. nor giue him any blowe and recouer dammages against him because he came in company with one that intended to breake the peace and to doe an vnlawfull act Hurting at some exercise 22 If two or more doe agrée together to runne at tilt iuste barriers Fitz. barre 244. or to play at backsword bucklers footebal or such like one of them doth beat bruise or wound an other the party grieued shal not haue an action of Trespas of assault batterie against the other for that it was a combate by consent put in practise to try their strength valour or agilitie not to break the peace But if the same day or some other after that the pastime is at an end they departed a sunder one will assault or beate an other in respect of some wrong conceiued to be receiued in the time of the said play then an action of Trespas of assault battery may be pursued by him that is so beaten against the trespassor Whipping of a Vagabond 23 In an action of Trespas of assault battery it is a good plea for the defendant to plead that the plaintif was by the stat made An. 39. St. 39. El. 4. El. intituled an Act for punishment of Rogues Vagabonds sturdy beggers declared to be a Rogue Vagabond or sturdy begger that he was taken begging vagrant misordering himselfe at L. in the County of N. that vpon his apprehension by the appointment of A. B. one of the Iustices of peace of the said County of N. or of the Constable Headborough or
Leges Aluredi cap. 7. That if any man did strike or draw a weapon of iron to strike in the Kings pallace the King might it he pleased put him to death 29 Because they which vpon the Kings commaundement do come to his councell or vpon his summons doe resort to his Parliament doe make their repaire thitherto further the wealth and peace of the Realme it hath béen therfore thought reason that during the time of the said councel Parliament they should not be depriued of that peace which they endeaour to procure to others and themselues Assault vpon one which cōmeth to the Parliament Wherefore by a Statute made Anno 11. H. 6. Stat. 11. H. 6. 11. it was ordeined That if any assault or fray be made vpon any Lord Spirituall or Temporall Knight of the Shire Citizen or Burgesse which commeth to the Parliament or to the Kings Councell by his commaundement and there being and attending then Proclamation shall be made in the most open place of the Towne where the fray was made by thrée seuerall dayes that the partie which made such affraye or assault shall yéeld himselfe in the Kings Bench within a quarter of a yeare next after the Proclamation made if it be in the Terme tyme or otherwise at the first day of the Terme following the said quarter And if he doe not he shall be attainted of the deede and pay to the party grieued his double dammages to be taxed by the discretion of the Iustices of the same bench or by the inquest if it be needfull and shall make fine and ransom at the Kings pleasure And if he come and be found guiltie by inquest by examination or otherwise of such affray or assault then he shall pay to the partie grieued his double dammages found by the inquest or to be taxed by the discretion of the said Iustices and make fine and ransom at the Kings pleasure Assaulting the seruant of a Parliament man And by the Statute made Anno 5. H. 4. it was enacted St. 5. H. 4. 6. That he shall haue the like punishment which maketh assault or fray in the Parliament tyme vpon any meniall seruant of any Knight of the Parliament Citizen Burgesse c. which doth come to the Parliament with his master The libertie of the Clergie as a conuocation And by the Statute of Anno 8. H. 6. it was prouided St. 8. H. 6. 1. That al the Clergie which be called to the conuocation by the Kings writ and all their seruants and familiars shall fully vse and enioy such libertie or defence in comming tarying and returning as the great men and Commons of the Realme haue or are wont or ought to enioy which are called to the Parliament 30 Séeing the wealth and peace of the Realme doth chiefely consist in the due execution of Iustice which cannot be ministred without méete persons and places ordeined therefore for that cause the Law hath specially prouided that those persons and places which be designed to the same Administration of Iustice shall be so guarded and protected from force and violence offered vnto them or in them that shee hath inflicted déeper and more greiuous punishments to those who shall breake or disturbe the peace in the presence of those Magistrates or in those places than to them who shall breake the peace in the Kings own pallace where he is in person abiding or in the Parliament time ordeined for the making of Laws Assaulting a Iudge or Iuror And therefore it hath bene adiudged 22. Ed. 3. 13. That if one draw his sword to strike a Iustice assigned sitting in place of iudgement and be thereof found guiltie he shall forfeite his lands and chattels and haue his right hand cut off And likewise if one in the presence of the Iustices doe strike a Iuror he shall forfeite his lands and goods haue his right hand striken off and be committed to perpetuall prison And the same Law is if one of the Kings Iustices assigned doth arrest any person which hath made a fray before him and a straunger will rescue that prisoner whereby he doth escape in this case as well the prisoner as he that made the rescous shall be disherited and be perpetually imprisoned for that the attachment of such a Iustice is the Kings owne attachment in the construction of the Law Striking in time or place of Iustice And if one doe strike an other in Westminster Hall Fitz Cor. 280. 2. 3. P. M. Dy. 188. during the time that the Kings Courts do sit hee shall forfeite to the King his lands and goods haue his right hand cut off and bee committed to perpetuall prison 4. H. 7. 2. 31 In an action of Trespas of assault and batterie the defendant pleaded Arresting by watchmen that there were diuers felonies committed in those parts where he dwelt and he being watching in his house came into the high Stréete where the plaintife was at eleuen of the clocke in the night and the defendant came vnto him and laid his hands in peaceable maner vpon him to sée his face and when he perceiued that he was a true man he left him departed which was the same assault and batterie And this was allowed to be a good iustification for by the statute of Winchester watchmen may arrest Nightwalkers and also may appose them from whence they come and what they be but they must be such watchmen as be appointed by the Towne And so euery man may arrest Nightwalkers for it is for the good of the Common wealth The same law is in an action of Trespas brought of the assault and batterie of his seruant 4. H. 7. 18. 5. H. 7. 5. 2. Ed. 4. 8. whereby he did loose his seruice 3. daies and the defendant pleaded that A. was robbed at midnight of goods to the value of xl s̄ whereupon the said A. came to the Constable and prayed him to search for suspicious persons and to apprehend and arrest them and accordingly he did search and found the same seruant walking suspiciously in the stréete in the night and therefore he would haue arrested him but the said seruant fled and would not yéeld to the arrest and the defendant by the Constables commaundement pursued and tooke him This was adiudged a good plea in barre for when a felonie is committed the Constable or any others may arrest suspitious persons and if any that is arrested will not yéeld but assault him or them that do arrest him they may iustifie the beating of him for that he doth resist the peace and iustice of the Realme when he doth forciblie striue to flie and not to be iustified by it 30. Ed. 3. 4. 29. Ass p. 63. 28. Ed. 3. 92. 6. H. 4. 7. 32 If a man be assaulted and beaten Trespas for batterie before outlawrie and then be outlawed in an action of Trespas and after doth purchase his
of the Iurors and that the Iuror in respect thereof doth beare an extraordinarie affection and is to make a recompence to the same partie and that therefore in this triall hée will fauour him and be a meane of Periurie and therefore if the Iuror be challenged for that cause he shall be drawen And some doe affirme the same cause of challenge and feare of Periurie to be 7. H. 6. 40. 19. H. 6. 66. if a Iuror hath béene godfather to either of the parties to that triall or to any childe of his 14 The Lawe expecting to be satisfied per Veredictum Iuratorum of the trueth of such causes as doe come to an issue dooth carefully foresée that those Iurors who are to deliuer the trueth by their verdict Periurie suspected in respect of ignorance of the cause should either before the time of the triall vpon their owne priuate knowledge or by their Euidence at the time of the triall be certainely informed of that trueth of the thing in question lest by ignorance mistaking falshoode for trueth they should slide into Periurie And because those that be dwelling or haue some land where the land lease or thing in question doth lie are more likely to haue intelligence of the trueth of the cause in question both to satisfie themselues and informe their Companions than other strangers of the same Countie are who dwell farre off the Lawe hath ordained by the Statute of Anno 27. Elizab. That there shall be sixe sufficient Hundredors impannelled vppon euery Issue ioyned which is to be tried in any of the Courts of the Kings Bench Stt. 27. El. 6. Common Pleas and the Exchequer Want of Hundredors or before the Iustices of Assise in all cases where euerie Iuror by the auncient lawes of this Realme ought to haue fortie shillings of fréeholde at the least And that at or vppon the triall of any personall action there shall two sufficient Hundredors at the least appeare And for that cause if in those cases there be not so many Hundredors at the least the Lawe doth conceiue they be ignorant of the truth of the Issue in triall And to that end for the auoiding of Periurie she will reiect the whole Iurie if they be challenged And so it is in an Assise where the plaintife is to be put in possession per Visum Iuratorum if he recouer or in any action where the Iurie is to haue the view of the land in question 8. Ed. 3. 69. Fitz. Chall 102. 169. if the same Iurors Want of the view or some of them had not the view of the land in question nor did know it before the Lawe will suspect that they will commit Periurie if they should be sworne séeing they be ignorant of the land and know it not in specie And therefore vpon challenge they shall be remooued 1. R. 3. 4. 15 Because our Law-makers haue in seuerall ages found by experience that nothing is a greater motiue enticement Periurie in respect of pouertie or rather inforcement to Periurie than néede and pouertie Therefore they haue endeuoured by many Statutes to prouide that such as be returned of Enquests should not onely be men of good behauiour and credite but also of conuenient liueliehoode estate and abilitie to liue of themselues for that Necessitie which hath no lawe nor bridle should not compell them to sell truth for rewardes nor to plunge themselues into Periurie for bribes And for the preuention of this Periurie in poore persons and such as bee of meane and weake estate Stt. 21. Ed. 1 by a Statute made Anno 21. Ed. 1. it was ordained That no Shiriffe Vndershiriffe or Bayliffe of Libertie shall put in any Recognisaunces of Assises Iuries Enquests or Attaints Iurors impanelled that shal passe out of their owne Counties that shall passe out of their proper County any person of their Bayliwickes except he hath lands and tenements to the yearely value of a hundred shillings at the least or that shall passe within the Countie except hée hath lands to the yearely value of xl s. And for the same cause vpon the same reason of preuention of periurie in poore and néedy persons by a Statute made Anno 3. H. 5. it was established St. 3. H. 5. 3 That no persons shall be admitted to passe in any enquest vpon triall of the death of a man or in any enquest betwéene partie and partie in plea reall or in plea personall whereof the debt or dammages declared do amount to xl Markes if the same person hath not lands and tenements of the yerely value of xl s̄ aboue all charges so that he be challenged for that cause by the party But by the Statute of An̄ 23. H. 8. St. 23. H. 8. 13. euery person being the Kings naturall subiect borne which by the name of a Citizen a fréeman Iurors to try felonies in corporat townes or any other name doth inioy the liberties of any Citie borough or town corporat where he dwelleth being worth in goods to the cléere value of xl li. shall be admitted in triall of Murders and felonies in euery Sessions and gaoles of deliuery kept in and for the libertie of such Cities Boroughes or Townes corporat albeit he hath no fréehold But this Act extendeth not to any Knight or Esquire dwelling abyding or resorting in or to any such citie borough c. And by the Statute of An̄ 27. Eliz. it was enacted Sta. 27. El. 6. That in all cases where any Iuror to bee returned for the triall of any issue or issues ioyned in any of the Courts of the Kings Bench common Pleas the Exchequer or before Iustices of Assise by the Lawes of the Realme now in force ought to haue estate of fréehold in lands Where Iurors must haue 4. li. land tenements or hereditaments of the cléere yerely value of xl s̄ in euery such case the Iurors that shal be returned shall euery of them haue estate of fréehold in lands c. to the cléere yearely value of foure pounds at the least out of auncient demesne within the Countie where the issue is to be tried By the Statute of 11. H. 7. it is prouided St. 11. H. 7. 21. That no person shal be impannelled summoned or sworne in any Iury or Enquest in Courts within the citie of London Iurors in London except he be of lands tenements goods or cattels to the value of xl Markes And no person shall be impannelled summoned or sworne in Iuries or Enquests in any Court within the said Citie for lands or tenements or action personall wherein the debt or dammages amounteth to the summe of xl markes except he be in lands tenemēts goods or cattels to the value of one hundred marks St 19. H. 7. 13. By the Statute of Anno 19. H. 7. it was ordained That euery of the xxiiij persons dwelling within the shire where any riot
any other priuat person who intrudeth himselfe without warrant to be a censor of manners rather séeketh the discredite of the partie then the reformation of his faults for this secreat searching into sifting of other mens conditions dyuing into their offences divulging them to their discredites doth conuince the offendor to be a man of lewde disposition to haue made shipwracke of his conscience doth brand him during his life with the name of an infamous Libeller or slaunderous backbiter And therefore by Gods owne commandement it is specially giuen in charge to euery of his people Non maledices principi populi tui Non fasias calumniam proximo tuo Psal 100. And king Dauid saith Detrahentem secreto proximo suo hunc persequebar And God doth threaten that he himselfe will take reuenge of the slaunderer Psal 49. saying Sedens aduersus fratrem tuum loquebaris aduersus filium matris tuae ponebas scandalum haec fecisti tacui exictimasti inique quod ero tui similis sed arguam te et statuam contra faciem tuam And as infamous libelling secret defaming be oft times the causes of grudges séeking of reuenge and thereby of quarrels in like sort words of slaunder or spéeches of disgrace openly published to the face of an other or behind his backe be also firebrands of variance dissention fighting and the shedding of bloud and so be speciall meanes of the breach of the peace Action vpon the case for slaunder is contra pacem As it may partly appeare by the words of the kings writ alwayes inserted in an action vpon the case brought by one person against an other for speaking of slaunderous words in which writ it is supposed that the words were spoken Ad graue damnum ipsius querentis contra pacem nostram And the same is further proued by the words of the statute of An̄ 2. St. 2. R. 2. 5. R. 2. whereby it is ordeined That because publishing of false newes tales and lyes of Prelates Dukes Earles Barons Slaundering of Noble men or great Officers other noble and great men of the Realme or of the Chauncellor Treasorer Clerke of the priuie Seale Steward of the Kings house Iustice of the one Bench or of the other or of other great Officers of the Realme debate discord or matter of discord or slaunder may rise betwéene the Lords commons whereof great perill may come to the Realme and spéedy subuersion destruction of the same therefore it was enacted by the said statute That if any do commit the before specified offence he shall be taken imprisoned according to the statute of Westm̄ 1. St. 3. E. 1. 34. vntill he hath brought forth him which did speake the same St. 12. R. 2. 41. And further by an other statute made An̄ 2. R. 2. it was moreouer enacted That when the said offendor is taken imprisoned and can not find him that spake the words then he shall be punished by the aduise of the Councell And to the intent that such euill disposed persons which by their lewde spéeches slaunderous words or reports do indeuor to breake or disquiet the peace of the Realme Sta. 1. 2. P. M. 3. might the sooner be inquired of found out punished By a stat made An̄ 1. 2. P. M. it was further established That the Iustices of peace in euery shire citie towne corporat within the limits of their seuerall commissions shall haue full power to examin heare determine the causes abouesaid in the said 2. acts of 3. E. 1. 2. R. 2. specified to put the said 2. stat euery branch in them conteyned in due execution that condigne punishment be not deferred from such offendors And besides the before mentioned penalties assigned to be inflicted vpon transgressors by the foresaid stat euery noble man or great officer of the realme against whom any scandalous words 11. El. Dy. 285. Co. li. 4. 12. false newes or lies be spoken may prosecute against the offendor an action De scandalis magnatū recouer damages against him And in like sort may euery inferior person for any such like words of infamie spoken against him pursue an action vpon his case against the offēdor recouer his damages And further if one person shall exhibit a bill in the Starre chamber against an other amongst other things charge him with murder piracy robbery or other felony or to be a procurer thereof or accessory thereunto or with any other offence which is not examinable in the said court the defendāt in the said bil may prosecute against the complainant therein an action vpon the case recouer his damages for this bil was exhibited of malice by the complainant to remaine of record in the said court to the infamie slander of the defendant not to punish him for the said offences suggested in the sāe bil by a course of justice séeing the court of Starre chamber hath no authoritie to inquire of or punish the same offences But if the complainant doth suggest in his said bill of complaint any matter against the defendant which is examinable in the said court then no action vpon the case is maintenable against him by the defendant therefore though the matter surmised be méerely false for it is done in a course of justice Et sub iudice lis est whether the matters suggested be true or false vntil they be proued And in former ages spéeches tēding to the reproch of others were so odious that K. Edgar ordeined that his tongue should be cut out which did speake any infamous or slaunderous words of an other Edg. Lex 4. But though it be true as is aforesaid that infamous libels secret defamations or publick slanders or reproches be oft times more offensiue to the party taxed therby then open menaces and threates of violence are Yet séeing for the most part menaces springing out of distemperat cholericke humors do more hastilie break forth into further fury extremities tending to the breach of the peace then libelling secret defamation doe which must haue a breathing time to be inquired of bolted forth and then to be punished Therefore I will omit to write any further of libelling or defamation goe forward with menaces c. tota sequela sua 2 Menaces assaults batteries be things of seuerall natures yet for the most part they tend to one effect viz. to hurt him against whom they are bent menacing is a threatening of some hurt to be done or procured by the speaker or some other by his meanes to the person of the hearer or his wife seruant tenant or other The differēce of menace assault and battery whereby he receiueth losse or hurt Assault is an attempt to execute the thing menaced by force violence Battery is the performing of the thing before threatened viz. the beating
did loose his seruice it is a good plea for the defendant to say that he was not the plaintifs seruant or that he was the defendants seruant and not the plaintifs or that he was farmor tenant neighbor or soiourner with the plaintife and not his seruant or that the partie beaten was the plaintifs wife And in the said action of trespas of assault and batterie for the beating of his seruant 22. H. 6. 43. he néed not declare of the retainer of the same seruant for if he did but serue his master at his pleasure yet the master shall haue an action of trespas for the losse of his seruice 14 As the law doth allow a man to beat another in defence of his person Battery in defence of his goods from extreame peril so doth she tollerate one man to beat another for the preseruation of his goods from rapine and spoile for as it standeth not with the peace of the realme that one man without some lawful cause should beat another so it standeth not with the iustice of the realme that one man should take anothers goods iniuriously from him And he that will attempt by force and violence to take away another mans goods wrongfully from him 9. E. 4. 28. 19. H. 6. 31. 65. Kel p. 92. may iustly by force strong hand be resisted And if in that case he that shall make an assault to take those goods be in the encounter beaten by the owner of the same goods the law will excuse the owner therin protect him to defend those goods wherof he hath a lawfull propertie And the same law is if a man hath no propertie in goods but onely a possession by the bailement of another to bee redeliuered when they shall be required if in this case a stranger will assay by force to take the same away Lib. Intr. 553. he that hath the possession of the same goods though it be but a bloodhound may defend the same by force And if the said stranger shal be hurt or beaten in that assault he shall haue no remedy by action of trespas or otherwise against him that had the said possession for he may iustifie the defence of the goods so bailed vnto him in respect that he hath the lawful possession of thē and standeth chargeable to redeliuer them or the very value of them to him the bailed them vnto him whensoeuer he shall be required Battery in defence of his land lease or way And so it is if one hath a mill whereunto a riuer or spring of water doth run 3. H. 4. 9. and hath run time out of the remembrance of man and another would stop the course of that water turne it another way the owner of the mill doth disturbe him therein wherupon that other doth assault and attempt to beat him In this case if the owner of the mill for his owne safegard and for the defence of his auncient water course doth beat him againe it is iustifiable for this beating was not an intended breach of the peace but to defend him from violence offered to his person Lib. Intr. 554. 11. H. 6. 33. 10. E. 4. 6. and iniurie to his fréehold or terme And the same law is in euery case of batterie of another who doth menace or assault the right owner and attempt to beat him for the lawfull defence of his owne fréehold or terme or from his lawfull high way 9. E. 4. 3. 15 If one man do make assault vpon another attempting to beat him Battery inresisting a Iustice of peace so to breake the peace if a Iu. of peace do command him that maketh the assault to kéep the peace to surcease his assault he wil not do it or wil answer that he will not the Iust of peace may lay his hands vpon the offendor arrest him to find sureties of his good behauiour and if the offendor doe make rescue and resist the arrest by force and then be beaten hee shall haue no remedie against the same Iustice of peace who hath done nothing but that which belonged to his office and dutie and the offendor first in breaking the peace and after in resisting the Iustice of the Law being beaten by the Iustice of Peace or any other in his company hath worthily tasted the due reward of his owne disobedience And also the Iustice of peace may in this case commit the offendor to prison vntill he hath found sureties to kéep the peace A Iustice of peace may arrest one to find suretie of peace 21. H. 7. 22. 9. E. 4. 3. and though he doth let the same partie after to goe at libertie without finding suretie of peace yet he shall haue no action or other remedy to punish the same Iustice because he is Iustice of Record A schoolemaster beateth his scholler 16 In an action of trespasse of assault and batterie 21. E. 4. 6. Li. Intr. 555 it is a good plea for the defendant to plead that he is a schoolemaster and a teacher instructer of children and that the plaintife put himselfe to be scholler with him to be taught instructed in his booke and because the plaintife was carelesse and negligent in learning of that whereof he was instructed or did beat abuse other schollers his schoole-fellows the defandant did beat him with a rod as it was lawfull for him to doe A master beateth his prentice 17 And likewise in an action of trespasse of assault and batterie it is a good plea for the defendant to plead that he is a free man of the citie of London 21. E. 4. 6. 53. occupying the trade of a draper that the plaintife beeing aboue the age of xiiij yeares put himselfe apprentise vnto him to serue him in that trade by the space of vij yeares And because the plaintife was negligent in learning his trade he did strip him and beat him with a rod as it was lawful for him to do and if he did not sufficiently beat him for his offence at one time hee may beat him againe And in like sort if a villaine wil not be iustified by his Lord nor obedient vnto him it is lawfull for the Lord to chastise and beat him or to imprison him or to inflict any reasonable punishmēt vpon him so that he do not maihem or kill him for in the foresaid cases the schoolemaster master and Lord haue a ciuill power and authoritie ouer the scholler seruant and villaine Some doe hold that if an apprentice or seruant be aboue the age of xxj years and then do his seruice negligently that his master ought not to beat him therefore but to haue an action of couenant against him But note the forme of the Indenture of an apprentice touching chastising him And it appeareth by the Statute of 33. H. 8. 12. that the master may strike his seruant with his hand fist Stat. 33.
fine ImprisonmeÌ„t for offences done to the iustice of the Realme 57 As in the cases aforesaid imprisonment of offendors is both tollerable requisit when it is inflicted for misdemeanors done to the peace of the Realme so in many other cases it is as necessary when it is imposed for offences done to the law justice of the Realme being the foundation principall piller of the same peace and without the due execution whereof there can not be a general and perfect peace And amongst many other transgressors who doe offend contrarie to the justice of the Realme and yet in a sort doe preserue the peace the law doth principally note foure kinde of persons worthy for their offences to be imprisoned Whereof the first be they who doe commit some acts that be wrongfull iniurious and prohibited by the common lawes or Statutes of the Realme The second be they who doe attempt and prosecute vniust and wrongfull actions or suits to molest trouble or charge others The third be they who being impleaded vpon iust and good causes doe plead false or dilatorie pleas in retardation of justice and hinderaunce of the due and ordinarie course of the law The fourth be they who vpon stubbornesse contumacie or wilfulnesse refuse to doe that whâ—â—â— they know the law doth require at their hands and may enforce them vnto of euery of which amongst many I will insert some fewe cases ImprisonmeÌ„t for coÌ„mitting vnlawful acts As to the first by the Statute of Anno 5. Sta. 5. El. 14. Eliz. he shall be imprisoned and set vpon the pillorie who doth falslie forge or willingly assent or cause to be forged or made any false déede charter or writing sealed Forging of deéds Court Roll or the will of any person in writing S. Forgery â— to the intent that the estate of fréehold or inheritance of any person in any lands should be recouered or charged c. for forging of déeds is an iniurious and wrongfull act and alwaies hath bin hated detested and persecuted in this Realme Sta. 13. E. 1. 11. By the Statute of Westm 2. If the master do assigne auditors to any Bailifes Seruants Chamberlaines or other receiuors which are bound to yéeld accompt Accomptants found in arrerrages and it chaunce them to be found in arrerages all things being to them allowed they shall be arrested and by the testimonie of those auditors committed to the next Gaole which the King hath in those parts and shall be receiued by the Sherife or his Gaoler and prisoned fettered in irons liuing of their owne goods vntill they haue fully satisfied their master of all the arrerages for detayning of the arrerages of an accompt is a plaine and manifest wrong to the master 27. H. 6. 8. And this imprisonment must be presently after the accompt taken Disseison contrarie to his owne lease and not any distance of tyme after And he that doth a disseisin or maketh an entrie contrarie to his owne déede 14. Ass pla 12. Or is conuicted for the imbeziling of an Exigent or for some other notorious deceits committeth open and manifest iniurie and therefore shall be imprisoned 8. Ass â— 20. 28. Ass pla 28. If one man do make a lease of a Tenement by writing to an other for terme of life of the lessée whereupon the lessée doth enter and enioyeth it and after the lessor doth enter and disseise the lessée for life and then the lessée do bring an Assise against the lessor and recouer against him the Tenement leased in this case the same lessor shall be imprisoned for that he made an entrie contrarie to his owne deede and so willingly committed an open and manifest wrong 18. Ass p. 3. The same law is if a man do make a disseisin of land of his whole title wherein he hath before made a release or confirmation to the tenant of the same land in this case he shall be imprysoned And if a Gardian do take a feoffement of his wardes land being within age Fitz. Assise 395. he shall be imprisoned therefore for this and all the former be iniurious acts and knowen to the offendors to be prohibited by the law As touching the second point they be also worthy to be imprisoned who do attempt or prosecute vnlawfull suits to the trouble vexation of others As if one do bring an Appeal against an other 50. Ed. 3. 1. Imp. for prosecuting vnlawfull suits and that appeal do abate by the plaintifes nonsuit or by any other default of his he shall be imprisoned A woman brought an Appeal of the death of her husband against one 9. H. 4. 2. who was attainted and hanged at her suit and after shee brought an appeal against an other man of her said husbands death who pleaded the attainder of the first man in barre whereupon the appeal was abated and the woman committed to pryson for her wrongfull vexation and suit A woman brought an appeal against a man of the death of her husband 8. H. 4. 18. and her said husband was brought into the court and shée was examined if that were her husband who said yea but shée supposed that he had béen dead and therefore shée was imprisoned for her false appeal If one do bring an appeal against an other for a Murder Burglarie Robberie or other felony committed in W. in the County of N. and there is no such W. in that County the appeal shall abate and the plaintife shall be imprisoned for it is manifest that this suit was commenced vpon malice and to put the defendant to vexation and trouble and not vpon any iust cause Thirdly they are worthy to be imprysoned who do plead false Imp. for false or dilatory pleas or dilatorie pleas in hinderance of suits and retardation of justice As if a man in his plea do denie his owne deed 33. H. 6. 54. 45. Ed. 3. 11 6. Ass p. 4. 24. E. 3. 74. Sta. 34. Ed. 1 or do plead a false déed made to himselfe which is found against him by verdict or do plead a déed that is rased enterlined or otherwise suspicious that is adiudged against him he shall be imprisoned By the statute intituled De coniunctim feoffatis if the tenant in Assise do plead iointenancie of the land in demaund with his wife ImprisonmeÌ„t for false pleading of iointenancie or a stranger and sheweth a déed to testifie the same to the intent to abate the plaintifes writ and if it be found by the Assise that the exception was maliciously alleaged to delay the plaintifes right the said tenant shall be one yeare imprysoned though the assise passe for him against the plaintife And if that tenant in the assise be an Enfant who doth plead iointenancie yet if that plea be found against him 37. Ass pl. 1. he shall be imprysoned for that the said statute is generall 3. H. 6. 51. St. 13.
out the eyes of D. this shal be adiudged a maihem 13. H. 7. 14. for that A. had an intention at the first to do some hurt in striking at B. 60 The greatnesse or smalnes of the wound in some of the cases aforesaid doth make the difference whether it be a maihem or not Examination of a maihem which is to be examined by the Iustices of the court before whom the appeal of maihem is depending and by them to be decided if they be requested by the defendant in the appeall and will condiscend to do it And they may award the Kings writ to the shirif of the countie where the fact was done to warn two expert surgeons of that Countie 28. Ass p. 5. 28. E. 3. 94. citie or towne to appeare in the same court at a day prefixed to informe the court what they thinke of the wound and whether they conceiue it to be a maihem or not And if the wound be fresh and new and thereby hardly to be discerned 41. Ass pla 27. whether it will proue a maihem or not the Iustices néed not presently to examine it though the defendant in an appeal of maihem doth desire it or notwithstanding he doth plead that it is no maihem And if in an appeall of maihem the defendant doth plead not guilty 22. Ass pla 82. without requesting that the maihem may be examined by the court by this the defendant hath allowed that it is a maihem But if in an appeall of maihem the defendant doth pray that the maihem may be examined 21. H. 7. 40. if the Iustices and the surgeons that they will call vnto them be in doubt whether it be a maihem or not the Iustices may refuse the examination and compell the defendant to put him selfe vpon the triall of the countrie And yet in that case if the defendant do praie that the maihem may be examined 6. H. 7. 1. 22. Ass p. 99 by the court if the Iustices do adiudge it a maihem it is paremptorie to the defendant for he shall not after plead not guilty or any other plea in Barre séeing by his plea he hath allowed it to be a maihem But the court can not view the wound and examin whether it be a maihem or not 28. Ass p. 8. vnlesse the defendant in the appeal will request it and referre it to their iudgement If in an appeall of maihem the defendant doe plead not guiltie 22. Ass p. 82 without requesting that the maihem may be adiudged by the court though the Iurie who are to try the issue doe desire to sée the plaintife if he be maihemed or not the plaintife néed not to shew his wound for by pleading not guilty the defendant hath allowed that it is a maihem though he hath estraunged himselfe from the committing thereof 9. H. 4. 2. 61 If seuerall men do at one time assault one man and one of them doth maihem him in one part of his body Diuers appels of maihē for one offence and an other in an other part he may haue seuerall appeals of Maihem against them for that they be seuerall maihems which he hath receiued And yet if seuerall men do murder or otherwise kill a man there may be but one appeall of murder maintained against them all for that a man can haue but one death 40. Ass p. 1. But if a man sue an appeall of maihem against seuerall persons whereof against some as principals and some others as accessories and after apparance he is nonsuit he can not pursue an other appeall of maihem against the same persons and charge those as accessories which before he had named principals nor those principals who before were suggested to be accessories Principal and accessorie in maihem 62 In an appeall of maihem the plaintife may choose to make all principals or els to make him principall that did first strike him 40. Ass p. 9. 41. Ass pla 16. and the residue accessorie The Law was holden in auncient time that the plaintife in an appeall of maihem must haue declared against all the defendants as principals But now he may choose and make some principals and some accessories for an appeall of maihem is in effect but an action of Trespas wherein the plaintife shall recouer damages Maihem is a Trespas The iudgem̄t in appeall of maihem according to the quality quantitie of the offence and the defendant shall be imprisoned 8. H. 4. 2 1. And if the plaintife do bring an appeal of maihem whereas it doth appeare to the court that by the blow which was giuen him he is not maihemed he shall paie a fine Mainprise in an appeall of maihem 63 In an appeall of maihem if it do appeare to the court that the maihem is very apparant gréeuous bloudy and extreame 6. H. 7. 1. as if a mans legs or armes be broken or that the partie maihemed is in great perill of death the defendant shall not be let to mainprise no more then he should be in an appeall of murder or burglarie But if the maihem be not apparant or that it is doubtfull and questionable whether it be a maihem or not then the defendant in an appeall of maihem may be let to mainprise And that also appeareth by the statute intituled officium Coronatoris whereby it is ordained Stat. 3. E. 1. that vpon an appeall of maihem if the wounds be mortall they which be appealled shal forthwith be apprehended and kept vntill it be knowen whether he that is hurt shall recouer or not if he die they shall be retained if he liue they shall be attached by foure or sixe pledges according to the bignesse of the wound if it be for a maihem then there shall be no lesse then foure pledges if a small wound two will serue 64 In an appeall of maihem the plaintife doth declare that the defendant did maihem him felonice vt felo domini Regis Why maihem is supposed to be done felomously 40. Ass pla 40. 6. H. 7. 1. and so it may be called felony as petit Larcenie is called felony or it may be termed felony for that the blow which caused the maihem may be a meane of his death within the yeare and day after the stroke stricken and then it will be felony or for that he which did giue the blow had then a murdring mynd and so a felonious intent 65 It is a good plea in barre in an appeall of maihem for the defendant to plead Barres in appeall of maihem that the plaintife at the place aforesaid Li. intur f. 45. and at the day and yeare aforesaid did make assault vpon the defendant and would haue beaten and killed him vnlesse the defendant had then and there quickly defended himselfe against the plaintife and so the hurt and dammage if any were that then and there did come
County that he will so that he dwell within a conuenient distance and not too farre from the parties owne habitation But if a Supplicauit of the peace be directed to the Iustices of the peace the Iustice to whom the writ is first deliuered shall only make the precept to apprehend the partie to find suerty of the peace and that precept shall be retornable before him only and he only shall take the suerties and only make the retorne without the others Co. lib. 5. 59 And a Iustice of peace may if he will make a warrant to the Constable to bring the partie before himselfe 5. Ed. 4. 12. 76 If a Iustice of peace doe direct his warrant to the Constable A warrant to find suertie to keepe the peace or some other to cause A.B. to finde suerties to kéepe the peace The same Constable or c. must first require the same A.B. to find suerties to kéepe the peace and if he doe refuse it then he may arrest the same A. B. for if A. B. will finde suerties then the said Constable may not arrest him because the purport of the precept is performed which is if he refuse so to doe that then he shall conuey him to the Gaole And if the Constable shall arrest A. B. after that he hath found suerties according to the precept the same A. B. may haue an action of false imprisonment against him for that he hath arrested and imprisoned him without warrant or cause And likewise if the Constable do arrest A. B. and doe not carrie him before some Iustice of peace 5. E. 4. 6. to find suerties to kéepe the peace or if he resist or refuse so to doe then if he doe not carrie him to the Gaole A.B. may haue an Action of false Imprisonment against the Constable The partie must offer his suerties And when the partie commeth to the Iustice of peace by force of a warrant he must offer suerties to the Iust of P. or else he may commit him to prison 14. H. 7. 5. for the Iust néedeth not to demaund suertie of him Suerty of the peace dieth with the king 77 The suertie of peace is discharged by the kings death 1. H. 7. 1. for the band is to obserue the peace of the King and when he is dead it is not his peace So doth the death of the recognisor so doth also the death of him at whose suit it was taken discharge the suertie of the peace if in those cases it were not forfeited before The Iustices authoritie dieth with the King And in like sort when the King by his commission doth appoint Iustices of peace and after dieth or giueth ouer his crowne the Authoritie of the same Iustices doth cease for he maketh them Iusticiarios suos and therefore when he dieth their authority endeth The suertie for the peace must be named 78 When a Iustice of peace doth take suerties for the peace 2. H. 7. 4. it is not sufficient to say that I. N. hath found sufficient suertie for the peace without naming the names of the suerties but he must name their names and surnames He that is vound to the peace must appeare c. 79 If a man doe finde suerties to kéepe the peace 39. H. 6. 26. and hath day vntill a time prefixed he must appeare the same day although he who demaunded the peace doe not appeare or otherwise he shall forfeit his band But it is otherwise where a suit is betwéene party and party and the defendant being taken by a Capias is bound to appeare vpon a day appoynted 80 When the suertie of peace is graunted against a man by a Iustice of peace he will sometime rather desire to be bound to the peace by an other Iustice then by him that graunted the same and made the warrant And therefore he may offer himselfe to become bound to the peace to some other Iustice of peace of that County if he will A Supersedeas for the peace then procure a Supersedeas from that other Iustice before whom he is bound to all other Iustices of that Countie to be discharged of any other arrest to be made of him for the law doth not require that he should be seuerall times bound for one cause And this Supersedeas is sufficient although it neither name the suertie nor contein the summes wherin they are bound but yet it is a better forme to expresse them both as the Chauncerie and Kings Bench doe And when a man doth heare of such a precept awarded or granted against him by a Iust of peace of the County where he dwelleth he may go eyther giue suertie of the peace in the K. Bench or els in the Chancery thereupon may procure a Supersedeas from the court where he is bound to restrain the Iust of peace of the County to take any suertie of peace of him And then the Iustices of peace of that County must forbeare to make any warrant for the peace against the partie and if any of them haue awarded it A precept awarded by force of a Supplicauit he must make a Supersedias to discharge it But a Iust of peace of the county by a Supersedeas cannot discharge a precept that is awarded by his felow Iust by force of a Supplicauit directed to him out of the Chancery or the K. Bench to take the suertie of peace of one resident in that County If any officer hauing a warrant from a Iust of P. to arrest a man to find suerty of the peace shall receiue a Supersedeas out of the Chancery or the Kings Bench or from any Iustice of the Kings Bench or from any Iustice of peace of that County where he is commorant to discharge the same suerty of peace wil neuertheles vrge that partie against whom the same warrant is granted to find new suertie for the peace he may refuse to giue it And if the said officer will therupon vnder the color of his warrant commit him to prison the party imprisoned may haue an action of false impris against him for the the said warrrant is discharged by as great authoritie or greater as it was made and the thing for the which it was made is effected The forme of which Supersedeas graunted by a Iustice of the peace is this viz Thomas Denton Miles Buck. vnus Iusticiariorum dn̄i Regis nunc ad pacem in Comitatu p̄dicto conseruandum assignatur Vicecomiti comitatus praedicti A Supersedeas for the peace Nec non cibus singulis Balliuis Constabularijs ceterisque dicti dn̄i Regis ministris tam infra libertates quam extra in eodem Con̄i Salutē Quia A. B. de Poundon in com̄ praedict ' Laborer venit corā me in venit sufficientē securitatur qd'ipse comparebit ad proximā generalē Sessionē pacis in com̄ praedicto tenend ' Et quod ipse interim pacē dicti
assemble for any of the sportes before mentioned but when the taking of parte with those that did quarrell beganne And therefore they onely who made themselues parties to that quarrell shall be punished as Riotors and none other And so it is if a Iurie be charged to trie an Issue if some of them fall out and fight this is no Riot in the residue assembling to a lawfull end 22. H. 6. 37 3. H. 7. 1. 10. St. 17. R. 2. 8. St. 1. M. 12. 8 St. 3. H. 4. 17 Sta. 8. H. 6. 9. St. 3. Ed. 1. 9. And it is lawfull for the Sheriffe Vndersheriffe or Bayliffe to take the power of the Countie what number they shall thinke good to execute the Kings processe And so may any Iustice or Iustices of Peace and the Sheriffe and the Vndersheriffe take any power of the Countie to represse Riots Routes vnlawfull or Rebellious Assemblies Or to remooue such persons as by Inquisition are found to haue made forcible Entries into other mens possessions or to detaine them with force And so may a Iustice of Peace Sheriffe or Constable take of the Countie any number that they will to pursue and apprehend Traytours Murderers Robbers or other felons or such as doe breake or goe about to breake or disturbe the peace For though in the cases last specified there be three or aboue assembled together yet it is to execute the iustice of the Lawe and by that meanes to preserue peace And it is a lawfull assembly which is gathered together to runne at Tilt Iusts or Barriers by the Kings commaundement for the cause beginning and end thereof doe tend to obedience the laudable exercise of true valour and manhood and to the encouragement and enabling of the actors therein to defend the Realme and the peace thereof 7 And though by the before specified Statute of Anno 34. Edw. 3. it is ordained that Iustices of Peace shall restraine offendors Riotors and all other Barrators and pursue take chasten imprison and punish them according to their trespasses and offences to the intent that the people bee not by such Riotors troubled or indammaged nor the peace broken nor any passengers by the way disturbed or put in perill Yet by force of that Statute the Iustices of Peace could not require the helpe of the Sherife nor commaund the power of the countie to helpe to assist them St. 17. R. 2. 8. to represse the said Riotors Whereupon by the before mentioned Statute of Anno 17. R. 2. it is defended That none shall make assemblies riot or rout against the peace in any wise And if any such assembly be begun as soone as the Sherifes Disturbing of riotors and other the Kings ministers may haue knowledge thereof they with the power of the countie where such case shall happen shall disturbe such malice with all their power and shall apprehend all such offendors and put them in prison vntill due execution of the law be made of them and all Lords and other liege people of the Realme shall attend with their whole strength and power the Sherifes and ministers aforesaid 8 But because the said Statute of 17. R. 2. or any other Statute or Law before that time made doth not enable the Iustices of Peace and Sherife to record that which they shall find done in their presence against the law nor to make enquirie thereof nor to heare and determine the same nor to make certificat thereof to the King and his counsell if the truth cannot be found Nor doth assigne what Proces shall bee awarded against the offendors nor doth inflict any penaltie vpon the Iustices which shall not execute the law Therefore by the before rehearsed Statute made Anno 13. St. 13. H. 4. 7 H. 4. it was established that if any riot assemblie or rout of people against the law be made in any part of the Realme the Iustices of peace three The Iustices and sherifs shall arrest Riotors or two of them at the least and the Sherife or Vndersherife of the shire where such riot assembly or rout shall be made shall come with the power of the countie if néed bée to arrest them And the Iustices Sherife or Vndersherife shall haue power to record that which they shall find done in their presence against the law And the same trespassors and offendors shall bee conuict by the Record of the same Iustices Sherife or Vndersherife in manner and forme as is contained in the Statute of forcible entries The forme of Recording of which riot is this Buck. Recording of a riot viz. Memorandum quod primo die Martij anno regni regis Domini nostri Iacobi dei gratur c. tertio Nos Franciscus Goodwin miles Alexander Hamden miles Iusticiarij domini Regis nunc ad pacem in comitatu praedicto conseruandam necnon c. assignati Richardus Ingolsby miles adtunc vicecomes eiusdem comitatus ad querimoniam A. B. de Wadsdon in comÌ„ praedicto yeoman in proprijs personis nostris accessimus ad domum mansionalem ipsius A.B. apud Wadsdon praedictur ibidem inuenimus quosdam C. D. E.F.G. alios malefactores pacis dicti domini Regis perturbatores ignotos ad numerum octo personarum modo guerrino arraiatos viz. cum gladijs baculis arcubus sagittis riotosè illegitimè aggregatos eandem domum sic custodientur in magnam perturbationem pacis dicti domini Regis populi sui terrorem contra formam statuti in Parliamento domini Henrici nuper Regis Angliae quarti Anno Regni sui decimo tertio tento editi Et ideo nos praefati F. G. A.H. corpora pÌ„dictoruÌ„ C.D.E.F.G. ad tunc arrestauimus ac proxime Gaole dicti domini Regis in Com' pÌ„dicto duci fecimus ê‘ recordum nostrum de transgressione praedicta conuictos in praesentia nostra ibidem moraturos quousque finem dicto domino Regi ê“ transgressione sua praedicta fecerunt In cuius rei testimonium huic recordo nostro sigilla nostra apposuimus Datur apud Wadsdon praedict ' die Anno praedictis 9 By the same Statute of 13. H. 4. it is further ordained St. 13. H. 4. 7 That if it happen such Trespassors and offendors be departed before the comming of such Iustices Inquirie of a Riot by the Iustices c. and Shirife or vndershirife the same Iustices thrée or two of them shall diligently inquire within a moneth after such Riot assembly or Rout of people so made and the same shall heare and determine according to the lawes of this Realme And because the said Iustices of peace Shirife c. are by this braunch of the Statute to make inquiry of the Riot which must be done by a Iury returned by the Shirife the forme of the said Iustices precept to the Shirife to returne the said Iury is this Buck. viz. Henricus Longuile miles Willihelmus Anderous miles Iusticiarij Domini
women whereof the said Iustices and Shirife may take so many to assist them as they shall thinke good to arrest the offendors and to cary them to the Gaole And if the Iustices of peace be informed of a Riot committed at such a place and they go with the power of the Countie to suppresse it and finde no Riot there yet they are not to be blamed or fined for the leuying of the power of the Countie St. 13. H. 4. 7 27 By the said Statute of 13. H. 4. the Iustices of peace The Iustices record of a Riot Shirife or vndershirife haue power to record that which they shall finde done in their presence against the law and the trespassors and offendors shall be conuict by the Record of the same Iustices which recording must either be grounded vpon a thing done in their owne presence or else by inquirie vpon the oath of other men And therefore if two Iustices of peace assisted with the Shirife or vnder Shirife doe sée a Riot they may commaund the Riotors to be arrested then record the Riot without other inquirie But it is otherwise if they do not sée it for then they must first inquire of it by a Iury and after the same being found by inquisition they must make a record thereof which record that the said Iustices doe make must be in writing and is to remaine with one of them And they and none other of the Iustices ought to commit the Riotors to prison and to assesse their fines and to cause the same to be estreated into the Exchequer And if the Iustices do record a Riot of their owne fight the parties charged therewith shall neuer be allowed to trauerse it No trauerse to the record of a riot made of the Iustices own sight though indéed there was neuer any such Riot for their sight of the Riot being Iudges of record maketh that record in the iudgement of the law as strong and effectuall as if the supposed offendors had confessed the Riot befere them and touching the restrayning of trauerse more effectuall then if the Riot had béen found by a Iury vpon the euidence of others And if the Iustices of peace doe sée the Riot committed they may record the riot though the Riotors doe escape for that the fact is done in their presence which is the ground of their record And if the same Riotors doe escape from the Iustices at that time they cannot apprehend them at an other time for the apprehension and punishment of them must be whilest the Riot is committing or presently after and as it were whilest the blood is hot Neither in that case if the Riotors doe escape the Iustices can make any proces vpon their record neither ought it to be kept amongst the records of the peace but must be sent into the Kings Bench that proces may there be made vpon it And in that case 36. H. 6. 25. the offendors are not to be admitted to their trauerse but are of necessity to make fine for it If two Iustices of peace or more and the Shirife or vnderrshirife doe méet at a place appointed about the Kings seruice the affaires of the country or their owne priuate busines and any others to the number of thrée or aboue will make an assault in Riotous manner vpon them or any of them or vpon any other in their presence The credit of the Iustices record of a Riot they may arrest the offendors commit them to prison and record the Riot aswell as if they had come of purpose to sée and arrest Riotors but if they which doe begin a Riot doe flie into an other Countie before they doe commit the Riot then the Iustices must not meddle with them And this recording of a Riot by the Iustices of peace the Shirife or vndershirife is of that credit in the iudgement of the Law That if a man be bound by Recognizance to kéepe the peace and after such a record of being partie to the committing of a Riot is entred against him in a Scire facias awarded against him vpon his Recognizance he shall not be allowed either to iustifie the fact nor plead not guiltie thereunto 28 Whereas the said Statute of 13. H. 4. hath ordeined Stt. 3. H. 4. 7 that if the truth cannot be found then within a Moneth next after the same Iustices thrée or two of them shall certifie before the King and his Councel the whole fact and the circumstances thereof which words viz. the same haue relation to the Iustices of the Shire So that if two Iustices of the Shire and the Shirife or c. go to sée the Riot any other two Iustices may make inquirie of it and then they together or the first two or the last two may make certificat thereof Certificat of a Riot within a moneth after that inquisition taken But if the inquiry be made within a moneth after the Riot or c. committed and the certificat not made within a moneth after that then is not the certificat good nor according to the said Statute And yet if the Iustices do make an inquirie within a moneth after the Riot committed and then do giue day to the Iury to deliuer their verdict after the moneth expyred that is a good inquisition and according to the Statut for by that day giuen the Iury may enquire further and receiue more euidence to informe them of the truth of the matter If an enquest doe finde that a Riot was committed by x. persons and the Iustices doe certifie that it was committed by xx persons then the certificat and not the inquisition shall be taken for by that certificat of the Iustices it appeareth that the truth was not found by the inquisition And so it is if the inquisition be of x. persons and the certificat be of x. persons in harneis And likewise if the indictment be of a riotous assault only and the certificat bee of a riotous assault battery maiheming for though in the cases aforesaid the enquest haue found a truth yet they haue not foūd the whole truth neither that which is most for the Kings aduantage nor fully performed the meaning of the said statute but if the indictment and the Iustices certificat do vary in the day of the committing of the riot then the indictment shall be preferred before the certificat for the day doth alter nothing to qualifie or aggrauat the offence And yet séeing the said certificat is but only in the nature of a declaration to cause the parties accused to mak◠answer thereunto the same certificat ought to comprehend the certaine yeare and day though not the addition of the parties being not within the words of the statute of Additions made An̄ 1. H. 5. 5. St. 13. H. 4. 7. 29 And though the said Statute of 13. H. 4. The proces against riotors doth only make mention of a Capias yet it séemeth by the words
shall be attending vpon the Iustices to go and assist the same Iustices to arrest such offendors vpon paine of imprisonment and to make fine to the King 3 And forasmuch as the said Statute of 15. R. 2. doth not extend to Entries into tenements in peaceable manner and after holden with force nor if the persons which enter with force into any lands or tenements be wholy remoued and departed before the comming of the said Iustices or Iustice Neither is there any paine ordained if the Shirife do not obey the precepts of the Iustices in this behalfe St. 8. H. 6. 9. Therefore by an other Statute made An̄ 8. H. 6. it was ordained that the said former Statutes should be continued and executed And further that where any do make such forcible entrie into lands tenements or other possessions or hold them forcible Holding possession by force after complaint thereof made within the said Countie where such entrie is made to the Iustices of peace or to one of them by the partie grieued that the Iustices or Iustice so warned within a conuenient time cause the said Statute to be executed and that at the costes of the partie so grieued And whether such persons making such Entries be present or gone before the comming of the said Iustices or Iustice presently the same Iustices or Iustice in some good Towne next vnto the tenements so entred or in some other conuenient place according to their discretion shall haue authoritie to inquire by the people of the same Countie aswell of them that made such forcible entries into lands or tenements Feoffement of lands for maintenance as of them which hold the same with force And if it be found before any of them that any doth contrarie to this Statute then the said Iustices or Iustice shall cause the lands or tenements so entred or holden as aforesaid to be reseised and shal put the partie so put out in full possession of the same lands or tenements so entred or holden as before they were entred or holden And if any person after such entrie into lands or tenements holden with force make a feoffement or other discontinuance 〈◊〉 any Lord or other person to haue maintenaunce or to take away and defraud the possessor of his recouerie in any wise if after in an Assise or other action thereof to be taken or pursued before Iustices of Assise or other the Kings Iustices whatsoeuer they be by due inquirie thereof to be taken the same feoffements and discontinuances may be duely proued to be made for maintenance as is aforesaid then such feoffements or other discontinuances so as before made shall be void And if any person be put out or disseised of any lands or tenements in forcible manner or put out peaceablie after holden out with strong hand and armes against the Iustice of peace or after such entry any feoffement or discontinuance in any wise thereof be made An Assise or action of trespas againste disseisour by force to defraude take away the right of the possessor the party greiued in this behalfe shall haue an Assise of Nouel disseisin or a writ of Trespas against such disseisor And if the party grieued recouer by Assise or by action of Trespas and it be found by verdict or in any other manner by due forme of the Law that the partie defendant entred with force into the lands tenements or them after his entrie did hold with force then the plaintife shall recouer treble dammages against the defendant and moreouer the defendant shall make fine and ransome to the King The authority of officers of Cities and Townes enfranchised And the Maiors Iustices and Iustice of peace Shirifes and Bailifes of Cities and Boroughes hauing fraunchise shall haue in the said Cities Townes Boroughes like authoritie to auoid such Entries and in other articles aforesaid rising within the same as Iustices of peace and Shirifes in Counties and Shires haue 4 As by the foresaid Statute of 8. H. 6. if any person after entrie into lands or tenements holden with force shal make any feoffement or other discontinuance thereof to any Lord or other person to haue maintenance or to defraud the possessor of his recouery then the same feoffements discontinuances shall be void So by an other Statute made before that Anno 4. H. 4. St. 4. H. 4. 8. it was inacted A speciall Assise against a disseisor with force That if any man in his owne right to his vse or in an other mans right to his vse doth make any forcible entrie into an other mans lands by way of maintenaunce or doth take or carry away any goods of the possessors of the fréehold after any such forcible entrie then if the partie grieued or other lawfull man will affirme that the entry was made in such forcible manner the Chancellor of England may graunt to the partie greiued a speciall Assise And if the disseisor be attainted of such forcible disseisin he shall be one yeare imprisoned and pay to the partie grieued his double dammages and also dammages for his goods And one of the Iustices of the one Bench or of the other or the chiefe Baron of the Exchequer if he be learned in the law shall be named in euery such speciall Assise And no Supersedeas shal be granted to the contrarie of such Assise 5 Wherefore if a man be disseised by force of any lands or tenements by way of maintenance or that his goods be taken or carried away after such entrie made Or that he be put out or disseised of his lands in forcible manner Or that he be put out peaceablie and after holden out with force against a Iustice of peace Or after such entrie any feoffement or discontinuance be made to defraud and take away the right of the possessor then the partie grieued as his case requireth may haue a speciall Assise against the disseisor and recouer his double dammages Seuerall remedies for seuerall offences by force and dammages for his goods and the disseisor shall be one yeare imprisoned according to the foresaid Statute of 4. H. 4. St. 4. H. 4. 8. Or else he may haue an Assise of Nouel disseisin or an action of Trespas against the disseisor and recouer treble dammages and moreouer the disseisor shall make fine and ransom to the King according to the before rehearsed Statute of 8. H. 6. St. 8. H. 6. 9. Or if the plaintife will omit the benefit of recouerie of his dammages he may only craue and vse the assistance of a Iustice of peace to sée and remoue the force to record it to inquire of it and to make him restitution according as the truth of his case shall appeare to the said Iustice vpon his owne sight or be found by inquisition according to the former prouision of the said Statute of 8. H. 6. Or lastly he that is put out or holden out of his lands with force
breue nobis remittentes Teste c. S. Manasse c. 7. When the Shirife or Iustice or Iustices of peace to whom the foresaid writ is directed hath caused thrée proclamations to be made according to the purport of the said writ then he or they may enter and make search in the house houses or place suspected and search whether there bee any force of armour or weapons worne borne or vsed against the said proclamation or otherwise he is warranted by the said writ to inquire thereof by a Iurie And if any such armour or weapons be found he must imprison the offendors and seise and praise their armour and weapons so found with them to the Kings vse And if vpon the proclamation they doe depart in peaceable manner then he hath no warrant by the writ to commit them to prison But by this writ the Shirife or Iustices haue onely authority to remoue the force but not to put the party expelled in possession againe What shal be said to be force 29 Because I haue written of force forcible entry and forcible detaining of possession it is conuenient that I should somewhat declare what the law doth accompt to be force and what acts and in what manner done to be forcible This forcible entry or forcible detaining of possession which the statutes before rehearsed do prohibite must be done with some weapons either offēsiue or defensiue as with swords bucklers pykes iauelines bills clubs pitchforkes staues halberts bowes arrowes crossebowes gunnes harneys casting of stones or blocks pouring of hot coales scalding water or lead or with any other thing wherewith one man may hurt the person of another Force by number of seruants And further if a man doth enter vpon the possession of another 10. H. 7. 11. or doth kéepe a possession taken with more seruants or attendants then he doth cōmonly maintaine it is force and it shal be adiudged in him a forcible entry or a forcible detaining of possession And so it is if diuers do come with bowes bills gunnes or other weapons to a ground or to a house and enter without the disturbance of any this is an entry by force for the words of the statute of 5. R. 2. be Sta. 5. R. 2. 7 That none shall enter with multitude of people but only in a peaceable manner And in like sort if a man doe enter peaceably into a house Force by nūber of weapōs and after doth bring into the same more weapons then he and his ordinary family do commonly vsually weare besides those weapons that he doth find in the house whereof hée must make no vse to defend his possession it is a forcible detaining of possession And moreouer if complaint be made to a Iustice of peace that one hath entred forcibly into a house and doth detaine the same with force and the said Iustice of peace doth goe thither and findeth the dores shut and him or those within denying him to enter this is a detayning of possession with force though there be no weapon shewed or vsed and though there be but one person within the house for in this case the offendor doth vse the dore as his buckler to keepe the possession If the Iustice of peace doe find in the house any great number of people or any persons in harneis or hauing harneis lying by them this is a detainer with force Wherefore in all the cases aforesaid the Iustice of peace may take the power of the County breake open the dores commit the offendors to prison 11. Ass p. 25 And if a man do mowe reape sheare or sickle corne or grasse or by such other labor which cannot be done without the hands of man wherunto he hath no title this shal be adiudged an entry disseisin with force If a man do kéepe his beasts by force in another mās seueral ground 27. Ass p. 30 claiming common therein whereas he hath no common there this is a disseisin of the land by force 30. Ass p. 50 And if a man do enter into the possession of another mans land and after doth fell or lop wood there this is a disseisin by force If a man do enter into another mans house or land 11. H. 4. 16. disseise or expel him thereof after doth carry away certaine goods of the disseisées this is a disseisin with force arms and the disseisor shal be imprisoned for it 16. Assis p. 7. 14. Ass p. 18. 12. H. 4. 22. 22. Ass p. 33. 30 A woman couert may commit a disseisin with force Who may cōmit a forcible entry and be imprisoned therfore and so may an infant of the age of 18. yéeres or aboue commit a disseisin by force be imprisoned But if he be of tender age he shal not be adiudged a disseisor with force nor be imprisoned 31 Though force being opposed against the law What force is lawfull to the persons of mē is a professed enemy to the peace of the Realme yet being vsed in the maintenance of the law it is a principall protector of the same peace for the law doth put the sword of iustice into the kings hand to protect himselfe and euery of his subiects from the violēce and oppression of others and to relieue each one that hath iust cause of complaint and thereby to yeeld him peace Wherefore force is to be resembled to fire which being abused may consume the whole house and being wel guided is a meane to yeeld sustenance and comfort to euery person therein And so force may be lawfully vsed by all the kings Officers Ministers and Subiects thereunto deputed with the helpe of all others to assist them when need shall require to execute or aduance iustice or the iudgements of the Law It is lawfull force wherby all offendors in Treason Felony other great crimes be apprehended 7. E. 8. 16. caried to prison brought to their answers receiue condigne punishments inflicted vpon them for their offences It is lawful force wherby the Shirife his Vndershirife Baylifes or Deputies doe with strength apprehend any person by vertue of the kings writs to answere or satisfie the purport of the same writs St. 8. H. 6. 9. It is lawfull force whereby Iustices of peace doe remoue those vnlawfull Entries or vnlawfull detainings of possession which one man doth make into another mans land contrary to the Laws and Statutes abouesaid and whereby they doe put him againe in possession who was wrongfully disseised or expelled thereof And it is lawfull force which Iustices of peace Shirifes Coroners Constables Tithingmen Headboroughes Boroughholders al other charged and authorized to preserue the peace together with their assistants deputies or assignées shall vse in apprehending or committing to prison such as doe attempt to disturbe or breake the peace within their iurisdictions or being commanded wil refuse to put in sufficient sureties for the keeping of
said Iuror shall pay tenne times so much as he hath receiued And all those which be Embraceors to lead and procure such Enquests in the Countrey The penalty of Maintenance in Iurors and Embraceors to make againe and profit thereof shal be punished as the Iurors And if the Iuror or Embraceor so attainted haue not wherewith to make recompence in forme aforesaid he shall be one yeare imprisoned which imprisonment shall not bee pardoned for any fine and the party grieued may haue his action before other Iustices if he will But no Iustice or other officer shall inquire of office vpon any of the points of this Statute but onely at the Suite of the partie or of others as is aforesaid See Periurie 18. Maintenance punished by a Decies tantū 7 Vpon the foresaid Statutes of 34. Edw. 3. 38. Edw. 3. is the writ of Decies tantum grounded By the which writ the party grieued by any such Maintenance and taking of money by a Iuror or Embraceor shall recouer against the offendor tenne times so much as he hath taken whereof the King shall haue the onely halfe and the same party who doth recouer the other halfe 40 E. 3. 33. 41. Ed. 3. 9. And a man may haue one writ of Decies tantum against all the Iurors of an Enquest if they all did take money to giue their verdict or against so many of them as did take money Fitz. Decies tantum 1. And so he may haue one writ against the Embraceors and the Iurors and recouer against euery of them tenne times so much as he receiued to giue his verdict or to embrace as if one of them tooke tenne shillings another twenty shillings a third 5. pounds c. and the dammages shall be taxed against euery of them seuerally And therefore when one action is brought against seuerall Iurors for taking of money to giue their verdict euery of them must plead his plea seuerally 21. H. 6. 20. and by himselfe If a Iuror doe take money to giue his verdict on the one part if after he doth giue no verdict or if hee with his companions doe giue a true verdict or such a verdict as the party who bringeth the writ receiueth no hurt thereby or if the plaintife be nonsute 37. H. 6. 31. yet a Decies tantum may bée brought against him For it is not the giuing of the verdict which the Law doth respect and punish but the taking of the money to giue his verdict and so to doe an vnlawfull act But otherwise it is of an Embraceor for if he take money to embrace and yet doth not embrace no action will lye against him for he is no Embraceor if he doe not embrace In a writ of Decies tantum if the Iury find 41. E. 3. 9. that one of the Iurie in the former Issue did take land for fortie pounds lesse then it was worth to giue his verdict the same Iuror shall forfeit to the King and the party tenne times so much viz. foure hundred pounds And so shall the Embraceor forfeit tenne times so much if he hath the land for lesse then it is worth after the Iurie hath giuen their verdict by his meanes or persuasion And the one moytie which is due to the King in this case according to the foresaid Statute of Anno 38. Edward 3. 41. Ed. 3.15 Fitz. Decies tantum 12. 44. Ed. 3. 36. is a fine to the King for his offence and not a debt to the King and therefore the partie grieued shall be first satisfied of his moytie and after him the King shall bée payed in the receit of the Exchquer Men that be learned in the Law may for their fées speake to the Iury 6. E. 4. 5. and enforce their clients euidence vnto them so much as they can openly vpon the triall of the cause But they may not otherwise labour to the Iury to giue their verdict and receiue money to that end for then they be Embraceors If he that is the party grieued who may haue against any Iuror a Decies tantum for taking of money doe release to the same Iuror all actions this will not auaile the same Iuror for by the said statute any person that will being a stranger may haue a Decies tantum against the same Iuror But if the King doe release before any suit commenced it is a good barre against all persons as it is in other popular actions 1. H. 7. 3. 5. E. 4. 2. and yet if the party hath begun his suit the Kings release wil not discharge it but for his owne part for that which was before popular is now become his priuat action and a condemnation or acquitall at his suit is a discharge against the King and all others 8 There is another kind of Maintenance by Iurors Maintenance by Ambidexter that the Law doth prohibite which is when a Iuror doth take money or other thing of the one part and the other who is commonly called Ambidexter for the punishment of whom Sta. 5. E. 3. 10 by a statute made An. 5. E. 3. it was ordained That if any Iuror in Assises Iuries or Enquests take of the one part and of the other and be thereof duly attainted he shall not after be put in any Assises Iuries or Enquests but shall be sent to prison and further punished at the Kings pleasure And the Iustices before whom such Assises Iuries Enquests shall passe haue power to inquire and determine according to this statute As this gréedie Ambidexter doth offend two Lawes so it is prouided to impose two seuerall punishments vpon him vpon a writ of Decies tantum brought against him he shall be compelled to pay to the King and the party grieued ten times so much as he hath receiued to giue his verdict according to the statute of 38. E. 3. And shall be no more put in Enquests but sent to prison and punished at the Kings pleasure according to the foresaid statute of Anno 5. Ed. 3. But no person shall be punished according to the said statute of Anno 5. 44. E. 3. 39. Fit Dec. tantum 12. Ed. 3. vpon any writ of Decies tantum brought against him but only vpon an Indictment at the Kings suit If any Iuror doe take money of eyther of the parties to a suit after his verdict giuen for giuing his verdict without making couenant therefore before hand 39. Ass p. 19 he shall not be punished according to any of the foresaid statutes of Anno 5. E. 3. 34. Ed. 3. or 38. E. 3. for he is out of the danger of the writ of Decies tantum and he shall not be imprisoned by force of the statute of Anno 5 Ed. 3. for he did not take mony contrary to the meaning of that statute But in that case he shall pay a fine to the king 9 As it is Champertie and therewith Maintenance to haue part of
maintaine the suit and so may A. for either of them hath interest in this debt and one of them may aid assist and maintaine the other to recouer his debt against C. in respect of their seuerall interests in the same debt But if in this case A. had promised to B. but part of this debt to haue prosecuted and maintained this suit then it had beene Champertie and vnlawfull maintenance in B. And the same law is 34. H. 6. 30. if one man be bound by Obligation to pay another man xx l. to the vse of a third man the Obligée and hee to whose vse the Obligation was made may both meddle in the suit of this Obligation 27 And so it is in goods for he that hath any propertie title Maintenance in respect of his title to goods or lawfull possession in goods 39. H. 6. 20. may maintaine a suit that is prosecuted against another touching the same goods As B. brought an action of Debt against A. in London and the Sherife returned that A. had nothing c. Wherupon at the plaintifes surmise certain goods of A. were attached in the hands of I. according to the custome of the said Citie and a Scire facias was awarded against the same I. to answer for those goods in which A. did maintaine the same I. in nominating vnto him a learned man in the law to whom by his aduice he went for his counsell and this was awarded maintenance iustifiable for that the propertie of the goods fo attached in the hands of I. were and did continue in the said A. Maintenance in detaing of a writing deliuered in trust So it is if one man doe deliuer a déed or other writing to another to be kept if a straunger will bring an action of Detinue against him to whom the same was deliuered the partie who deliuered that writing may lawfully maintaine him in that suit for the interest hee hath in the same writing And yet the recouerie of that writing would not haue bound him that did deliuer it but hée might haue had his action for the same against him that did recouer it Maintenance in respect of his ioynt interest with others 28 As euerie person may lawfully maintaine any suit that shall be prosecuted which concerneth his priuat and particular land lease rent debt or goods so may he maintaine a suit touching any land or other thing which hée hath ioyntly or in common with others 18. E. 4. 2. As the Parson of a Church brought an action of Trespasse against one of his Parishioners for digging of his ground and spoyling of his grasse Whereunto the defendant pleaded That the place where the Trespasse was supposed to be done is a Churchyard consecrate by the Bishop and that he and all those who are inhabitants in the same Parish haue vsed to haue their Sacraments and buriall for their dead there And that one of the inhabitants of the same Parish dyed and hee with others brought his bodie to the Church and after made a graue for him in the same Churchyard and there buried him which is the same digging whereof the plaintife hath conceiued his action Whereupon they were at issue In this case it was agreed by all the Iustices that euerie inhabitant of the same Parish may lawfully giue euidence and otherwise maintaine this issue though they be not parties thereunto for euerie of them hath the like interest in the Churchyard Maintenance by all the inhabitants of a parish as the partie to that suit And the same reason and law seemeth to be if there be a suit commenced betweene one or more inhabitants of a village Hamlet or Parish and some other person or persons for a common or way or for the digging of a pit of stone marle grauell morter sand c. vsed or claimed to belong or of right to bee due to the inhabitants of the same Village Hamlet or Parish after issue ioyned touching the right or title of the same common way or pit the residue of the inhabitants of the said Village Hamlet or Parish may aide and assist their neighbour or neighbours partie to that issue and it is lawfull maintenance for it tendeth to the benefit or preiudice of all the said inhabitants and is in a sort their owne case Maintenance of a poore man in his suit 29 In a Writ of Maintenance the plaintife supposed that the defendant did maintaine one A. in an action which the plaintife brought against the sayd A. Whereunto the defendant pleaded That the same A. was a poore man 32. H. 6. 35. 21. H. 6. 15. and had nothing to defend himselfe in the suit which the plaintif had commenced against him and that the defendant of his almes gaue him xx s. which is the same maintenance This was allowed a lawfull maintenance and iustifiable for any man to doe for whereas vnlawfull maintenance is in case when a man doth maintaine a suit to haue the whole or parcell of the land 9. H. 6. 64. or thing in question or to haue some other consideration to further or vphold that suit or where a man hauing nothing to do nor colour to meddle yet wil vndertake for euill will to maintaine that cause in question this giuing mony to a poore man to defend his right is not to either of the intents aforesaid but bestowed vpon a charitable disposition to search out truth and further the execution of iustice which appeareth by the stat of 11. H. 7. wherin the king and the whole parliament willing indifferent iustice to be ministred according to the common laws as wel to the poore as to the rich and perceiuing that the poore were not of abilitie to sue according to the law of the realme for the redresse of their iniuries and wrongs ordained that the king himselfe the L. Chancellor and some of each profession towards the law should in a sort aid and assist them the words of which stat be these St. 11. H. 7. 12 viz Euerie poore person which shall haue cause of action against any other shal haue by the discretion of the Chancellor Proces counsellors and Atturneyes assigned to aid the poore writs originall writs of Subpena according to the nature of his cause nothing paying to the K. for the seales of the same nor to any person for the writing of the same writs And the said Chancellor shall assigne such of the clerkes which shal vse the making and writing of the writs to write the same readie to be sealed and also learned Counsell Atturneyes for the same without taking any reward therefore And after the said writs be returned if it bee before the King in his Bench the Iustices there shal assigne to the same poore person counsel learned by their discretions which shall giue their counsell nothing taking for the same And likewise the Iustices shall appoint Atturneyes for the same poore person all other
be adiudged to the pillory the third time he shal be imprisoned make fine the fourth time he shall forsweare the towne And in this manner shal it be done of all that offeÌ„d in like case as of cookes that séeth flesh or fish any waies that is not holesome for mans body or after that they haue kept it so long that it looseth the naturall holesomenesse then séeth it againe and sell it And in like sort St. 39. El. 10 by one other statute made An. 39. El. it was enacted That if any alien or stranger born or any denizen or naturall born subiect of this realme shal bring into any hauen port créeke or town of this realme any salt fish or salt herrings which shal not be good swéet seasonable méet for maÌ„s meat shal offer the same to be sold and shall be warned by any officer of such Port c. where the same shal be offered to be sold that the same be not seasonable nor méet for mans meat Then if he or they shall after that offer any of the said vnseasonable fish to be sold to any person within this Realme or being an alien borne and no denizen shall not depart with the same from the said Hauen Port or Towne so soone as conueniencie will serue Then all and euery person owners therof shall forfeit to the Queen all the said vnseasonable fish vnméet for mans meat as is aforesaid And by a statute made Anno 4. Ed. 3. it was established St. 4. E. 3. 12 That assay shall be made of wines twice euery yeare once at Easter and another time at Michaelmas and more oft if néed be by the lords of the Townes and their Baylifes and also by the Mayors and Baylifes of the same townes and all wines that be found corrupt shal be powred out and the vessels broken ⧠Extortion Exaction 1 EXtortion is a wrong done by an Officer What is Extortion as Ordinarie Archdeacon Officiall Maior Bailife Shirife Escheator Coroner Vndershirife Auditor Receiuer Clerke or other Officer or by any other by colour of an office in taking of an excessiue reward or fée and more then the law doth allow him for execution of his said office which offence in some degrées is worse then the priuy picking of a mans purse in secret and the transgressor in a sort may be compared to the Fréebooter which with drawne sword and with menacing words assaulteth the trauailer by the way who casteth down his purse to him for feare of further hurt And so is the poore sutor many times inforced to doe to the Officer when of necessitie he must vse his helpe It is a thing most odious and offensiue to the iustice and peace of the Realme and to all the members thereof that those men who be specially made choice of and principally selected to serue their prince and countrey and to further the execution of iustice in their offices and places and be sufficiently rewarded with conuenient stipends for their paines therein should in contempt of the law assesse their owne fées in a sort put their hands in other mens purses and there take what they will and thereby doe wrong vnder the colour and shadow of iustice Exaction is a wrong done by an officer What is Exaction or by one pretending to haue authoritie in demaunding and taking reward or fée for that matter cause or thing which the law doth allow no fée at all And as our common statute lawes haue declared which offences or acts they doe condemne and adiudge as Extortions and Exactions so haue they prescribed in most cases seuerall penalties to be inflicted vpon the seuerall transgressors therein leauing the residue to be punished at the kings pleasure or by the discretion of such of his Iudges Iustices or others by his commission authorized before whom the offendors shall be thereof conuicted And further our said statute lawes haue set downe for the most part what fées or duties the sutor ought to pay to the officer the officer is to demaund of him to the intent that the one shall not be ignorant what to offer nor the other what to require and to the end that the Law hauing written it in a sort in the officers forehead what his duty is he may blush when he looketh in the sutors face and demaundeth more 2 I will begin with an Exaction that no former generation did tast of heare of or feare but it hath sprung vp of later yeares bin greatly exclaimed of and condemned in this our present age which is taking of money or some other reward for a Report or Certificat wherein the offendor most commonly doth a double iniury and to two seuerall persons viz. first to him whose mony fee or other reward he taketh for the fauourable making of that report in his behalfe whereas the law doth allow him none for reporting but otherwise bountifully rewardeth him for that and all such other paines and next and chiefely to him in preiudice of whom or whose case he maketh that report He doth not now indifferently respect the cause in question but bendeth his eye vpoÌ„ the reward which he hath receiued and deuiseth to accomplish the request of the one and yet to yéeld to the other not the effect but some colour of iustice The King at his coronation doth promise to all his subiects Mag. Chart. St. 9. H. 3. 29 Quod nulli vendemus nulli negabimus aut differemus iusticiam whereupon the whole realme did take it vnkindly at their hands who being the kings Substitutes in place of iustice and receiuing but a small particle of his authoritie would doe then all the said offences at once and sell denie and deferre iustice to some of the kings subiects certifie that for good which was bad or that for iustice which was méere iniurie Or if they did make report and certificat of that which was iust and true would sell it and take money or other reward for it which the king himselfe vpon his oath refuseth to doe And therefore because all exâ—â—tions extortions and corruptions be odious as well in this as in all other well gouerned Commonweales and to the intent to preuent the like enormities in this and other ages by a statute made Anno 1. Iacob it was enacted St. 1. Iac. 10 That no person to whom any order or cause shal be committed Exaction by taking or reward for a report or referred by any of the Kings Iudges or Courts at Westminster or any other Court directly or indirectly or by any act shift colour or deuice haue take or receiue any money fée reward couenant obligation promise agréement or any other thing for his report or certificat by writing or otherwise vpon paine of forfeiture of one hundred pounds for euery such report or certificat and to be depriued of his office and place in the same Court The one moitie to be to the king his
shires and a President and Councel established there and in the Marches of the same with all officers clerkes and incidents to the same And that there should be Iustices of Assise and Gaole deliuerie there which should kéepe Sessions in euery of the said shires twice in the yeare and a Marshall and a Crier in euery circuit And that there should be original and iudiciall seales for the sealing of Writs and Proces in the said shires And that there should bee foure Prenotaries in Wales and also certaine Iustices of Peace and Quorum and a Custos Rotulorum Bailifs of Hundreds Sherifs Escheators Coronors Constables of Hundreds in euery of the said xij shires Then to preuent and auoyd extortion of the foresaid Officers in Wales and to the intent that the said Officers might know what money to demand and euery sutor what to paie for all Proces originall and iudiciall declarations pleadings c. by the said Stat. of anÌ„ 34. H. 8. it was particularly expressed how much should bee paied for the writing and sealing of originall and iudiciall Writs and proces The fées expressed to preuent extortion in Wales and what Prenotaries shal take for their fées what euery Marshall and Crier of the Iustices shall haue and what fées the said Sherifes and Coroners shall take in many diuers and seuerall cases But after in and by the said Stat. of anÌ„ 34. H. 8. it was further ordained That in all and euery Writs originall or iudiciall or other Proces pleas or writings which bée not expressed in the said ordinance the fées thereof as well for the seales as writing shal be rated by the said President Councell and Iustices or three of theÌ„ whereof the said President to be one by their discretion from time to time as the case shall require And they shall haue full power from time to time to assesse and appoint what fee the said Sherifes Escheators and Coroners and their ministers Prenotaries and their clerkes and other ministers of iustice in the said shire shall haue of the Kings subiects for any maner writs plaints pleas proces returnes or any other matter or thing concerning or belonging to the execution of their offices and roomes and to augment or diminish any fée or fées aboue declared as shal be thought by their discretions to be conuenient and méet for the common wealth of the kings subiects of those partes of Wales Oppression 1 OPpression is a grieuance done by one man or more to the hurt or preiudice of others What oppression is without any warrant of law or colour of iustice or it is a burden or charge which one man doth impose on another more than the law doth lay vpon him and is for the most part wrought by the superior in countenance abilitie or office to the inferior in the same for the oppressor sicuti Nimroth robustus venator tanquam Leo subuersor in domo sua is alwayes offering hard measure to them who are to deale with him vntill they be able and willing to resist him The fraudulent deceiuor yéeldeth a man something for his money or at the least giueth a faire colour so to do The extortioner is most times an officer and doth take paines and is worthy of his due reward so is tollerable vntill he wresteth more than his desert But the oppressor grapleth for what he can get and returneth nothing and wresteth to reap that which he hath not sowen and to gather fruit where he hath not grafted the marke he roueth at is his priuat profit respectâ—th not how many and how much he in that cause hurteth so that his owne purse be filled or his will be accomplished As Oppression by disseisin euerie disseisor who doth vnlawfully expell and put another man out of his fréehold may aptly be termed an oppressor for hee doth not put in practise that iniurie couertly and secretly by fraud and collusion vnder hand as the deceiuor extortioner do but by plain and open wrong and doth stand in the face of al his beholders and commonly iustifieth that which he hath done And therfore as the said disseisin and oppression is manifest so hath the stat of West 2. appointed a speedie and manifest remedie to the disseisée to redresse and reforme the same which is by an Assise of Nouel diss to the end that as he was newly and lately disseised so he might be quickly and spéedily restored And because the law doth adiudge a man oppressed and iniured who is disseised of estouers of wood Of what things one may be disseised or of profit to be taken in wood nuts acorns and of other fruit to be gathered or of a corrody of deliuering corne and other victuals and necessaries to bee receiued yearely in a place certaine or of toll tonnage passage pontage pawnage or such like things to be taken in places certain or of the kéeping of woods forrests parks chases warreines gates and other bailiwikes and offices in fée or of common of pasture turbaries fishing and such like which a man hath belonging to his fréehold or without his fréehold by speciall déed at the least for terme of life or when one man doth pasture anothers seuerall or when tenant for yeares or garden of a tenement doth alien the same in fée whereby the fréehold is transferred to the feoffée St. 13. E. 1. 25. therefore in all the cases aforesaid that said stat of West 2. doth giue to the party so oppressed and disseised his remedie to recouer the same by the said Ass of nouel diss in which the writ shal be De libero tenemento If tenant by Elegit be put out of the tenement which he hath in execution St. 13. E. 1. 25. St. 13. E. 1. or tenant by Statute marchant be put out of the land which he hath in execution or tenant by Stat. staple be put out of the land which he hath in execution or tenant by Recognisance in the nature of a Statute staple his executors St. 27. E. 3. 9 St. 23. H. 8. 9. administrators or assignes or any of them be disseised or put out of the land which he or they haue in executioÌ„ he or they so disseised or put out may haue maintaine an Assise for it is to him or them a disseisin an oppression St. 32. H 8. 7 If any person who hath an estate of inheritance or fréehold in any parsonage vicarage portion pention tithes oblations or other Ecclesiasticall profit made temporall be deforced kept or put from the same this is a disseisin and oppression the party so wronged may haue an Assise to recouer the same And if any Escheator St. 3. E. 1. 24 Sherife or other of the K. Bailifes shall by colour of his office without speciall warrant or certaine authoritie which belongeth to his office disseise any man of his fréehold or of any thing which belongeth to his fréehold this is an oppression
wrong to the disheritance of another or to the preiudice of his Fréehold without any warrant of law 18. Ed. 3. 22. 21. Ed. 3. 2 Co. li. 5. 101. Li. Int. 406. or colour of iustice As if one person doe build or leuie a house a wall a shead a leantor a chimney a gutter or other structarie in his owne ground to the offence of anothers fréehold or to the drowning or rotting of his house or to the stopping of his light or way thereunto this is an oppression 46. Ed. 3. 23. 7. Ed. 3. 56. And if one person doe leuie rayse abate or pull downe a Damme Poole Pond or Ditch to the hurt of anothers Fréehold that is an oppression 27. Ed. 3. 88. 12. H. 4. 3. 8. Ed. 4. 5. 48. Ed. 3. 27 8. Eliz. Dyer 2 50. 14. Eliz. Dyer 319. And if one person doe stoppe straiten or turne an auncient water-course to the hurt of anothers Freehold or in such sort as it doth drowne the ground or soyle of another that is an oppression And if one person do stoppe streiten or greatly impaire anothers highway which hée hath belonging to his Fréehold that is an oppression If one person doe conuey water to his house or ground by a pipe of lead timber or vault of stone and another person will make another pype out of that pype to take away part of the same water that is an oppression of him that made the first pype And if one doe erect a lime-kill néere vnto anothers dwelling house 4. Ed. 3. 36 5. Ed. 3. 43. 4. Ass p. 3. the smoake and heat whereof when it is set on fire doth annoy the inhabitant of the said house and his familie or doth scorch or dry vp the fruit trées in his orchard that is an oppression And if one person hath the fréehold of a seueral fishing in a riuer pond poole moat mill damme or other water Lib. in t 406. and another person wil build a dye-house adioyning or neere vnto it and then will powre out or cause to run from thence corrupt ashes dung slime filth or other annoyances into the said seuerall fishing place to the distruction of the fish there whereby the owner doth loose the benefit of his seuerall fishing that is an oppression of him And if one person will erect or settle vp a Faire or Market Fit Nat. Br. 184. Register 197. 199. Li. Int. 407. to the preiudice or hinderance of anothers Faire or Market that is an oppression of him who had the first Faire or Market And if one person do lay timber faggots stones lime sand grauell dung or any other thing vpon or against the house of another which do rot putrifie corrupt or impaire the walls timber or other part of the same house or any corrupt noisome or stinking thing the sauor or smell whereof is offensiue to the inhabitant of the same house and his familie that is an oppression of the same inhabitant The remedies for oppression by Nusances In which foresaid cases the parties grieued by the said Nusances and oppressions may in some cases haue their remedies by Assise of Nusance brought in the Common Pleas in some other cases by writs of Nusance called Vicountiels tryed in the Countie before the Sherife in some other cases by the writ of Quod permittat in some other cases by action vpon the case and in most of the sayd cases the sayd parties grieued by the sayd Nusances may take away pull downe Co. li. 5. 101. and remooue the same Nusances as their seuerall estates will enable them or their seuerall cases doe require Oppression by Rescous 6 Euerie Rescous that is vnlawfully made of cattel or other goods distrained is an oppression for the offendor doth a wrong of his owne authoritie to the preiudice of another in contempt of the iustice of the Realme without any warrant or colour of law Séeing when the partie grieued by himselfe 44. Ed. 3. 20 40. Ed. 3. 32. 17. Ed. 3. 43. 18. Ed. 3. 30 2. H. 4. 15. or some other doth distraine within his fée for his rent or seruices behind for dammages which hée hath sustained for amerciaments a rent charge or for some other cause which hée taketh to bée lawfull the cattell or other goods of him who he doth conceiue detaineth his due rent or seruice from him or whose cattell haue eaten or spoyled his corne or grasse or otherwise haue trespassed in his ground and doth in quiet and peaceable manner driue them towards the pownd there to remaine as a pledge sub custodia legis vntill the law hath decided whether there was iust cause of distresse or not the owner of the same cattell or some other in his behalfe will by force and strong hand make Rescous of this cattell and take them from him who distrayned them and so will not submit himselfe to the censure of the law nor tarrie vntill it be discussed by the ordinarie course of iustice whether the party that distrained had lawfull cause so to doe or not but will be his owne iudge and take the authoritie of reuenge to himselfe which is an oppression of him whose rent or seruices were due and vnpayd or whose corne or grasse was eaten c. and who was also forcibly depriued of the ordinarie remedie which the law did assigne him for the recouerie of his owne duetie And moreouer it is a contempt of the law which the same offendor doth refuse to be iudged by 7. H. 6. 1. 22. H. 6. 54. Fitz. Na. Br. 101. and therefore in this case the partie grieued may pursue against the offendor a writ of Rescous for this Rescous made and oppression done vnto him and thereby recouer his dammages and also the King shall haue a fine of him for this contempt of his law and his peace broken Li. Int. 527. and the offendor shall be imprisoned vntill hée hath paid the same 7 Euery Encrochment which one person doth make vpon anothers land Oppression by incrochments ground couered with water rent or seruice is also an Oppression for they be done and put in practise by the offendors own open plaine manifest wrong without any warrant or colour of the law As it is an oppression for one person by ploughing earing ditching hedging remoouing of Méerestones or land markes 22. Ass p. 93 to get away the ground or soyle of another and so it is for one person to draw away or alter an auncient Riuer Brooke or Streame of another persons out of the old and wonted course and so it is if there be lord and tenant and the tenant doth hold his land of his lord by fealty fiue shillings of yearely rent and of late yeares the lord hath had seisin of more rent of the tenant by the tenants owne payment without cohertion of Distresse if in this case the lord will distraine his tenants Cattell for that surplusage of rent that
that he did cause some lawfull punishment to be inflicted vpon certaine of them for their crimes notwithstanding all these or such like misdemeanors be neither Treason nor Felony by the Law but a Riot and yet in respect of the basenesse of the parties which committed this wrong of the cause for the which they put it in practise of the worthinesse of the person and of his place vpon whom it was executed of the barbarous course taken in the performance therof of the perillous exāple giuen to other malefactors these riotors deserue to bée censured with a much sharper punishment then the former For as there be no bounds obserued by leud and wicked persons of their outrages so be there no certaine means or limits assigned of their punishments but the said most honourable Court of estate may draw forth his Maiesties sword of iustice and first punish the said offences according to the particuler lawes and statutes prouided therfore and then euery person transgressing by himselfe according to the circumstance of his demerits as partly may appeare by the statute of anno 3. H. 7. St. 3. H. 7. 1. which expresseth some parts of the authority giuen to the Lords of the said Court and more by a branch of the statute of Magna Charta whereby it is enacted St. 9. H. 3. 14 That euery fréeman shall be amerced viz. punished for reasonable cause according to the quantity of his offence And further by the statute of Anno 33. H. 8. St. 33. H. 8. 1 which giueth the lords of the said Court of Starre-chamber authority to punish those who by counterfeit letters or tokens shall get other mens goods into their hands by imprisonment setting vpon the pillory or other corporall paine whatsoeuer except death ⧠Treasons 1 CRimen lesae Maiestatis What is Treason in our English tongue called Treason is a great offence done to the Maiesty of gouernement and the peace of the land which the wisdome of this Realme hath from age to age so much hated and abhorred that they haue persecuted those that were guiltie therin with most violent and vntimely death and with extreame and seuere tortures they haue ordained that an offendor therein shall be hanged and cut downe aliue that his bowels shall bée cut off and burned in his sight that his head shall bée seuered from his bodie that his quarters shall bée diuided asunder and disposed at the Kings pleasure and made food for the birds of the aire or the beasts of the field and that his wife and children shall be thrust out of his house and liuings that his séed and blood shall be corrupted that his lands and goods shall be confiscated and as by the statute of 29. H. 6. 1. it is ordained of the Traitor Iohn Cade he shall be called a false Traytor for euer And as our respectiue and considerat forefathers haue deuised to yéeld vnto those grieuous offendors Legem talionis and to teare their bodies lands and goods who doe practise to rent and pull asunder this Maiestie of gouernement by destroying the head or such as are like to be the principall succéeding members thereof or by diuiding the bodie into parts or by weakning the force and strength thereof or by subuerting the chiefe Magistrats of iustice or by counterfeiting staining or blemishing of the peculiar and royall Ensignes Cognisances and Sinewes thereof so haue they béene carefull and prouident that there should be no greater number of those dreadfull sharpe and bitter lawes than vrgent necessitie for the preseruation of that Maiestie of gouernment required And because it was in former times greatly doubted and ofttimes called in question amongst the Sages of the Realme and learned in the lawes which offences were by the common law high Treason and which not and which were petit Treason and which not and seuerall men were of seuerall opinions therein and to the intent that al future ages might know and be more vigilant to eschew the penalties thereof King Edward the third at his Parliament begun at Westminster the thirtéenth day of Ianuarie St. 25. E. 3. 2 in the 25. yere of his raign at the request of his Lords and petition of his Commons made a declaration thereof in manner as hereafter followeth viz. It is high Treason where a man doth compasse High treason or imagin the death of our Soueraigne Lord the King or of our Ladie the Quéene his wife or of their eldest sonne and heire or if a man doth deflower the Kings wife or the Kings eldest daughter being vnmaried or the kings eldest sonne and heires wife or if a man doe leuie warre against our Lord the king in his Realme or be adherent to the kings enemies in his Realme giuing to them aid and comfort in his Realme or else where and thereof be probably attainted of open deed by people of their owne condition And if a man do counterfeit the Kings great Seale or his priuie Seale or his money which offences Bracton doth terme Crimen falsi And if a man bring false money into this Realme counterfeit to the money of England knowing the money to be false Bracton de Corona cap. 3. to marchandise or make paiment in deceit of our Lord the King and his people And if a man kill the Chauncellor Treasurer or the Kings Iustice of the one Bench or the other Iustices of Eire and of Assises and all other Iustices assigned to heare and determine beeing in their places doing their Offices And it is to bée vnderstood that in the cases aforesaid it ought to bee adiudged Treason which extendeth to our Lord the King and his royall Maiestie And of such Treason the forfeiture of the escheat doth appertaine to our Lord the King as well of the lands and tenements holden of others as of himselfe And moreouer there is another manner of Treason Petit treason that is to say When a seruant killeth his Master or a wife her husband or when a secular or religious man killeth his Prelat to whom he oweth faith and obedience And such manner of Treason giueth the escheats to euery Lord of his owne fée And because many other cases of like Treason may happen in time to come which a man cannot thinke of nor declare at this present It is accorded that if any other case supposed to be treason that is not before specified doth happen of new before Iustices the Iustices shall stay without proceeding to iudgement of Treason vntill the case be declared and shewed before the King and his Parliament whether it ought to be adiudged Treason or other Felonie And in case any man of this Realme doe ride armed openly or secretly with people armed against another for to kill or rob him or to take and detaine him vntill he hath made fine and ransome to be deliuered it is not the King or his Counsels wil that in such case it shall be adiudged Treason but it shall be
St. 16. R. 2. 5 shall incurre the paines and penalties containeâ—â—n the Statute of Premunire made Anno 16. Ri. 2. 17 Because diuerse persons euill affected had practised contrarie to the meaning of the foresaide Statute of 13. Elizab. 2. by other meanes than by Bulles or Instruments written or printed to withdrawe seuerall of the Quéenes subiects from their naturall obedience to her Maiestie to obey the vsurped authoritie of the Bishop of Rome and in respect of the same to perswade great numbers to withdrawe their due obedience to her Maiesties Lawes established for the due seruice of God Perswading to the Romish religion For reformation whereof St. â— 3. Eli. 1 and to declare the true meaning of the same Lawe by a Statute made Anno 23. Elizab. 1. it was declared and enacted That all persons whatsoeuer which haue or shall haue or shall pretend to haue power or shall by any wayes or meanes put in practise to absolue perswade or withdrawe any of the Quéenes subiects or any within her Realmes or Dominions from their naturall obedience to her Maiestie or to withrawe them for that intent from the Religion now by her Highnesse authoritie established within her Highnesse Dominions to the Romish Religion or mooue them or any of them to promise any obedience to anie pretended authoritie of the Sea of Rome or of anie other Prince State or Potentate to be had or vsed within her Dominions or shall doe anie ouert Act to that intent or purpose and euerie of them shall be to all intents adiudged to be traitours and being thereof lawfully conuicted shall haue iudgement suffer and forfeit as in case of high Treason And if any person shall by any meanes be willingly absolued or withdrawen as aforesaide or willingly be reconciled Being perswaded to the Romish Religion or shall promise anie obedience to any such pretended authoritie Prince State or Potentate as is aforesaide Then euerie such person and persons their Procurers and councellors thereunto being thereof lawfully conuicted shall be taken tried and iudged and shall suffer and forfeit as in cases of high Treason And for the further confirmation and explanation of the saide Statute of Anno 23. Elizab. 1. and for a more augmentation thereof in some sort there was an other Statute made Anno 3. St. 3. Iac. 4 Iacob 4. whereby it was enacted That if any person or persons shall either vpon the Seas or beyond the Seas or in any other place within the Dominions of the King his heires or successours put in practise to absolue perswade or withdrawe any of the Subiects of the King his heires Practising to absolue or reconcile to the Romish Religion or successours of this Realme of England from their naturall obedience to his Maiestie his heires or successours Or to reconcile them to the Pope or Sea of Rome or to mooue them or any of them to promise obedience to anie pretended Authoritie of the Sea of Rome or to any other Prince State or Potentate Then euery such person and persons their Procurors Aidors Councellors and Maintainors knowing the same shall be to all intents adiudged Traitours and being conuicted shall haue iudgement suffer and forfeit as in case of high Treason And if any such person as is aforesaide either vpon the Seas or beyond the Seas or in anie other place within the Dominions of the King his heires or successours shall be willingly absolued or withdrawen as aforesaide or willingly reconciled or shall promise obedience to anie such pretended authoritie Prince Absolued or reconciled State or Potentate as is aforesaide Euery such person and persons their Procurers Councellours Aidors and Maintainours knowing the same shall be to all intents adiudged Traitours and being conuict shall haue iudgement suffer and forfeit as in case of high Treason But this Clause touching Reconciliation shall not extend to anie person which shall bée reconciled to the Pope or Sea of Rome that shall returne into this Realme and within sixe daies after his returne A reconciled person submitteth before the Bishoppe of the Diocesse or two Iustices of the Peace of the Countie where hée shall arriue shall submit himselfe to the King and his lawes and take the othe of Supremacie ordained Anno 1. Eliz. 1. and the othe set downe in this Act. 18 Whereas diuerse persons called or professed Iesuites Seminarie priests and other priests made beyond the Sea according to the order of the Romish Church haue come and béene sent into this Realme of purpose not onely to withdraw the Quéenes subiects from their due obedienes to her Maiestie but also to mooue sedition rebellion and open hostilitie within her Highnesse Dominions For reformation whereof by a Statute made Anno 27. Elizab. it was enacted That it shall not be lawfull to Iesuites and Priests shall not come into this Realme or for any Iesuite Seminarie Priest or other such Priest Deacon or other Religious or Ecclesiasticall person whatsoeuer St. 27. 2 E. 2 being borne within this Realme or any of the Dominions thereof and héeretofore since 24. Iun. Anno 1. reginae Eliza. made ordained or professed or héereafter to be made ordained or professed by any authoritie or iurisdiction deriued challenged or pretended from the Sea of Rome by or of what name title or degrée soeuer the same shall be called or knowen to come into be or remaine in any part of this Realme or any Dominions thereof other than in such cases and vpon such speciall occasions onely and for such time onely as is expressed in this Act viz. if he be so weake and infirme of body that hée cannot passe out of this Realme And if hée doe then euery such offence shall be adiudged high Treason And euery person so offending shall for his offence be adiudged a Traitor and shall suffer loose and forfeit as in case of high Treason 19 By a Statute made Anno 27. Elizab. it was established That if any the Quéenes subiects not being a Iesuite Seminarie Priest St. 27. El. 2. or other Priest Deacon or Religious or Ecclesiasticall person as is before mentined now being or which héereafter shall be of or brought vp in any Colledge of Iesuites Seminarie persons shall retire into England or Seminaries already erected or ordained or héereafter to be erected or ordained in any parts beyond the Seas or out of this realme in any forraine parts shall not within sixe moneths next after Proclamation in that behalfe to be made within the citie of London vnder the great Seale of England returne into this Realme and thereupon within two dayes next after such returne before the Bishop of the Diocesse or two Iustices of peace of the County where hée shall arriue submit himselfe to her Maiestie and her Lawes and take the Othe set foorth Anno 1. Elizab. 1. Then euery such person which shall otherwise returne come into or be in this Realme or any other the Dominions thereof for
Striking in Westminster Hall 27 And the same Law is Fitz. Cor. 280. M. 2. 3. P. M. Dy. 188. if one strike another in Westminster Hall during the time that the Kings Courts be sitting there and be indicted thereof this is misprision of Treason and an indignitie offered to the Magistrates and place of iustice Therefore in this case the offender shall haue iudgement to haue his right hand cut off to loose his lands and goods and to be perpetually imprisoned Reâ—scuing a prisoner arrested by a Iudge 28 If one of the Kings Iustices assigned M. 22. Ed. 3. 13. doe arrest any person which hath made a fray before him and a stranger will rescue the prisoner whereby he doth escape this is misprision of Treason and in this case as well the prisoner as he that made the rescous shall forfeit to the King his landes and goods and be imprisoned during their liues Because the attachment of such a Iustice is the Kings owne attachment in the construction of Lawe 29 Because striking in the Kings pallace or where he shall remaine in person is a kinde of disgrace offered vnto or contempt had of the maiestie of the king who is the head of the common wealth and the chiefe preseruer of peace therein and therefore it is to be accounted a great Misprision and worthy of seuere punishment wherefore for the preuention thereof Shedding of blood within the kings palace by a Statute made Anno 33. St. 33. H. 8. 12. H. 8. 12. it was established That if any person or persons shall malitiously strike any other person whereby blood shall be shedde in any of the Kings houses or Palaces or any other house wherein the king his heires or successors shall bee at that time abiding in his royall person viz. within any edifices courts places gardens orchards or houses within the Porters ward of any of the houses aboue rehearsed or within any Gardens priuie walkes orchards tilt-yards wood-yards tennice-plaies cocke-fights bowling alleyes néere adioyning to the said houses and béeing part of the same or within two hundred foot of the Standard of any outward gate or gates of any of the said houses commonly vsed for passage from any of the houses c. and shal be thereof indicted arraigned and attainted according to the forme of the said Statute he so offending shall haue his right hand cut off bee imprisoned during his life and make fine to the King at his pleasure But this Act and the paines and forfeitures before rehearsed shall not extend to any Noble man nor other person that shall strike his seruant within the said Palaces or Houses or the limits of the same with his hand or fist or any small staffe or sticke for correction for any offence committed Nor to any of the Kings officers that in execution of his office shall strike any person with his hand fist or small staffe sticke or tipstaffe Nor to any other person that in doing seruice at any triumph or any other time of seruice by the Kings or any of his Councel or other his head officers commandement shal for the execution of his said seruice strike any person with his hand fist smal staffe or stick or any tipstaffe within the same palace house c. although by reason of the same stroke or strokes there happen to bée any blood-shed of such person as shal be so stricken except the person so stricken die of the same stroke within one yeare next after And so it is to be noted by the foresaid Statute of 33. H. 8. and the foure cases next precedent that striking in the Kings Palace or House where himselfe doth make his abode is not so penall as striking or drawing a weapon to strike is where he is but represented by others in time and place of Iustice for the law doth inflict a more seuere punishment vpon him who striketh or draweth his weapon to strike in place time of execution of Iustice than it doth to him who offereth the like violence in the house and at the time where the kings owne person is remaining In which case the offendor receiueth no punishment at all for striking or drawing of his weapons to strike vnlesse blood be shed thereby Which lawes doe procéed of the great care and reuerend respect that is had of Iustice and of peace ensuing thereof 30 For as much as some doubts and questions were mooued that certaine kinds of Treasons Misprisions and concealements of Treasons committed out of this Realme could not by the common lawes of this Realme be enquired of heard and determined within this Realme of England for a plaine declaration whereof St. 35. H. 8. 2 26. H. 8. 13. 5. Ed. 6. 11. by a Statute made Anno 35. H. 8. it was enacted That all manner of offences béeing alreadie made or declared or hereafter to bee made or declared to be Treasons Misprisions of Treasons or concealements of Treasons and done perpetrated or committed by any person or persons out of this Realme of England shal be enquired of heard and determined before the Kings Iustices of his Bench for pleas to be holden before himselfe Trial of treasons committed out of the Realme by good and lawfull men of the same shire where the said Bench shall sit and bée kept or else before such Commissioners and in such shire of the Realme as shall be assigned by the Kings Commission and by good and lawfull men of the same Shire in like manner and forme to all intents as if such treasons c. had béene committed in the same shire where they shall be so inquired of heard and determined as is aforesaid And if any Péere of this Realme shall be indicted of any such Treasons c. then he shall haue his triall by his Péeres c. Which foresaid Statute of Anno 35. H. 8. remaineth in force notwithstanding the Statute of Anno 1. 2. P. M. 10. By which it is ordered h. 13. El. Dyer 298. That all Trials had awarded or made for any Treason shall bee had and vsed onely according to the course of the common lawes of this Realme and not otherwise Outlawrie of offendors in Treason beeing beyond Sea 31 By a branch of a Statute made Anno 26. H. 8. it was ordained That all Proces of Outlawrie to be made within this Realme against any offendors in Treason being resiant or inhabiting out of this Realme or beyond the Sea at the time of the Outlawrie pronounced shal be as good and effectuall in the law to all intents as if any such offendors had béene resiant within this Realme at the time of such Proces awarded Outlawrie pronounced And after by a Statute made Anno 5. E. 6. it was conditioned and prouided St. 5. E. 6. 11. That if the partie so outlawed shall within one yeare after the said Outlawrie pronounced or iudgement giuen thereupon yéeld himselfe to the chiefe Iustice
An. 38. H. 8. Bro. Treason 2. for ioyning the Armes of England before the Conquest and the Armes since to his owne Armes for some other offences Quaere within which words of the first rehearsed Statute of 25. E. 3. or of any other Statute at the time of his arraignment in force that offence was comprised and made Treason S. Triall by Peeres 2. ⧠Homicide HOmicide is a word compound and is deriued of these two words Bâ—acton de corona viz. hominis cedium and the most apt and proper definition thereof is when one man or moe men doe kill another man for if a man be killed by a dogge a beast or other thing it is not properly termed homicide The said homicide may be committed by seuerall meanes viz. by iustice Homicide by iustice as when a Iudge doth command or pronounce his sentence that a man attainted by course of law shal be put to death By necessitie Homicide by necessitie as when one man killeth an other with griefe and sorrowe of minde thereby to deliuer himselfe or that which is his or some other persons or things which he is bound to defend from further perill which he or they cannot otherwise escape By mischance By mischance as when a man casteth a stone at a bird or a beast or is in lopping or felling of a trée and another man passing by is slaine therewith without the foreknowledge and against the will of him who did the déede By will By will as when one man hath a will to fight with another and then doth kill him or some other that is in his company and doth take his part in that combate But of this Homicide by will there bée two sortes whereof the one is called Murder and that is By murder when one man vpon malice prepenced and forethought doth feloniously kill an other And the other is called Manslaughter or Chance medley and that is By manslaughter when two men fight together vpon a suddaine heat of blood without any malice precedent and one of them doth kill the other 2 If a man be adiudged by the court to be hanged Homicide by iustice and the Sherife is commanded by the Iudge to doe execution in that manner and he doth it accordingly this is Homicide by iustice But if the Sherife do behead him or cause him to be beheaded or by any other meanes to be put to death than according to the Iudgement M. 35. H. 6. 58. this is no Homicide by iustice but felonie in the Sherife The order of law not obserued in execution of Iustice for that he hath not obserued the order of the Law viz. the iudgement in putting the offendor to death And the same law is if one which is not Sherife or other officer thereunto lawfully deputed will put to death an offendor that is condemned to die vpon his owne authoritie for that is no Homicide by iustice but felonie in him who beeing not the Kings officer thereunto assigned hath killed one of the Kings Subiects without warrant of his law And therefore if the Iudge himselfe who gaue iudgement of death against an offendor shall after put the same offendor to death it is not iustifiable but beeing indited and arraigned thereof he must plead not guiltie And in this case the wife may haue an Appell of the death of her husband so put to death against the said Sherife or other person though the heire cannot haue an Appell of the death of his father so executed because his blood is corrupted by the Attainder 35. H. 6. 57. No man may kill him that is outlawed of felony or attainted in a Praemunire 3 If a man be attainted of felonie by Outlawrie it is Homicide by iustice for the Iudge before whom he is brought to command him to be put to death and for the sherife to sée executioÌ„ done of him according to the iudgement 2. Ass p. 3. 27. Ass p. 4. 35. H. 6. 58. viz. to hang him But it is felonie and not Homicide by iustice for any other man of his owne authoritie to kill him And for as much as it was doubtfull whether by the lawes of this realme there was any punishment for such as kill or slea any person or persons attainted in or vpon any Praemunire Therefore by a Statute made anÌ„ 5. El. 1. it was enacted St. 5. El. 1. That it shall not be lawfull to any person or persons to slea or kil any person or persons in any manner attainted or hereafter to be attainted of in or vpon any Praemunire by pretence reason or authoritie or force of any word or words thing or things contained or specified in any Statute or Law of Prouision and Praemunire or in any of them Any Law Statute Opinion or Exposition to the contrarie notwithstanding So that to kill any person attainted vpon a Praemunire is felonie and not Homicide by iustice Killing a felon that will not be arrested 4 A shirife a bayly 22. Ass p. 45 Fi. Cor. 261 or any other which hath warrant to arrest a man indicted of Felony may well iustifie the killing of him if he wil not suffer himselfe to be arrested but that he doth stand at his defence in such manner that the officer and his assistants cannot arrest him without killing of him And in this case the officer shal be discharged without the kings pardon for this is homicide by iustice done vpon him who refuseth to yéeld vnto and submit himselfe to the iustice of the Law And euery person as well he that hath no warrant as he that hath may apprehend a Felon and if he wil not yeeld to be arrested but stand to his defence or flie the pursuer may kill him without blame the arrest being for Felony and therein he shall commit homicide by iustice And by the statute of Anno 1. Killing of such as be vnlawfully assembled M. it is established That if any persons St. 1. M. 12. aboue the number of two shall vnlawfully assemble together to the intent with force armes to doe practise or put in vre any of the things in the said statute mentioned then it shall be lawfull to euery Iustice of peace and to euery Shirife Mayor Bailife and other head officer of any Citie or Towne corporat or to any other hauing the Kings commission or letters to raise assemble the Kings subiects in maner of warre to be arraied in such great number as he or they shall thinke méet or able to the intent by violence of strength to suppresse and take the said persons so vnlawfully assembled And if the said persons so vnlawfully assembled or any of theÌ„ shall fortune to be slaine maihemed or hurt in or about the repressing or taking of them then euery such Iustice mayor sherife c. and euery other person hauing authoritie as is aforesaid and euery person and
persons by him or them assembled shal be free discharged and vnpunished as well against the King as against all and euery other person and persons of for or concerning such killing maiheming hurting c. for it is homicide by iustice done and committed by persons lawfully authorised vpon such riotous and rebellious persons which after Proclamation made will not depart and seuer themselues asunder and submit and yeeld themselues obedient to the law of the Realme S. Riots 37. 5 As any man may iustifie the killing of another before arrest Killing him that is carrying to the Gaole if he wil not yeeld so may he doe after arrest if there be any ineuitable necessitie therein as if an offendor be arrested for felony 22. Ass p. 55 Fitz. Cor. 288. and when he is in leading towards the Gaole he breaketh from those that doe conduct him and flieth away and his conductors doe pursue him so that they cannot apprehend and take him againe without killing of him In this case if they doe kill him this is homicide by iustice and iustifiable for that the offendors would not yeeld to the triall iustice of the law But if he which killed the offendor procured the matter which is iustifiable for the cause aforesaid to be found before himselfe in respect of some iurisdiction which he hath to enquire of felonies Fi. Cor. 328 he shall not bée discharged vpon such an indictment found vntill he be arraigned thereof and the matter also found by verdict because he himselfe was Iudge But the law is otherwise if it were found before other commissioners 6 As a man may kill an offendor before arrest Killing a prisoner attempting to escape or after arrest if he will not yéeld so in some case a man may kil him that is vnder arrest in prison As a Gaoler came in the night with a Lanthorne in his hand to see his prisoners who before his comming had broken their yrons 22. Ass p 55 and stood all ready to kil him and did beat and euill intreat him and he hauing a hatchet in his hand therewith slew two of them and escaped from the residue This was adiudged to be well done and to deserue no punishment for this was by the Gaoler homicide done by iustice to kill them who attempted to kill him and who indeauoured to escape the triall and iustice of the law St. 24. H. 8. 5 7 It appeareth by the Statute of an̄ 24. H. 8. 5. Killing him that attempteth robbery or burglary That it is homicide iustifiable if a man doe kill an offendor which attempteth feloniously to robbe or murder him 22. Ass p. 55 26. As p. 23 32. Co. l. 5. f. 91 Fi. Cor. 303 305. in or néere any high way cart way horse way or foot way or in his mansion house or to kill him which attempteth burglarie to breake his dwelling house in the night and that the same shal be by verdict so found and tried for he shall neither loose lands goods or cattels for the death of any such euill disposed person but shal be fully discharged as if he were acquit thereof 8 To the intent that Trespassors in forrests chases parkes and warrens Killing of an offendor in a Parke warren or forrest may more charily eschew and feare to enter and trespasse in the same by a Statute made an̄ 21. Stat. 11. E. 1. E. 1. it was ordained That if any forester parke-kéeper or warreiner shall find any offendors within his Bailiwicke there wandring and doing hurt which after Huy Crie leuied to kéep the peace and obey the law will not yéeld themselues to the Forrester c. but will flie defend themselues by violence Then though the Forresters Park-kéepers and Warreiners any other comming in their companie to kéep the Kings peace endeauouring to arrest such offendors doe kil any of the same offendors he shal neither suffer death nor sustaine any other trouble or punishment therefore But if any of the said Forresters Parke-keepers or Warriners or any other by reason of contention despite or hatred will lay to any mans charge passing through his Bailiwicke that hee came thither to doe hurt whereas hee did not neither was found wandring or offending and so kill him and thereof be conuicted he shal be punished for his death as he ought to be for the death of an other being in the Kings peace And by this meanes the Forrester doth commit homicide by iustice vpon the offendor because he will not submit himselfe and yeeld to be iustified by the law 9 If the king haue an auncient Chace whereof the Lieutenants M. 15. 16 El. Dyer 327. or Kéepers haue vsed time out of the remēbrance of man as well by night as by day to hunt in the Manor of Dale adioyning to the said Chace such deare as do strate out of the same Chace into the said Manor as in the purlewe of the said chace but yet diuided from the same with hedge and ditch And after the same Manor of Dale doth come vnto the Kings hands and the King doth grant the same Manor to another and his heires and further doth grant vnto the same person frée Warreine in all his demesne lands of the said Manor Vnity of possession in a chace and a manor adioyning hauing free warrein which frée Warreine hath bin before confirmed by diuers auncient Charters with these words viz. Ita quod nullus intret in Warrennam illam ad fugandum sine licentia voluntate of the grauntée of the said Manor In this case notwithstanding the vnitie of the possession of the Chace and the Manor of D. in the king and notwithstanding the Kings grant of the manor and the confirmation of the warreine with the generall words of the Prohibition aforesaid which doe onely extend to the Subiect the kings libertie of the purlewe doth remain vnextinguished And therefore if one of the Kings Kéepers of the said Chace shall come into the said Manor of D. being purliew to fetch in his straied déere it is not lawfull for the Lord of the said manor of D. or for any of his seruants to kill him after huy and crie made to kéep the peace and obey the law and if he doe it is not iustifiable by the foresaid Statute of 21. Ed. 1. for he cannot commit homicide by iustice nor iustifie the killing of him in his Warreine who hath in a sort and to some purpose interest to come into the said ground to fetch forth his straied deere One killing another in combat 10 If in Appell of murder burglarie or other felonie the defendant doe 37 H. 6. 21 plead not guiltie ready to defend it by his body and the Appellant and Appellée doe ioyne in the combat and one of them doe kill another in battell This is Homicide by iustice and not punishable for as the law of the Realme doth allow
murder in him that slew him although the murderer did not know the party whom hée killed and although the fray was on the sodaine Because the Constable and his assistants came by authoritie warrant and commaund of the Lawe to kéepe the peace and auoide the danger which might ensue by the breach thereof And therefore the Lawe doth adiudge this murder and that the murderer had a prepenced malice in him to oppose himselfe against the Lawe and the iustice of the Realme And if the Shiriffe or any of his Bayliffes or Officers be killed in the execution of the Kings Processe or in doing their office The Shiriffe or his officer is slaine in execution of Processs◠this is murder And it is murder if a watchman be killed in watching and doing of his office for in those cases the Lawe doth construe the offence not onely as done to the person that is slaine but to the office of execution of iustice or the keeping of the peace which the law had imposed vpon him that was slaine and so the offender by killing of this man hath done as much as in him lieth to restraine the execution of iustice or to hinder the preseruation of the peace Murder and manslaughter committed in the death of one man 26 If a man goe with malice prepenced to fight with an other and to kill him and a third person séeing them fighting Plo. Com. 100. goeth on the suddaine without malice to take the part of him that went with his malice and to fight for him and then they two strike and kill the man that was by them assaulted This is wilfull murder in the first man which went with the malice prepenced to kill and but manslaughter and no murder in the other who went to take his friends part and had no malice prepenced to kill As if the master vpon malice prepenced doth lie in the way to assault and kill a man and taketh some of his seruants with him that hee doth not acquaint with this malitious intention and the master doth assault the same person who he did lie in waight for and doth fight with him and the seruants doe take their masters part and also fight with the partie assaulted and they altogether doe kill him This is willfull murder in the master and but manslaughter in the seruants for that in them there was no malice prepenced towardes the partie slaine But if the master had made his seruants priuie to his intention and they had gone with him and killed the other it should haue beene adiudged murder in the seruants also 27 If a man vpon malice prepenced do lie in waight to kill an other man Plo. Com. 101. and doth méet him A man bearing malice to one doth kill an other assaile and fight with him a third man being in the companie of him that is assailed doth fight and defend him In this case if the first man that made the assault doe kill the third man who tooke part and defended the second man that was assailed it is in him wilfull murder though at the first he did beare no malice to him that hee killed neyther knew him But when the first man did beare malice to the second man that hee first assaulted and ment to haue killed him and to haue put his intended malitious purpose in execution against him and slew one other who resisted his purpose the law doth construe it that he caried a malicious and reuenging mind against all those that did resist his wicked purpose And therefore as he slew one in the defence of an other so is his malicious and murdering minde and intention expounded to be transferred from the one to the other and he shal be adiudged a murderer as if he had killed the first man And the same lawe is if one man doe lie in waight in a place to kill an other man and a stranger doth come to the same place and he that doth lie and waite to kill mistaking the man doth kill that straunger thinking he had bin the same person which he did meane to kill This killing shal be adiudged wilfull murder for it is grounded vpon malice prepenced though it were not executed vpon him to whom he did beare the malice And therefore it shal be adiudged the like offence as if hee had slaine the same person that hee meant to haue killed And so it is if a man vpon malice prepenced doe shoote at one man with intent to kill him and his arrow or pellet doth kill an other man to whom he did beare no malice this shal be adiudged murder in him for in his act doing he intended murder and séeing he directed his arrow to kill one man and that slew another the offence shall be accounted in equall degrée as if had killed him whom he meant to haue slaine for the end of the fact shall be iudged by the beginning thereof and the later part shall taste of the first and the first part which was the shooting of the arrow or pellet was grounded vpon malice prepenced and a murdering minde and so the offence in Lawe shall be iudged wilfull murder Plow com 474 28 The husband did giue to his wife a rosted apple wherein hée had put poison with intent to poison and kill her and the wife not knowing the intent of her husband nor that the apple was poisoned deliuered the same apple in the presence of her husband to a yoong childe of their owne to eate who did eate of it and died thereof within few daies after Giuing poison to one another taketh it dieth This was adiudged wilfull murder in the husband for that he deliuered the poisoned apple with intent to kill one person and séeing by his act death did ensue although it was to another person than he meant to kill yet it shall be adiudged murder in him for he was the originall founder and only cause of this death and this murder should be vnpunished if he should not be punished therefore for the wife which deliuered the poisoned apple to her owne childe could not be guiltie of any offence for that she was ignorant of the mischiefe pretended But if one doe lay rats-bane or other venomed thing in a house or place with intent to kill rattes mice or other vermine and a man or woman doth eate of it and dieth thereof this is no murder or other felony in him that laied it for that he had no intent to hurt any man or woman M. 2. El. Di. 186 29 An aduouterer and a harlot being by him begotten with childe Two agréeing vppon a murder and one of them doth it did agrée that after the womans deliuery the childe should be killed whereupon the mother after her deliuerie perswaded the Midwife to kill the childe who did it accordingly viz. she cut the throat of it In this case the mother and midwife were adiudged principall murderers and the aduouterer
Felonie as Rape Robberie c. for in Rape if one do not commit the act Fitz. Cor. 314. 350. but aideth and assisteth his companion hee is principall as well as hee that committeth the fact And the same law is if one doe commit a Robberie and others be in his companie and do come with him for that purpose they bée all principals 13 Accessorie after the offence is he Accessorie after the offence committed who knowing that another hath committed a felonie doth receiue him ayd him or comfort him As if one do receiue a felon before he is attainted of felonie knowing of the felonie which he hath committed 26. Ass p. 47 or doth fauour him or ayd him with money meat drinke or lodging by that meanes he shal be adiudged accessorie What act of the accessorie maketh him a felon what not But this difference is to be taken of aid or counsell for if he aid him by his good word or suit for his deliuerance or do send a letter for his enlargement this doth not make him acessorie to the felonie Receit of a felon attainted in the same Countie 14 If one receiue a felon that is attainted of Felonie by verdict or confession in the same Countie where the receiuer is commorant or dwelling and doth ayd him he is accessorie to the Felonie Fi. Cor. 377 Bracton though he doth not know that the other hath committed Felonie because hee is a Felon by matter of record whereof euerie straunger dwelling or commorant in the same Countie is to take notice And it is Felonie if one be indicted of the receit of another that is Outlawed of Felonie in the same Countie where the receiuer dwelleth for that the offendor is attainted of Felonie in that Countie by matter of record S. Indictments 34. Receit of a felon attainted in another Countie 15 If one be attainted of Felonie by verdict confession Fi. Cor. 377 or outlawry in one Countie and another doth receiue him and aid him in another Countie he is not accessorie to the Felonie vnlesse he doth know of the Felonie because hée cannot take knowledge of an act done in another Countie though it be by matter of record S. Indictments 34. Indictment of an accessorie in one County to an offence done in another 16 Because that Théeues and Robbers that had robbed or stollen in one Countie would conuey their spoile or part thereof so robbed and stollen vnto some of their adherents in another countie where the principall offence was not committed who knowing of such felonie willingly and by couin did receiue the same in which case though the principall felon were attainted in one countie the accessorie escaped by reason that he was accessorie in another Countie and that the Iurors of the same countie by the common law could take no knowledge of the principall felonie ne attainder in the first countie and so such accessories escaped thereof vnpunished For the remedie whereof by a Statute made Anno 2. 3. E. 6. it was ordained St. 2. 3. E. 6. 24. That where any murder or felonie shall be committed in one countie Triall of an accessorie in one County to an offence done in another and another person or moe shall be accessorie to the same in another countie Then an Inditement found or taken against such accessorie and accessories vpon the circumstance of such matter before the Iustices of Peace or other Iustices or commissioners to enquire of felonies in the countie where such offences of accessorie shal be committed shal be as good in the law as if the said principall offence had bin committed within the same coūtie where the same indictment against such accessorie shal be found And the Iustices of Gaole deliuerie or Oyer Terminer or two of them of or in such countie where the offence of any such accessorie shal be committed or done vpon suit to them made shall write to the Custos Rotulorum or Kéepers of the Records where such principall shal be attainted or conuict to certifie them whether such principall be attainted or conuicted or otherwise discharged of such principall felonie who vpon such writing shall make sufficient Certificat in writing vnder their Seale or seales to the said Iustices whether such principall bee attainted conuicted or otherwise discharged or not And after that they doe certifie that such principall is attainted conuicted or otherwise discharged of such offence Then the said Iustices c. shall procéed vpon euery such accessorie in the Countie where he became accessorie in such manner and forme as if both the said principall offence and accessorie had beene committed in the same Countie where the offence of accessorie was committed and euery such accessorie and other offendors aboue expressed shall answer vpon their Arraignments and receiue such Triall Iudgement order and execution and suffer such forfeitures as is vsed in other cases of Felonie 27. Ass p. 69 25. Ed. 3. 39. 9. H. 4. 1. 17 If one receiue goods stollen or any parcell thereof yet hée shall not bée accessorie to the felonie if he do not receiue the Felon himselfe But if he doe receiue the goods stollen Receiuing of of stolne goods and also the Felon he shall be accessorie to the felonie so that the same Felon be before accessorie of the same felonic S. Indict 34. Fitz. Cor. 427. 18 If a Felon doth flie and come to his friends house Receiuing the Felon and his friend doth shut the doore and the countrey which pursueth him doe thinke that the Felon doth continue in the house whereas he escapeth in this case the friend shall bée adiudged accessorie to this felonie for that his friend did ayd and reléeue him and endeuoured to defend him from the iustice of the law S. Escape 2. 26. Ass p. 52 19 And also a man may be accessorie to an accessorie Accessorie to an accessorie as if one doe receiue him who is accessorie to a felonie by this meanes he himselfe shall be accessorie to this accessorie because that first accessorie is a felon 1. H. 7. 6. 20 If one doe rescue him that is arrested conuicted Rescue of a Felon or attainted of felonie hée is a principall Felon and not an Accessorie and the reason is for that this is a new felonie by it selfe though it doth depend vpon the former felonie 21 A woman couert cannot bée accessorie in felonie to her husband A wife no Accessorie to her husband A maried wife a principall Felon for that by the lawes of God shée ought not discouer his counsell But by force of a Statute made Anno 1. Mar. a wife shall be a principall Felon if shee doe send deliuer or conuey any reliefe to her husband which amongst others to the number of twelue or aboue shall bée assembled practise and put in vre any of the offences prohibited by the said stat prouided against Rebellious
dammages In appeale the acquitall of the principall is not the acquitall of the accessorie for if he will recouer dammages he must be tried notwithstanding the acquitall of the principall But some doe thinke that he shall recouer dammages by the acquitall of the principall without being further tried or otherwise it would ensue that the Court should admit an accessorie where there had béene no principall which were inconuenient ⧠Breaking of Prison and Rescous BY the common Law of this Realme if a man had béen imprisoned and broken the prison hée should haue béene hanged for what cause soeuer he had béene imprisoned yea although it had béene but for trespasse Which great enormitie was redressed by the statute of Anno 1. Ed. 2. intituled St. 1. Ed. 2. De frangentibus prisonam the wordes wâ—â—reof be these Touching prisoners breaking of prison our Lord the King doth will and commaund that none which from hencefoorth doe breake prison shall haue iudgement of life and member for the breaking of prison onely except the cause for the which he was taken and imprisoned doth require such iudgement if hée should haue béene conuicted thereof according to the lawe and custome of the Realme though in times past it hath béene otherwise vsed And therefore it is to be considered who is a prisoner and what is breaking of prison Who is a prisoner according to the meaning of the foresaide Statute Euery person who is vnder arrest for felony is a prisoner aswel being out of the Gaole as within So that if hée be but in the Stockes in the stréete or out of the Stockes in the possession of any that hath arrested him 1. Ed. 3. 17. 1. M. Di. 99 and doth make an escape that is a breaking of prison in the prisoner for imprisonment is none other but a restraint of libertie 2 Though the letter of the stat of AnÌ„ 1. Ed. 2. 1. H. 7. 6. 25. Ed. 3. 42 1. Ed. 3. 17. be touching prisoners breaking of prison A stranger breaketh prison yet if a stranger do breake the prison he is within the compasse of this statute for that by the common lawe this was a breaking of prison in a stranger and felonie in him at that time and is felonie also at this time in the prisoner that escapeth by force of such breaking of prison by a stranger although before the said Statute it was not felony in the prisoner Letting a prisoner escape 3 If a Gaoler or any other which kéepeth a prisoner vnder arrest doe let him goe at libertie this is not felonie in the prisoner because it was no breaking of prison in the Gaoler But all the felonie in this case resteth in him who did let the prisoner escape and that is by a voluntary escape and not by breaking of prison which is felony in him that suffered him to escape 2. Ed. 3. 1 4 If by the negligence of the Gaoler or any other which hath the prisoner vnder arrest the prisoner doe escape Negligent escape this is felonie in the prisoner that doth escape for that the prisoner in making of escape did breake the prison but it is not felonie in him out of whose custodie he did escape 5 To breake prison is intended aswell of a Rescous made of a prisoner Rescuing of a prisoner as of breaking of prison 1. H. 7. 6. As if a prisoner be vnder arrest for felony and a stranger will feloniously take him out of the possession of him that hath arrested him this Rescous is a breaking of prison and is felonie as wel in the partie which escapeth as in him that made the Rescous and so was it by the common law Fi. Cor. 333 6 If a stranger disturbe the arresting of a felon Disturbing of arrest that manner of Rescous is not felonie for the letting of a felon escape which is not arrested for felony is not felonie but if the felon had beene taken and arrested and after rescued this had béene felonie 2. Ed. 3. 1. 1. H. 7. 6. 7 If the Sherife returne a Rescous The Sherife returneth a Rescous of a felon taken out of his possession or doe returne an escape that the prisoner escaped from him this wil not serue as an indictment to put the partie to answer thereunto for that it is contrarie to the Statutes of 25. Ed. 3. 28. Ed. 3. 42. Ed. 3. St. 25. E. 3. 4 St. 28. E. 3. 3 St. 42. E. 3. 2. which haue ordained That none shall be imprisoned or put out of his fréehold without an indictment or presentment before Iustices or some matter of Record or by due Proces or by writ originall which the Sherifes returne is not S. Indictments 19. 2. Ed. 3. 1. 8 It is no difference whose prison the offendor doth breake viz. Whos 's the prison broken must be whether it be the Kings prison the Lords of a fraunchise or any other persons for whose soeuer it be the offendor is within the compasse of this statute though it was otherwise before the Statute Britton viz. it was not felonie vnlesse he had broken the Kings prison 9 If one be attached taken for trespasse Attachment for trespasse and he which is attached doth ecape or is rescued by a stranger this is no felonie but trespas for that the Statute saith St. 1. E. 2. Except the cause for the which he is taken and imprisoned doth require such iudgement But yet the fine shal be according to the qualitie of the person to whom the rescous is made according to the time and place wheÌ„ where it is done 22. Ed. 3. 13 A Iustice sitting in iudgement arresteth an offendor And therfore if a Iustice assigned shall arrest a man that maketh a fraie before him and a stranger doth rescue him by force whereof the prisoner escapeth in this case as wel the prisoner as he that made the rescous shal be disherited and shal suffer perpetuall imprisonment for that the attachment of such a Iustice was the attachment of the King himselfe in the iudgement of the law But if such a Iustice make an arrest when he is out of his place then such an arrest and escape is but fineable nor of any other effect but as if the Sherife or some other officer had made the arrest 1. H. 7. 6. 10 If a maÌ„ be rescued at the gallows or as he is in going to executioÌ„ this is within the compasse of this Statute Rescous after iudgement for the words of the Statute shal be inteÌ„ded aswell in the preter tence as in the present tence viz. as well of iudgemeÌ„t giuen as of iudgement to be giuen for the cause for the which he was taken and imprisoned did require such iudgement The imprisonment and not the attainder respected 11 It is not material whether the prisoner which did escape was 1. Ed. 3.17 or
but only they that were taken for the death of a man by the cōmandement of the K. or his Iust or for the forest therefore by the stat of W. 1. viz. 3. E. 1. it was ordained St. 3. E. 1. 15 That prisoners which before were outlawed Who are mainpernable and who not and they which haue abiured the realm prouers and they which be taken with the maner and such as haue broken the K. prison théeues openly defamed knowne and such as be appealed by prouers so long as the prouer doth liue except he be of good fame and such as be taken for burning of a house feloniously done or for false mony or for counterfeiting the Kings Seale Or persons excommunicat taken at the Bishops request or for a manifest offence or for treason touching the King shall be in no wise mainpernable by a common writ nor without writ But souch as be indicted of larceny by enquests taken before Sherifs or Bailifs by their office or of light suspition or for petit larceny that amounteth not aboue the value of xij d. if they were not guiltie of some larceny before or guiltie of receit of théeues or felons or of commandement or force or of aid in felony done or guilty of some other trespas for which one ought not to loose life or member And a man appealed of an approuer after the death of the approuer if he be no common théefe nor defamed shal be let out by sufficient suertie whereof the Sherife will be answerable and that without giuing any part of their goods Bailement by the Sherife If the Sherife or any other let one go at large by suertie St. 3. E. 1. 1◠which is not repleuisable if he be Sherife Constable or any other Bailife of fée which hath the kéeping of prisoners and is thereof attainted he shal loose his fée and office for euer And if the Vndersherife Constable or Bailif of such as haue fée for kéeping of prisoners do it contrary to the will of his Master or any other Bailife being not of fée they shal haue iij. yeres imprisonment and make fine at the K. pleasure Withholding of prisoners repleuisable Whosoeuer doth withhold prisoners repleuisable St. 3. E 1. 15. after they haue offered sufficient suerty shal pay a grieuous amerciamēt to the K. he that doth take any reward for the deliuerance of such shall pay double to the prisoner and also a grieuous amerciament to the King 6 By the foresaid Stat. of West 1. 15. it doth appeare that in foure cases a man was not mainpernable at the common law In what cases no mainprise at the common law viz. they that were taken for the death of a man or by the Kings commandement or of his Iustices or for the forrest Touching the death of a man it is intreated of before And as concerning the Kings commandement this is intended the Kings commaundement The kings commandement by his owne mouth or by his councell which is incorporat to him doe speake with the Kings mouth and by authoritie from him Or otherwise if those words should be taken his generall commandement it may be said that euery Capias in a personall action is the Kings commandement for it is Precipimus tibi quod capias c. and yet in that case the defendant is repleuisable by the common law And as touching the Iustices commandement The Iustices commandement this shall be intended their absolute commandement for if it be their ordinary commandement he is repleuisable by the Sherife sauing in certain cases prohibited by the statute 7 Because in times past diuers persons that were indited of felonies robberies larcenies did remoue the same inditements into the K. Bench there yéelded themselues prisoners were presētly bailed by the marshals of the same Bench and after did lie in wait to kill or misuse their inditors And also for the certain persons appealed of felonie after the Exigent awarded did yéeld themselues in the K. Bench St. 5. Ed. 3. 8 then were let to baile by the marshals of the said bēch for the preuention whereof it was enacted by a statute made an̄ 5. E. 3. The marshall of the Kings bench shall baile no prisoner That such inditées and appellées shal be safely and surely kept in prison according to the charge which the said marshals shal haue of the Iustices And the marshals of the K. Bench shal not baile any felons but shal kéep them in prison and shal not suffer them to go wandring abroad by baile nor without baile And if any such prisoner be found wandring out of prison by baile or without baile that be proued at the K. suit or the parties the marshals which shal be found guilty thereof shal be halfe yeare imprisoned ransomed at the Kings pleasure And the Iustices shal inquire therof when they sée cause And if the marshals suffer the prisoner to escape by their assent they shal be at the law as before time they haue bin And so it appeareth by this Stat. that imprisonment by commandement of a Iustice was not sufficient to restraine bailement in all cases where bailement was not prohibited by the law A Iustices ordinarie cōmandement and absolute vntil the foresaid Stat. of an̄ 5. E. 3. was made and that is to be intended of an ordinarie commandement of a Iu. for if he doe giue an absolute commandement the prisoner is not baileable As if the Iustice command one to prison without shewing cause why he doth so command or for misdemeanor done in his presence or for some other cause which lieth in the discretion of the Iustice more than in his ordinary power 8 The fourth cause why a man is not repleuisable by the common law is the forrest St. Char. Forest 16. for whereas by the Statute of Charta forestae made an̄ 9. H. 3. and confirmed by King E. 1. The king did graunt for him and his heires that of trespasses committed in his Forrests of vert and venison that the Forresters in whose Bailiwickes such trespasses should be committed should present the same trespasses at the next Swanimot before the Forresters Verderers Regardors and Agistors and other ministers aforesaid by the oathes as well of Knights as others wise and lawful men and not suspitious of the parts next adioyning and néerest where those trespasses shal be so presented and where the truth may best and most certainly be inquired of and the same truth being once found out those presentments by the common assent and agreement of all the Officers aforesaid shal be solemnely written sealed with their seales And if any inditement be made in other manner it shal be accounted void And because the chiefe wardens of Forrests did not obserue the said order but that diuers people were disherited ransomed and vndone by the chiefe wardens of the Forrest on this side Trent and beyond and by other
ministers against the forme of the foresaid great Charter of the Forrest Therefore by the Stat. made an̄ 1. E. 3. it was ordained Punishment for vert or venison St. 1. E. 3. 8 That no man shal be taken or imprisoned for vert or venison vnlesse he be taken with the maner or else indited in forme aforesaid And then the chiefe warden of the Forrest shall let him to mainprise vntill the Eire of the Forrest without taking any thing for his deliuerance And if the said warden will not doe it there shal be a writ awarded out of the Chancerie which was in auncient time ordained for such persons so indited to let him to mainprise vntill the Eire And if the said warden after the receit of the same writ wil not deliuer to mainprise such person indited without delay then the plaintife shall haue a writ out of the Chancerie to the Sherife to attach the said warden to be before the K at a certaine day to answer wherefore he hath not repleuied him that was so taken And the Sherife calling to him the Verderers shall deliuer him which was taken to mainprise in the presence of the Verderers and shall deliuer the names of the mainpernours to the same Verderors to answer in Eire before the Iustices And if the chiefe warden shall be thereof attainted the plaintife shall haue his treble dammage awarded vnto him and the warden shal be committed to prison and ransomed at the Kings pleasure And by the Statute of an̄ 7. R. 2. it was ordained St. 7. R. 2. 4 That if any officer of the Forrest doth imprison any person or doth compell any person to make any Obligation or ransome vnto him against the ordinance aforesaid and is thereof attainted hee shall pay to the partie grieued his double dammages and make fine to the King 9 Whereas the before rehearsed stat of West 1. doth begin with those prisoners which before were Outlawed St. 3. E. 1. 15 c. yet there be some cases wherein such as be outlawed may be let to mainprise as where in an appeal of robberie or other felonie being not for the death of a man the defendant doth come in by Capias vtlagatum In what cases he that is outlawed may be let to mainprise and plead misnaming of himselfe 5. H. 7. 16. and hath a Scire facias against the appellant In this case he shal be let to baile And the same law is if he which is outlawed for felonie be taken and brought to the barre 19. H. 6. 2 and alleageth error in the Record the Court of fauour wil suffer him to find mainprise and to go and séeke to purchase his writ of Error Mainprise during the Prouers life 10 And the foresaid stat of West 1. saith further St. 3. E. 1. 15 that they which be appelled by Prouers shal not be let to mainprise so long as the Prouers doe liue if they be not of good fame yet in some cases he that is appealed by a prouer shal be let to mainprise during the Prouers life as where the Approuer doth waiue his appeale and that the defendant is not appealed by another approuer 25. Ed. 3. 42 hee shal be let to mainprise for if he bée appealed by another approuer hée shall not be let to mainprise And if the Appellée doe vanquish one Approuer in battell yet if he be appelled by another Approuer he shall not be let to mainprise St. 3. E. 1. 15 11 Whereas by the words of the foresaid Statute of West 1. such as be indited of Larcenie by Enquests taken before Sherifs or bailifes by their office shal be let at libertie vpon sufficient suretie Registrum de manucaptione Yet it appeareth by the Register that they shall not be let to mainprise if they be not also of good fame Mainprise vpon good name But if they be of good fame they are to be let to mainprise notwithstanding they be not indited before Sherifes or Bailifes but before any other Iustice that hath authoritie to heare and determine felonie and that aswell the principals as the accessories for the said Stat. of West 1. doth no more restraine the principals than the accessories in those cases where the same statute doth not prohibit to let to mainprise As if a man be indited of Burglarie as principall The principall in Burglarie or robbery mainpernable yet he may be let to mainprise 29. Ass p. 44 Registrum And the principall in an appeale of Robberie may be let to mainprise And in the Register there is a writ de Manucaptione graunted in that case 12 Though it doth not appeare by any words of the foresaid stat of West 1. that it doth prohibit the bailement of those which be attainted by verdict yet it is to be intended that the same Stat. doth as well prohibit the bailement of those which be attainted by verdict as it doth of thē who be attainted by Outlawrie 15. H. 7. 9. for séeing before the Statute of 18. El. 6. if a clerke conuict had beene deliuered to the Ordinarie he was not mainpernable which is a stronger case than a man attainted by verdict Therefore it is cleare No bailement of a prisoner attainted that a man attainted is not mainpernable for if a prisoner after that he hath pleaded not guilty be attainted by verdict that he killed a man in his owne defence or by misfortune yet he shall not be let to mainprise for it is in the Kings pleasure whether hée will grant him pardon or not 25. Ed. 3. 42 Fi. Cor. 354 297. But in that case the Iustices commanded the Sherife to put no yrons vpon the same prisoner and to shew him as much fauour as he could And the Iu. are to certifie the King of the said verdict who at his pleasure may write to the Sherife to baile the same prisoner No bailement of a prisoner conuicted And if a man that is arraigned of homicide doth plead not guiltie and is found guilty doth pray his Clergie 2. El. Dyer 179. and is repried without iudgement he is not baileable for hée is more than vehemently suspected béeing conuicted of felonie St. 3. H. 7. 3. 13 Whereas by the stat of an̄ 3. H. 7. it was enacted that no prisoner arrested for felony should be let to baile or mainprise by any one Iu. of peace but by the whole Iustices or at the least by two of them whereof one to be of the Quorum Since the making of which statute one Iustice of peace in the name of himselfe and one other of the Iustices his companion not making the said Iustice partie nor priuie vnto the case wherefore the prisoner should be bailed hath oft times by sinister labour and meanes set at large the greatest and notablest offendors such as be not repleuisable by the lawes of this Realme and yet the rather to
Peace of the same Countie where such offendors shall happen to be shall vpon his or their corporall Oath before the Iustices of the Peace in the open Quarter Sessions of the same Countie where such offendors shall then bée or at the Assises and Gaole Deliuerie of the same Countie before the Iustices of the same Assises and Gaole Deliuerie abiure the Realme of England and all other the Quéenes Dominions for euer vnlesse her Maiestie shall licence the parties to returne and thereupon shall depart out of the Realme at such Hauen or Port and within such time as shall in that behalfe be assigned and appointed by the said Iustices before whom such abiuration shal be made vnlesse the same offendor bée letted or staied by such lawfull and reasonable meanes or causes as by the common lawes of this Realme are permitted and allowed in cases of abiuration for felonie And in such cases of let or stay then within such reasonable and conuenient time after as the common law requireh in case of abiuration for felony as is aforesaid And the Iustices of peace before whom any such abiuration shall happen to be made as is aforesaid shall cause the same presently to be entered of Record before them and shall certifie the same to the Iustices of Assises and Gaole deliuerie of the said Countie at the next Assises or Gaole deliuerie to be holden in the same countie And if any such offendor which by the tenour and intent of this act is to be abiured as is aforesaid shall refuse to make such abiuration as is aforesaid or after such abiuration made shal not go to such hauen and within such time as is before appointed from thence depart out of this Realme according to this present act or after such his departure shall returne or come againe into any the Qu. Realmes or Dominions without her speciall licence in that behalfe first had and obtained Then in euery such case the person so offending shal be abiudged a felon and suffer as in case of felonie without benefit of Clergie If any person or persons that shal at any time offend against this act shall before he or they be so warned or required to make abiuration according to the tenour of this act repaire to some parish Church on some sonday or other festiuall day and then and there heare diuine seruice and at Seruice time before the Sermon or reading of the gospel make publike and open submission and declaration of his and their conformity to her Maiesties lawes and statutes as in this act is hereafter declared appointed That then the same offendor shall thereupon be cléerely discharged of and from all the penalties and punishments inflicted or imposed by this act for any of the offences aforesaid Prouided that no Popish Recusant or seme couert shal be compelled to abiure by vertue of this act Prouided also that euery person that shall abiure by force of this act or refuse to abiure being thereunto required as is aforesaid shal forfeit and loose to her Maiestie all his goods and cattels and all his lands tenements and hereditaments during his life only and no longer But his wife shal not loose her dower neither shall his blood bée corrupt S. Felonie by stat 9. 17 By a statute made an̄ 35. El. 2. St 35. El. 2. intituled an act for the restraining of Popish Recusants to some certaine place of abode it is ordained Popish Recusants shall abiure the Realme That Recusants not conforming themselues to the obedience of the lawes of this realme in comming to the Church to heare diuine seruice which shall not vpon the request of two Iustices of peace or Coroner of the same countie abiure the realm and depart for the same and not returne without the Queenes licence shal be adiudged felons and suffer and loose as in case of felonie without benefit of Clergie S. Fel. by St. 10. St. 3. E. 1. 10 18 By the stat of West 1. made an̄ 3. E. 1. it is enacted Abiuration of a Trespasser That he which committeth trespasse in parkes or ponds shall abiure if hee cannot find suretie no more to doe the like offence But that abiuration is not for felonie neither shal he forfeit his lands or goods Pleading not guiltie HAuing made mention of one of the pleas which a prisoner brought to the barre to be arraigned of Treason or Felonie doth plead viz. of the Confession of the offence and shewed how many sorts of Confessions of felonie the law doth take notice of by what meanes she doth procéed against the parties confessing I am now to treat of a second or one other plea that the prisoner vpon his arraignment doth plead in his own defence which is the plea of Not guiltie For when a prisoner by an appeale or an Inditement is charged with treason or felonie he may estrange himselfe from the offence if he will and ioyne the same issue which the defendant oft times doth in an action of trespasse some other personall actions viz. he may plead and take for his issue Not guiltie This plea of not guiltie is the most common and vsual plea Pleading not guilty the most common plea. that he which is arraigned of treason or felonie hath to plead vpon an inditement or an appeale and it is the plea whereunto euery person that is arraigned shall be enforced vnlesse it be in speciall cases viz. where he hath matter of Iustification or matter in Law to plead And this plea of Not guiltie doth tend to the fact that is to the felony and therefore it receiueth great fauour in Law 7. Ed. 4. 15. 4. H. 6. 15 4. H. 7. 5. 10. H. 4. 4. 9. H. 4. 2. for the Law doth allow this plea to him who is arraigned after he hath pleaded in abatement or barre of the appeale or inditement so that his barre doe not comprehend such matter as doth confesse the felonie as a Release of the appellant or the Kings pardō And that plea he shall haue also though one of his pleas were matter in law for though those pleas doe require diuers trials 29. Ed. 3. 91. 22. E. 4. 39. 27. As p. 3 14. Ed. 4. 7 yet in fauour of life hee shall haue both those pleas as well as he shall haue when he doth plead matter triable by the Bishop or by Record viz. and moreouer not guiltie Which pleas he shall haue notwithstanding he doe not conclude moreouer not guiltie that is to say Pleading not guilty after other pleas he shall come time enough to plead not guiltie after the matter triable by the Bishop or by Record is found against him And the manner of pleading in all those cases is to plead his plea and to pray allowance thereof and ouer to the felonie not guiltie Vpon the plea of not guilty no coūcel allowed 2 Vpon this plea of onely not guiltie the partie indited shall not haue coūcell
and Terminer Nisi prius for the defendant in appeale 4 Although by the common Lawe a Nisi prius is grantable for the king but not grantable against the king where he is partie to the suite or where the matter in question doth touch the kings right or where he is party thereunto but by aide praier vnlesse his Atturney will assent thereunto yet in an appeale of felonie when the appellant and appellee be at issue the Defendant may haue a Nisi prius to pursue the same issue 21. H. 7. 34 if there be any default in the Plaintife that he doth not pursue it with effect though the K. be in a sort party to that suite for otherwise the appellée should continually remaine in prison to his vtter vndoing and neuer haue remedy Neither the Defendant in an appeale shall not haue a Venire facias with a prouiso 14. H. 7. 7. 15 H. 7. 9 21. H. 6. 36 vntill hée hath assigned some default in the Plaintife in the pursute of it And yet the Plaintife may at his pleasure stay the Defendant in procéeding further with his processe in praying a Tales vpon the Defendants processe Remaunding of prisoners out of the K. Bench to be tried in the Countrie 5 Because diuers felons and murderers vpon vntrue surmises did oftentimes remooue as well their bodies as their Indictments by Writte and otherwise before the King in his Bench and could not by the order of the Lawe be remaunded and sent downe to the Iustices of Gaole deliuerie or of the peace nor other Iustices or Commissioners to proceede vpon them after the due course of the common lawe for that a Record which is once remoued into an higher Court can not by the common Lawe be sent backe to a more base and inferiour Court For the redresse whereof by a statute made An̄ 6. H. 8. it was ordained St. 6. H. 8. 6 That the Iustices of the K. Bench for the time being haue authoritie by their discretions to remaund and send downe as well the bodies of all felons and murderers brought and remoued or that shall be remoued or brought before the king in his Bench as their indictments into the counties whereas the same murders or felonies haue béen committed or done and to commaund all Iustices of Gaole deliuery Iustices of Peace and other Iustices and Commissioners and euery of them to procéed and determine vpon all the foresaid bodies and indictments so remoued after the course of the common law in such maner as the same Iustices of gaole deliuerie Iustices of peace and other Commissioners or any of them might or should haue done if the said prisoners or indictmēts had neuer bin brought into the said K. bench St. 4. Iac. 1. 6 By a stat made Anno 4. Iac. it was enacted Triall of felonies committed by English men in Scotland That all offences of coniurations witchcraft dealing with euill and wicked spirits murder manslaughter felonious burning of houses and corne burglary robbing of houses by day robberie theft the detestable vice of buggerie committed with mankind or beast and rape heretofore done and committed since his Maiesties comming to the crown of England or hereafter to be done or committed by any his Maiesties naturall borne subiects of this realme of England or the dominions of the same within the realme of Scotland or the dominions thereof and the accessories of and to the same shal be from henceforth inquired of heard and determined before his Maiesties Iust of Assise or his Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer or Gaole deliuery being naturall borne subiects within this realme of England and none other by good and lawfull men of the Counties of Cumberland Northumberland Westmerland or any of the said counties at the election of the said Iust of Assises or Commissioners in like maner and forme to all intents and purposes the alterations hereafter in this Act expressed only excepted as if such offences had béene done and committed within the same Shire where they shal be so inquired of heard and determined as is aforesaid At which trials for the better discouerie of the truth Witnesses allowed to him that is arraigned and for the better information of the consciences of the Iurie and Iustices there shall bée allowed vnto the party so arraigned the benefit of such witnesses only to be examined vpon othe that can be produced for his better cléering and iustification as hereafter in this Act are permitted and allowed St. 4. Iac. 1. 7 Euery Iustice of peace of the counties aforesaid The prosecutors and witnesses bound to giue euidence vnto whom complaint shal be made shall haue full power and authoritie by vertue of this Act to bind ouer by recognisance in a conuenient summe taken to his Maiesties vse as well the partie prosecuting as any witnesses which he shall desire to produce so as the said witnesses may haue their reasonable charges first tendred vnto them to prosecute and giue in euidence before such his Maiesties Iustices as aforesaid as the case shall require St. 4. Iac. 1. 8 Euery commander procurer counsellor abettor comforter receiuer The accessory tryed though the principall be not or other accessorie of or to any the offendors or offences aforesaid so committed in Scotland as aforesaid offending within the realms of England or Scotland shal be produced withall indicted tried iudged and executed without delay notwithstanding the principals or any of them be not conuicted or attainted And that no such offendor either accessorie or principall shall be allowed the benefit of his clergy No clergie No peremptorie challenge aboue v. The words of the Indictment nor admitted to his peremptory chalenge of aboue the number of fiue And that euery indictment of any of the offences aforesaid so committed as aforesaid shal be adiudged of as good force in law notwithstanding the words contra pacem coronam dignitatem nostras be omitted as if the said words had béen therein contained Euery Iuror must haue v. l. of fréehold 9 No Sherife Vndersherife or other Minister to whom it appertaineth St. 4. Iac. 1. shall returne any Iuror to enquire of or try any of the offences aforesaid so committed as aforesaid except euery such Iuror shall haue fréehold in possession to the value of v. l. by the yeare in the county where such inquirie and triall shall be vpon pain to forf for euery Iuror that shal be returned contrary to this Act the summe of xl l. to the K. and I. to be recouered by A. of debt B. P. or I. in any of the K. courts at West wherein no E.P. or W. c. And the offendor shall or may challenge any Iuror that shall passe vpon his life for want of such fréehold as aforesaid The offendor shall forf no lands 10 No naturall subiect of his Maiestie of the realme of England St. 4. Iac. 1. or of the dominions
47 Arresting vpon doubt of Manslaughter 48 A Iustice of peace his Warrant to arrest a felon 49 Arresting of an offendor and committing him to the Constable 50 Imprisonment vntill he had made an Obligation 51 The seruant not chargeable for the masters offence by imprisonment 52 No imprisonment by force of a Iusticies 53 Imprisonment by force of a warrant vpon a Supplicauit 54 Arresting him that would breake the peace 55 Imprisoning of a seruant that doth assault his master 56 In what cases imprisonment is lawfull and in what not 57 Imprisonment for offences done to the Iustices of the realme 58 What is maiheming 59 How many sorts there bee of maiheming 60 Examination of a maihem by the Iustices or Surgeons 61 Where diuers appeales of maihem for one offence 62 Principall and Accessarie in maihem The iudgement in an appeale of maihem 63 Mainprise in an appeale of maihem 64 Why maihem is supposed to be done feloniously 65 Barres in an appeale of maihem 66 Execution in an appeale of maihem 67 An action of Trespas maintenable after an appeale of maihem 68 The peace preserued and affraies restrained by Iustices of Peace The commission of the peace 69 The cōmission doth chiefely respect the peace Why they be called Iustices of the peace Binding suspected persons to their good behauior 70 A Iustice of Peace may take surety of the peace What the surety of the Peace is Certificat of a Recognisance The surety of good abearing 71 For whom and against whō the surety of Peace is to be graunted 72 Vpon what causes the surety of peace is to be graunted 73 Surety of peace enioined by word or writing 74 The seruing of Proces for the peace A warrant of the peace Who may serue it without writing and who without shewing it and who not Refusing to obey the warrant 75 To which Iustice of Peace the party arrested is to be brought 76 A warrant to find sureties to keepe the peace The party must offer his sureties 77 Surety of Peace doth dye with the king The Iustices authority dyeth with the king 78 The sureties of the Peace must be named 79 Hee that is bound to the Peace must appeare at a day prefixed 80 A Supersedeas for the peace 81 Taking a Recognisance for the keeping of the peace Taking a Recognisance for the good abearing 82 A Release of the suretie of Peace The parties release of the peace The Iustices Release of the Peace 83 Causes of the breach of the Peace or good abearing 84 The Sherife Constable and seuerall other officers be conseruators of the Peace 85 Euery able person when need requireth must be a conseruator of the Peace 86 Menaces Assaults Batteries c. in some cases are punishable in the Starre-chamber Riots Routs vnlawfull and Rebellious Assemblies Fol. 24. 1 The enormity of Riots Statutes ordained to preuent forces or Riots 2 The Court of Star-chamber authority to punish Riots c. 3 What is a Riot 4 What is an vnlawfull assembly 5 What is a Rout. Rout by wearing of armour 6 Lawfull assemblies of three persons or more An assembly lawfully begun doth end riotously 7 Disturbing of Riotors 8 The Iustices and Shirifes c. shall arrest Riotors Recording of a Riot 9 Inquiry of a Riot by the Iustices c. A Precept to the Shirife to returne a Iury to inquire of a Riot The forme of an inquisition of a Riot 10 Certifying of a Riot Trauerse of a Certificat 11 Proces against offendors 12 The forfeiture of Iustices which doe not inquire of Riots 13 A Commission to inquire of the Iustices c. default 14 Vpon the Commission the Coroner shall returne the Iurie What issues shal be returned vpon the Iurors 15 Where the Sherife shall returne the Iury and not the Coroner 16 A Writ directed to inquire of Riots 17 Riots shal be inquired of at the Kings costs 18 The punishment of Riotors 19 Each man shall helpe to represse Riots 20 Baylifes of Franchises Riots in Cities and Townes corporat 21 A Iury to inquire of Riots 22 Maintenance wherby a riot is not found 23 What one Iustice of Peace may do alone in a Riot 24 The Iustices must haue notice of a Riot 25 The parties agreement no discharge of the inquisition of a Riot 26 What power of the Countie the Iustices shall vse to represse Riots 27 The Iustices record of a Riot where no trauerse thereunto 28 The credit of the Iustices Record Certificat of a Riot 29 The proces against Riotors 30 The penalty for not executing of this statute 31 A trauerse to an indictment of Riot 32 Twelue or aboue assembled to change lawes 33 Practising to destroy Parks Ponds Conduits Common or Way Destroying of Deere Conies Douehouses Fish Pulling downe houses burning stackes of corne c. 34 Raising of vnlawfull assemblies by acts or words 35 Relieuing them which bee assembled 36 Vnlawfull assemblies aboue two and vnder twelue The remedy of the party grieued 37 Raising of power to suppresse vnlawfull assemblies 38 A copiholder being required refuseth to serue the king 39 A farmer required refuseth to serue 40 Disclosing a commotion wherein one is moued 41 An able person required refuseth to serue 42 Attendance vpon a Lieutenant 43 The forme of the Proclamation 44 Hinderance of the Proclamation 45 Other mens rights saued 46 Procuring others to offend 47 Vnlawfull assemblies by xl or aboue 48 A Lieutenant shall not appoint a deputie 49 Aiding of the offendor before the offence 50 The attainder of those offences no corruption of blood Force and Forcible Entries Fol. 34. 1 Vnlawfull force is an enemie to peace There shall be no forcible entry into lands 2 The penalty of forcible entry into lands or benefices 3 Holding possession by force Feoffement of lands for maintenance An Assise or action of Trespas against a disseisor by force The authority of officers in Cities and Towns enfranchised touching force 4 A speciall Assise against a disseisor with force 5 Seuerall remedies for seuerall offences by force 6 A Precept to the Sherife to impanell a Iury. The Shirifes forfeiture for not due executing of a Precept The proces against offendors in force 7 The forme of a Precept to the shirife to impanell a Iury. 8 The forme of an inquisition of forcible entry 9 A warrant to the Shirife to make restitution 10 Restitution awarded out of the Kings bench 11 No restitution but where forces is found by inquisition 12 Where no restitution against three yeares possession Where restitution notwithstanding three yeares possession 13 A Supersedeas to stay restitution 14 Where force found and yet no restitution 15 A Mittimus to send to the Gaole such as doe hold land by force 16 A Iustice may enquire of Forcible Entries without complaint 17 In an action of forcible entry the writ must be Vi armis 18 Who may bring an action of Forcible entry 19 He that hath title entereth by force 20 Hee that
in houses Wast in gardens Wast in men 10 Oppressions redressed by an Audita querela 11 Oppression by forestallers Ingrossers and Regrators Who is a Forestaller Who is an Ingrosser Who is a Regrator The punishment of Forestallers c. In what cases ingrossing and regrating be tollerable Changing of seed Buying and selling of cattell aliue The authoritie of I. of peace in these cases Trasporting allowed by Iustices When corne may bee transported Buying and selling of fish neere the Sea Drouers licenced to buy and sell cattell 12 Oppression by badgers laders c. Obseruations necessarie in all licences 13 Oppression of Printers and Stationers Oppression by Printers and Stationers 14 Oppression by transporting of gold and siluer 15 Oppression by transporting of copper c. 16 Oppression by Pewterers 17 Oppression of inhabitants of Market Townes 18 Oppression by taking of seuerall farmes Taking of farmes in the Isle of Wight 19 Oppression by keeping of many sheepe 20 Oppression by spiritual persons in taking of farmes Oppression by them in buying and selling Oppression by them in farming of Parsonages Oppression by them in keeping of Tan-houses or Brew-houses 21 Oppression by taking of excessiue toll 22 Oppression ought not to be done to aliens and strangers 23 Oppression by making of yron workes 24 Oppression by Brewers 25 Oppression by bringing into the Realme woollen cards 26 Oppression by erecting of Weares Oppression by destroying of spawne or fry of fish Oppression by fishing with vnlawfull nets 27 Oppression by buying and selling of fuell 28 Oppression by transporting of victuall 29 Oppression by vsurie 30 Oppression by cutting out the head of a conduit Oppression by burning of a cart laden Oppression by cutting out the tongue of a beast Oppression by cutting off the eares of a man Oppression by barking of trees 31 Oppression by hawking or hunting in corne growing 32 Oppression by taking of other mens fish 33 Oppression by decaying of townes and houses of husbandry 34 Oppression by decaying of tillage 35 Oppressions and all the former offences punishable in the Starre chamber Treasons Fol. 109. 1 What is Treason 2 A repeale of former Treasons Offences made Treason by Stat. 3 Compassing or imagining the death of the King c. A conspiracie by diuers executed by some of them 4 Leuying of warre or adhering to the Kinges enemies 5 Counterfeiting the K. Seale Conspyrators and ayders in Treason 6 Counterfeiting the Kings money Coyners of money by warrant doe abuse it 7 Petit Treason A seruant killeth his master or mistresse The wife conspireth to kill her husband 8 The sonne killeth father or mother 9 Treason in breaking of prison An indictor discouereth counsel 10 Treason by statute Treason by forging the coine of other realmes Treason by forging the Kings signe manuell 11 Bringing into the realm money counterfeit 12 Treason by clipping washing or filing of money 13 Treason by diminishing scaling or lightning of money 14 Treason by the maintaining the authoritie of the Bishop of Rome 15 The othe touching the Q. supreame gouernment Praemunire for the first refusall of the othe Treason for the second refusall of the othe 16 Treason for giuing or taking absolution from Rome Treason to obtaine Bulls from Rome 17 Treason to persuade to the Romish religion Treason to be persuaded to the Romish religion Practising to absolue or reconcile 18 Treason for Iesuites or Priests to come into the Realme 19 Treason in Seminary priests not returning 20 What Misprision of Treason is The forfeiture in Misprision 21 Misprision to counterfeit money not currant 22 Misprision to ayd persuaders to the Romish religion 23 Misprision to conceale reconciliation offered 24 Misprision to inroll an indictment not found 25 Misprision in drawing of a sword to strike a Iudge sitting in his place 26 Misprision in striking of a Iuror in a Iudges presence 27 Misprision by striking a man in Westminster Hall the Court sitting 28 Misprision by rescuing of a prisoner arrested by a Iudge 29 Shedding of bloud within the K. house 30 Triall of Treasons committed out of the Realme 31 Outlawrie of offendors in Treason being out of the realme 32 Triall of Treasons committed in Wales 33 The force of attainder of Treason by the common law 34 No record of Attainder shal be reuersed where the offendor is executed 35 Felonie made Treason by statute 36 An English traitor subiect to a forreine prince 37 An Alien borne committeth Treason 38 A subiect ioyneth the Kinges Armes to his owne Homicide Fol. 120. 1 Homicide by Iustice By necessitie By chaunce or misfortune By will 2 Homicide by Iustice The order of law not obserued in the execution of iustice 3 None may kill a man that is outlawed or attainted in Praemunire 4 Killing of a felon that wil not be arrested Euerie person may arrest a felon Killing of such as be vnlawfully assembled 5 Killing of him that is in carying to the gaole 6 Killing of a prisoner attempting to escape 7 Killing him that attempteth robberie or burglarie 8 Killing of an offendor in a Parke c. 9 Vnitie of possession in a chase or mannor 10 One killing of another in combat 11 Homicide vpon necessity in defence of his house from burning Homicide in defending himself from robberie 12 No forfeiture for Homicide vpon necessitie 13 Killing of another in his owne defence in his owne house 14 Necessitie ineuitable requisit in homicide in his own defence The definition of Homicide in his owne defence 15 Where in Homicide in his owne defence his goods shall bee forfeited and where not 16 Killing a man in his own defence found by verdict 17 The prisoner indicted for killing in his owne defence must plead not guiltie 18 How he shall be discharged that killeth a man in his owne defence 19 What is Homicide by misaduenture 20 The like order in misaduenture as in his owne defence 21 What is Homicide by murder What is Homicide by manslaughter 22 The name of murder Murder more grieuous than felonie 23 Wilfull poysoning is murder 24 Stabbing to death is murder 25 Murder by killing of a Constable comming to part a fray Murder by killing of a Sherife or his Officers in seruing of Proces Murder by killing of a watchman 26 Murder and Manslaughter committed in the death of one man 27 A man bearing malice to one killeth another 28 A man giueth poyson to one another taketh it and dyeth 29 Two agreeing to commit a Murder one of them doth it 30 Meaning to kil without the act is not Homicide Act in killing without meaning is Homicide 31 Homicide by giuing poisoned drinke to another 32 Many do attempt to doe an vnlawfull act and one of them doth kill a man 33 Homicide by carrying a sicke man into the ayre or cold 34 A man dyeth vnder the Physitians or Chirurgians care 35 Homicide vpon the euill words of another 36 Homicide by a Franticke man Homicide by a man that is deaf and dumbe Homicide
infoelicitas in vijs eorum viam pacis non cognouerunt And againe speaking in their persons Psal 11. he saith Qui dixerunt linguam nostram magnificabimus labia nostra a nobis sunt quis noster dominus est And for that case the same king well obseruing the sea of mischiefes miseries and calamities which daily doe flow from euill tongues made his humble prayer vnto God to graunt him power to be watchfull of his owne tongue Psal 140. saying Pone custodiam ori meo et ostium circumstantiae labijs meis And when he perceiued that God had heard his prayer Psal 38. he said ioyfully Dixi custodiam vias meas vt non delinquam in lingua mea viz. I haue made a full resolution and promise to my selfe that I wil so vse and gouerne my spéech that I will neuer offend in my tongue And the said king telleth vs plainely that there is no other meanes to haue the comfort of this life Psal 33. and to enioy good daies in this world but to restraine the tong from speaking of euill the lips from powring out mischiefe and to séeke peace and follow it Prou. 18. And his sonne king Salomon confirmed the same saying Vita est mors in manibus linguae And though slaunderous speeches and menaces be but words and may be taken but only as a smoke a breath or blast of wind and so to vanish and be dispersed in the aire like dust yet experience doth teach vs that by the imbecilitie of mans iudgement and the corruptionn of his nature they be vsed as firebrands of priuat and open grudges quarrels conspiracies most other tragicall turbulent stratagems and therby a verbis ad verbera peruentum est And we seldome heare of any the said enormities effected but they tooke their beginnings of menaces threats slanders or other euill words which offences growing by menaces other spéeches tending to contention and the breach of the peace the whole bodie of this realm hauing déeply tasted the smart therof desirous to preuēt the like by a stat made an̄ 18. Stat. 18. E. 3. E. 3. did ordain that the K. Iustices amongst other articles shal be sworn in case any of what estate or condition they be come before thē in their Sessions with force armes or otherwise against the peace Sta. 2. E. 3. 3. or against the form of the statute therof made or disturbe execution of the common law or to menace the people that they may not pursue the law they shall cause their bodies to be arrested put in prison Menacers shal be imprisoned And in case they be such that they cānot arrest them the same Iustices shall certifie the K. of their names of their offence speedily so that he may therof prouide conuenient remedie There is another foule puddle that ouzeth frō the same corrupt gogmire distilleth out of a heart likewise infected with malice enuie but is deuised and practised by another mean thā the former which is by libelling secret slandering or defaming of another for this priuie backebiter doth not by words impeach his aduersarie in so manifest and turbulent maner as the cholerick menacer in his furie doth but seeming to sit quietly in his studie he doth more déeply pinch him infixeth a more durable wound into his fame credit than the other boistrous fellow doth into his bodie who in a moment threatneth to do more than peraduenture he after is willing or dareth to performe in an age The menacer layeth open his name his grief and standeth in the face of his enemy discouereth the corasiue of his mind doth thereby giue a forewarning to his aduersarie to prouide for defend himselfe But this secret canker the libeller concealeth his name hideth himselfe in a corner priuily stingeth him in fame reputation credit who then neither knoweth from whom or vpon what cause he receiueth his blows nor yet hath means therin to defend himselfe And whether this libelling Co. li. 5.125 secret slandering or defaming The enormities of priuie defaming and libelling be against a publike magistrat or a priuat person yet it may tend to the breach of the peace to the raising of quarels effusion of blood so may be a speciall impedimēt of that peace which all good policie endeuoreth to maintaine For if it be against a publike magistrat it is a great scandall offence to the king his chief magistrats the whole gouernment of the realm to assigne such an officer to rule and gouerne others who himselfe is void of gouernmēt and shall deserue to be impeached with such crimes as he shal be taxed with or shal be imputed vnto him by such an infamous libell And if it be but against a priuat person yet seeing that a libel or other note of infamie is inuented to defame him to tread his honor estimation in the dust to extirpate and root out his reputation credit from the face of the earth to make him a scorne to his enemies to be derided despised by his neighbors it doth greatly kindle the wrath of him of such as be of his kindred alliance true friendship vrge them to reuenge whereupon do ofttimes ensue grudges quarels fraies combats manslaughters Sometimes the malicious defamor powreth out his venim in writing by a scandalous booke ballad epigram or rime either in mitre or prose some other times by sons scofs iests or taunts diuers times by hanging of pictures of reproach signs of shame or tokens of disgrace néer the place where the party therby traduced doth most conuerse as the picture of the gallowes pillorie cucking stoole hornes or other such like In which cases the law hath prouided that the partie delinquent when he is found out discouered shal be sharply punished for he may either be indicted for the same offence by the ordinarie course of the common Law Or else a Bill may be exhibited against him in the Starre chamber The punishment of a secret Defamor where he shal be punished according to the qualitie of his demerits by fine imprisonment and if it be an exorbitant offence then by Pillorie losse of his eares whipping or c. or the party gréeued may haue an Action vpon the case against the offendor recouer his damages Lib. Intr. fol. 13. And in this case it is not material whether the Libel be true or false or the party scandalized thereby be lyuing or dead or be of good name or euill for though the libell be true the party defamed be euill yet our good Lawes be deuised to punish him such like euill men by a due course of justice after his offence is presented inquired of tried proued to his face before lawfull magistrates thereunto assigned and he is not to be carped at accused condemned in a corner behind his backe by
9 And because seruants in husbandrie labourers artificers and other persons of meane degrée should take no incouragement nor occasion to breake the peace nor weare any weapons therewith to menace threaten or terrifie others Therefore by a Statute made anno 12. R. 2. it was ordained St. 12. R. 2. 12. That no seruant in husbandrie or labourer nor seruant of artificer or victualler shall beare any Buckler Dagger or Sword vpon paine of forfeiting of the same except it be for the defence of the realme in the time of warre and then by the suruey of Arraiers for the time beeing or in trauelling with their masters or on their masters businesse And Sherifes Mayors Baylifes and Constables shall haue power to arrest all offendors against this Statute and seize the said Bucklers Swords and Daggers and kéepe them vntill the Sessions of the Iustices of peace and the same shall present before the same Iustices in their Sessions together with the names of them that did beare the same But this shall not be preiudiciall to the franchises of Lords touching forfeitures due to them By the foresaid two Statutes of 2. Ed. 3. and 12. R. 2. it doth appeare that the meaning of the makers of those lawes was not onely to preserue peace to eschew quarrels but also to take away the instruments of fighting and batterie and to cut off all meanes that may tend in affraie or feare of the people Assurances made by menace 10 As menace of life and member giueth cause of an action of trespasse to him that receiueth losse or hurt thereby intituleth the king to a fine 20. Ass p. 14 28. H. 6. 8. in like sort an obligation a release or déed of annuitie made and granted by menace are voidable by the law so that the same menace be of life member or libertie viz. of some hurt to be done to his body by death maiheming or imprisonment and not to his lands or goods for if A. will menace B. that if he will not make him an obligation of xx l that then he wil disseise him of such land 7. Ed. 4. 21. 4. H. 4. 2. 39. H. 6. 51. or dispossesse or take from him such goods in this case if B. doe make and deliuer the said obligation of xx l to A. in an action of debt brought by A. against B vpon the said obligation B. shall not auoyd this obligation in respect of this menace because this menace did not tend to the hurt of the person of B. but to preiudice him in his lands or goods for the redresse and recouerie whereof the law would haue giuen B. a sufficient remedie if A. should haue done him the wrong which he menaced And he that will take an aduantage to auoid his déed by menace must in this plea expresse Fitz. Dures 13. how and in what sort the other partie did menace him viz. that he drewe his sword against him and threatened to kill him if he would not seale and deliuer such an obligation release annuitie c. If A. doe menace B. in one countie that he will kill or maihem him 33. H. 6. 24. 2. H. 5. 10. if hee doe not seale him an obligation of xx l or stand to the arbitrement of C. in a cause depending in question betweene them And after B. beeing at libertie in another countie doth seale the same obligation or doth stand to the arbitrement of C. this obligation or arbitrement is void for it shall be intended to bee done by force of the first menace And if A. doe menace B. that he wil kil him imprison maihem or beate him if he doe not make an obligation of xx l to C. 39. H. 6. 36. Co. li. 2. 9. if in this case B. do become bound by obligation to pay vnto C.xx l. in an action of debt brought vpon this obligation by C. against B. the same B. may auoid this Obligation which he made by this menace of A. though the menace was made by one man the Obligation was made to an other for that the menace was the cause of the making of this Obligation which the law doth respect and punish and not only the partie to whom the Obligation was made 11 Assault batterie be for the most part an accomplishment of that which menace did threaten a performance by déedes of that What is assault and batterie which the other forewarned by words that is to say a violent forcible abusing or attempting to abuse by blowes and stripes the person of an other contrary to the peace of the Realme and the law of the same which hath ordeined that no person shall be Iudge or reuenger of his own wrong but leaue that to the censure of the law that is alwaies readie to heare redresse euery mans iust complaints for he that doth attempt to assault or beat an other to satisfie his own turbulent spirit or to reuenge his owne priuat iniurie doth as much as in him lieth to wrest the sword of gouernmēt out of the K. hands to take from the law her equal censure in justice to make himself both Iudge executioner in his own cause because this disordered person contemning the justice of the Law hath assaulted or beaten an other without warrant of law broken thereby the peace of the realm the law hath deuised a quiet peaceable course to reduce him again to order in punishing him by an action of Trespas of assault batterie wherin being conuicted he shal satisfie the party grieued his damages pay to the K. a fine his body shal be committed to prison vntill he hath satisfied it Though the party menaced shall not haue his remedy by action of Trespas vnlesse the same menace was of life member and also that the party menaced receiued some losse or preiudice therby in his liuelyhood or estate for that the menace the hurt which the party doth receiue thereby being ioyned together do make the trespas giue cause of the action of Trespas Yet in an action of Trespas of Assault battery where it is proued found that the offendor did make an assault only as one did strike at an other with a hatchet but did make no batterie or hurt the person of any other it is otherwise for séeing assaulting doth tend to the breach of the peace 22. Ass p. 60 42. Ed. 3. 7. 40. Ed. 3. 40. 6. H. 7. 1. he that maketh an assault doth his indeuor to hurt the law doth giue to him that is assaulted an action of Trespas to recouer his damages to the K. a fine for by the assault the party assaulted is put in feare euill handled hindred of his busines And if he be diuers times assaulted 45. E. 3. 24. he may haue one action of Trespas for all those assaults shall recouer damages according to the number and grieuousnes of them And
Tithingman of the same parish of L. he was by this defendant stripped naked from the middle vpward and openly whipped vntill his body was bloudy And the same law is if any Iustice of peace Maior Bailife or other head officer shall commit any offendor which shall cut or vnlawfully take away any corne or graine growing or robbe any orchards or gardens or breake or cut any hedge pales railes or fence or digge pul vp or take vp any fruit trées or trées in any orchard garden or elsewhere to the intent to take cary the same away Or shall cut or spoile any woods or vnderwoods poles or trées standing not being felony by the lawes of this Realme Or shall be a procuror or receiuor knowing the same contrary to the statute therefore made An. 43. El. intituled Sta. 43. El. 7. an act to auoid and preuent diuers misdemeanors in lewd and idle persons shal be committed by a I. of Peace or by a head officer of a city borough c. to some Constable or other inferiour officer of the city borough Towne or Hamlet where the offence shall be committed or the partie apprehended to be whipped If in this case the said Constable or other inferior officer shall whip the same offendor vntill his body shal be bloudie the same offendor shall neither haue an action of Trespas of assault battery nor other remedy against the said Constable or officer for in the foresaid cases Punishments by the order of law in all other cases where an offendor is punished for petit Larceny by whipping for other offences by the pillorie the stocks the tumbrell or otherwise for any offeÌ„ce committed by him contrary to any of the lawes or statutes of the Realme there is no peace broken nor blame to be imputed to him or them which do execute that punishment for it is the iustice of the law which doth inflict those punishments vpon offendors for transgressing the law the executioners of those punishments be but the instruments of the law as the axe is in the Carpenters hand Battery for disobeying of a writ or warrant 24 In an action of Trespas of assault battery 21. H. 7. 39. Fitz. Trespas 108. it is a good plea for the def to plead that he had a warrant to arrest the plaintife and that by force of that warrant he did arrest him then the plaintife made assault vpon him therefore the hurt which he receiued was by his own assault for euery subiect is bouÌ„d to obey the K. writs all mandates precepts warrants awarded by his Iustices shirifes and officers sufficiently authorized And he that doth resist them or denyeth to obey them encountreth the iustice of the law and therefore the beating of him who refuseth to submit himselfe to the obedience of the Law is no breach of the peace but a meane to performe the law 25 Though the Law hath a regard to preserue peace betwéen all persons and in all places and caryeth a vigilant eye that one person shall not menace assault beate maihem or imprison an other but in certaine cases and for some speciall causes and imposeth an heauie burden vpon such as shall breake that peace by any of the meanes aforesaid Yet she hath a more speciall respect to some ceraine places to some tymes and to some persons and caryeth that reuerend and due care and consideration of them that she inflicteth a more sharpe and bitter punishment vpon such as shall violate the peace in them or to the offence of them And therefore for the auoiding of the disturbance of the peace in the Church where God is to be honoured and all peace to be preserued and to continue peace to preists clerks and others whilest they are dooing diuine seruice There was a statute made Anno 50. E. 3. and after rehersed and continued Anno 1. Sta. 50. E. 3. 1. 1. R. 2. 15. R. 2. whereby it was enacted That if any of the Kings officers or other person doe arrest any priest clerke or other Arresting one in a Church dooing diuine seruice which is doing any diuine seruice in the Church Churchyard or other place dedicated to God he shall be imprisoned and punished at the Kings pleasure and further shall recompence the partie arrested But no people of the Church shall kéepe them within the Church or Sanctuarie by fraud or â—ellusion 26 And because it is most necessarie in euery Christian common weale to prouide that peace and tranquility may be preserued and continued among the people and specially in holy Church in the time of diuine seruice and preaching and that all things being contrary thereunto or that are or may be in disturbance thereof may by forsight be eschewed and auoyded and remedy therefore prouided Sta. 1. M. 3. By a like statute made Anno 1. Reg. M. it was ordeined That if any person of his owne authoritie Disturbance of a preacher in his sermon shall willingly and of purpose by open words or déeds maliciously or contemtuously disturbe or by any other vnlawfull wayes disquiet or misuse any Preacher allowed to preach by the Quéene or by any Archbishop or Bishop of this realme or by any other lawfull Ordinary or by any of the Vniuersities of Oxford and Cambridge or otherwise lawfully authorized or charged by reason of his cure benefice or spirituall promotion or charge in his open sermon preaching or collation that he shall preach or pronounce in any Church Chappell or Churchyard or in any other place vsed or appointed then euery such offendor his aydors procurors or abbettors immediatly after any of the said misdemeanors committed or at any time after shal be arrested by any Constable or Churchwarden of the said parish towne or place where the said offence shal be so committed or by any other officer or by any other person then being present at the time of the said offence and carried to any Iustice of peace within the said shire or within any City borough Libertie or towne corporat wherein Iust of P. be where the said offence shal be so committed And the said Iustices vpon due accusations thereupon made by the apprehendor or other person of the offendor forthwith shal commit him to safe kéeping within 6. days immediatly after the said accusation so made the said Iust with one other Iust of P. within the shire city borough liberty or town corporat shal diligently examin the offence aforesaid And if the said two Iustices shall vpon their examination find the person so accused guiltie of any of the said offences whereof he shall be accused and that by two sufficient witnesses or by his confession then they shall commit him to the Gaole of the said Shire City Borough c. where the offence was committed there to remaine without baile or mainprise by the space of thrée moneths then next ensuing and further to the next quarter sessions c.
Charter of pardon which is allowed he may haue an action of Trespas against the offendor for the assault batterie made before the Outlawrie for the said outlawrie shall not extinguish his action nor cause that offence which before was punishable to be vnpunished And if the partie beaten should not haue his Action the iniurie done vnto him should be vnpunished for the King shall haue no remedy to recouer damages for this batterie done to the person of him that was outlawed 29. Ass p. 47 63. as he might haue had if any debt had béen owing or any goods had béen taken from the outlaw before his outlawrie And the Law doth expect that for the peace broken and the wrong done to the partie grieued the same partie shall vpon his action of Trespas brought be recompenced by the recouerie of his dammages and the king satisfied for his peace broken by a fine 11. H. 4. 65. 9. H. 6. 60. 27. Ass p. 57 33 In an action of Trespas of assault and batterie A man first indicted of batterie and after sued for the same trespas the defendant pleaded not guiltie the plaintife replied that the defendant was before that time indicted before the Iustices of Peace of the same Countie of the said assault and batterie and thereupon proces was awarded against him for the kings fine who then appeared and pleaded that the hurt which the plaintife receiued was by his owne assault and thereupon they were at issue and before the verdict the defendant appeared and confessed the Trespas and submitted himselfe to the Kings fauour and made his fine and demaunded iudgement if he should be allowed to plead not guiltie contrarie to his owne confession and this was adiudged a good Replication and an Estoppell of the said plea in barre And then the defendant pleaded that the hurt which the plaintife receiued was by his owne assault vpon which plea the plaintife demurred séeing the defendant before had pleaded that plea against the King And then he also waiued that plea and confessed the trespas whereupon a writ was awarded to inquire of dammages And so for this assault and batterie the king was first intituled to a fine by the Indictment and after the partie grieued recouered dammages by an action of Trespas 34 Imprisonment is where a man is arrested by force against his will and is restrained of his libertie What imprysonment is and put in a common Gaole or other gaole Lib. Intrac fol. 319. in a cage or in the stockes or otherwise kept in the high streete or open field if he be in restraint and cannot go at libertie when he will but is bound to become obedient to the will of the Law and is in the custodie of the Law And in all the cases aforesaid the partie so restrained is said to be a prisoner so long as he hath not his liberty fréely to go at all times when he will without baile mainprise or other restraint And therefore if one person do arrest imprison or otherwise restraine an other person of that libertie without sufficient and lawfull cause the partie grieued may haue an action of False imprisonment or an action of Trespas against him that doth so arrest An action of False imprysonment or imprison him and recouer damages against him And the King shall also haue a fine of him for that his law is contemned and his peace is broken in that one of his subiects presumeth to imprison an other without sufficient warrant of him or his law seeing imprisonment of an other by only act will or commaundement without offence of the Law is one of the kings most royall prerogatiues and only annexed to the maiestie dignitie and imperiall Crowne of this Realme For by the Statute of Magna charta it was specially ordeined Stat. 9. H. 3. 29. That no man shall be taken or imprisoned or disseised of his fréehold or liberties or frée customes or be outlawed or exiled or any other wayes destroyed neither shall any passe or fit in iudgement vpon him but by lawfull iudgement of his Péeres or by the Law of the land And by the statute of AnÌ„ 28. Ed. 3. it was enacted Stat. 28. Ed. 3. 3. That no man shall be put out of his land or tenement nor imprysoned nor disherited nor put to death without being brought in aunswere by due proces of the Law And therefore whereas the Maior and Burgesses of a towne corporate being before authorized by the Kings letters patents to make ordinances for the good gouernment of the same Towne did condiscend amongst themselues Co. Lib. 5. 64. to leuie a summe of money for the charges of a lawfull and necessarie act to be done in the same Towne and did further agrée that if any of them did refuse to pay his part of that contribution money so assessed to be paied that then he should be committed to pryson vntill he had paid it and after one of the Burgesses of the Towne which before had agréed to the same assessement ordinance Voluntarie consent no cause of imprysonment refused to pay the money which he was by the residue assigned and assessed to pay whereupon the Maior of the same Towne committed him to pryson against whom the same Burgesse brought his action of False imprisonment and recouered dammages against the same Maior for though the same Burgesse all others of the same Corporation might haue submitted himselfe to haue paid a summe of money to haue béen leuied by distresse or action of debt if he or they had not performed the same order paid his part of that contribution yet the libertie or impriâ—onment of his bodie resteth in the censure iudgement of the Law and not in his owne disposition As if B. do promise C. or be bound by Obligation vnto him that if he do not paie vnto the same C. xx li. within sixe monethes that then C. shall take and impryson him vntill he hath paid it notwithstanding B. do not pay to C. the same xx l. at the time assessed C. may not imprison B. for it though it was his owne promise agréement or bond for that B. is not iudged by his péeres or condemned by the law of the land according to the foresaid statute of Magna Charta Neither is he brought to answere by due Proces of the law according to the purport of the before specified statute of An 28. E. 3. 35 But in many cases one person may arrest ImprisonmeÌ„t by the commaundment of the King his Iustices c. imprison and restrayne an other of his libertie and no action of false imprisonment action of Trespas or other remedie will be had against him As first it is a lawfull imprisonment which is done by the absolute commaundement of the King the chiefe Soueraigne head of the common weale by his owne mouth or by the priuie Councell which speake and direct by his Authoritie or by
the absolute commaundement of the Kings Iustices Or for the forrest Or for the detestable offence of wilfull murder And the common law doth prohibit the prisoner to be mainpernable in all the foresaid cases Stat. 3. E. 1. 15. as it appeareth by the statute of WestmÌ„ 1. 36 He is lawfully imprisoned as a speciall disturber of the peace ImprisonmeÌ„t for notorious great offences who is committed to prison for any great and notorious offence viz. such as we doe call Mala per se which be hated abhorred and persecuted in all Kingdomes Prouinces Cities and well gouerned common weales As Treasons murders rapes burglaries robberies c. And it appeareth by the statute of West 1. that he is lawfully imprisoned which before was outlawed And he which is an approuer Stat. 3. E. 1. 15. And that felon which is taken with the manner And he which hath broken the Kings prison And he which is a théefe openly defamed and knowen And he which is appelled by an approuor And he which is taken for burning of a house feloniously done Or for false money Or for counterfeiting the Kings seale And he which is excommunicat taken at the Bishops request And he which is taken for a manifest offence or for Treason touching the King in which said cases the offendor shall be committed to prison and not be let to baile or mainprise St. 1. Iac. 12. And if any person shall be once conuicted that he did take vpon him by witchcraft inchantment charme Witchcraft charme sorcery or sorcerie to declare in what place any treasure of gold or siluer might be had or where things lost or stollen should be found or to the intent to prouoke any person to vnlawfull loue or whereby any cattell or goods of any person shall be distroyed wasted or impaired or to hurt or distroy any person in his or her body S. Felony by Statute although the same be not effected Then he shall suffer imprisonment one whole yeare without baile or mainprise and shall stand vpon the Pillorie c. for he that declareth the things aforesaid by any of the meanes aforesaid receiueth his knowledge therein and practiseth to effect the same by the inspiracion of the Deuill the professed enemie of mans peace and so committeth a great and notorious offence and worthily deserueth imprisonment 37 He is lawfully impâ—isoned who is found by verdict ImprisonmeÌ„t for offences done vi armis or by his owne confession conuicted for any offence done vi et armis and against the Kings peace for the law hath ordaâ—â—ed that all things shall be done and all sutes prosecuted betwéene one membâ—r of the common weale and an other with all tranquilitie and quietnes and he that doth any thing in perturbation of that tranquilitie breaketh the Kings peace and so shal be committed to prison as a disturber of the peace vntill he hath paied vnto the King a fine And therefore in an action of Trespas or false imprisonment if the plaintife do declare against the defendant that he did such an offence or made such a trespas vi armis contra pacem the defendant doth first and principally séeke to auoyd that to cleare him selfe of force and the breach of the peace and doth plead thereunto Quoad venire vi armis quicquid est contra pacem non est culpabilis c. Accordingly in an Assise brought against foure men 2. Ass p. 8. 12. Ass pla 33. it was found by verdict that one of them came with force and armes and all foure were committed to prison because in Trespas all be principals and none be accessories and yet if any of them had bin within age then he should not haue béen imprisoned 14. E. 3. 18. 16. Ass p. 7. But if a woman couert be found a disseisoresses with force she shall be committed to prison 22. ass p. 87. And if an action of Trespas of battery be brought against the husband and wife and it be found by verdict that the wife was guiltie of the battery but not the husband the wife shall be imprisoned and not the husband If he that is proued to be a disseisor in an assise be found to haue carried away any goods this is an attainder of force 11. H. 4. 17. and he shal be imprisoned without furder inquiry of the force for so it is ordayned by the statute of Anno 4. H. 4. St. 4. H. 4. 8. 17. Ass pla 14. If a man do giue councell to others to do a disseisin with force whereby they do it this shall be adiudged a disseisin in him and he shall be imprisoned In an Assise if the defendant do pleade a plea wherein an Duster is not denied which is found against him he shall be imprisoned 28. Ass p. 15 though he doth not confesse the Duster And he that confesseth an Duster 40. Ass pla 16. 19. H. 6. 8. if the Issue be found against him shal be imprisoned In an action of Trespas brought for fishing by force and armes in his seuerall fishing the defendant was found guiltie and was committed to prison In an assise of rent charge against thrée terre tenants it was found that the rent was behinde and the plaintife distrayned and one of them made rescous 39. Ass p. 4. and therefore they were all adiudged disseisors but none were imprisoned but he that made the Rescous 9. Ass p. 7. And in euery case of force where any Trespas is found vi armis false imprisonment or assise the iudgement shall be quod defend ' capiatur 22. Ass pla 87. for he shall be imprisoned for the Kings fine and when he doth pay the Kings fine he shall be deliuered 38 As one person may be imprisoned who menaceth assaulteth or beateth the person of an other or with force and armes entereth vpon his lands or tenements or violently taketh away his goods or chattels so by the statute of Anno 2. ImprisonmeÌ„t for Riots H. 5. St. 2. H. 5. 8. where thrée persons or more be attainted of great and heinous Riots they shall haue one whole yeares imprisonment at the least without being deliuered by baile or mainprise S. Riots 11. or in any other manner during the said yeare And if the Rioters be attainted of petit Riots they shall haue imprisonment as the King and his Councell shall thinke good And by the statute made Anno 1. M. it was enacted St. 1. M. 12. S. Riots 36. that if any persons aboue the number of two and vnder the number of twelue being assembled together shall intende practise or put in vre with force of armes vnlawfully to murder any of the kings subiects or to breake downe the pales hedges ditches walls or other inclosure of any parke or other ground inclosed or the bancke of any fish pond or poâ—le to the intent the same should remaine open or to doe any
purport of it but of his owne wrong But if the Sherifes Baylie doe arrest the man 11. H. 4. 58. 21. H. 7. 22. and the Sherife doth not retorne the writ the partie arrested shall not haue an action of false imprisonment against the Bailie for the Sherifes offence shall not preiudice the Baylie and the Baylie can not compell the Sherife to returne the writ for a Shirife or a Bailie errant which is knowen and sworne may arrest a man without shewing his warrant A knowne officer may arrest without shewing his warrant for euery man is bound to take knowledge of them But where the Sherife doth make a precept to an other to arrest he must shew his warrant 21. H. 7. 22. 11. H. 4. 36. And if a Capias be awarded to the Sherife without an originall to take a man and he doth take him yet the partie grieued shall not haue his action of false imprisonment against the Sherife for that he did it by warrant of the Kings writ Arresting a man by a Capias without an originall for it is a good plea in an action of False imprisonment to say that he is Shirife of the Countie of M. and that he did arrest the plaintife by force of a Capias directed to him which is the same imprysonment 22. E. 4. 47. Arresting vpon suspicion of felony 46 In an action of False imprisonment 7. H. 4. 35. 27. H. 8. 23. it is no plea for the defendant to plead that it was told him that the plaintife had brought cattell to the towne and put them in a blind corner and that there was great cause of suspicion that the plaintife had stollen them whereupon he did arrest him for suspicion only without a felony committed is no cause to arrest an other But if a felonie be done in those parts and one doth suspect an other to haue committed the same felony then he may arrest him for a Iustice of peace can not arrest an other of suspition of felonie 14. H. 8. 16. vnlesse he himselfe doth suspect him to haue committed felonie And somuch an other may doe that doth suspect one to haue committed felony viz. if he himselfe doth suspect him to haue committed the felony The common voice fame of the countrey cause of suspition The common voyce and fame of the Country is a great cause of suspition of felony where a felonie is committed 2. H. 7. 15. 5. H. 7. 4. 11. E. 4. 4. And therefore in an action of false Imprisonment the defendant pleaded that there was a felonie committed and the common voyce and fame of the Countrie was that the plaintife was a man of euill behauiour and had done the same felony whereupon he that was robbed came to the Constable and requested him to arrest the plaintife and the Constable came to the defendant and desired him to assist him to arrest the plaintife the which he did and they arrested him And this was allowed a good iustification and sufficient cause to arrest the plaintife séeing there was a Robbery committed and the common voyce and fame of the Countrie accused the plaintife thereof 5. H. 7. 4. And in like sorte in an action of false imprisonment the defendant pleaded that I. S. was poysoned and that the common voyce and fame of the Countrie was that the plaintife had poysoned him whereupon the defendant apprehended the plaintife Suspected of poysoning and committed him to prison as it was lawfull for him to doe And this was also adiudged a good Plea in barre of the said action for séeing a felony was committed and the common voyce and fame of the Countrie had accused the plaintife thereof euery person who him selfe hath suspition that the plaintife hath committed the same felony may arrest him thereof And so it is if in an action of false imprisonment the defendant doe pleade that before the imprisonment A. B. was slaine at C. and the plaintife was in the company of those who killed him at the time of the felony committed 7. Ed. 4 10. 7. Eliz. Dy. 236. Suspected of Manslaughter and the common voice and fame of the Countrie at C. was that the plaintife was partie to the felonie whereupon the defendant found the plaintife at C. and arrested him for suspition of felonie and committed him to the Sherife which is the same imprisonment And this was allowed a good and sufficient Plea and not double though the defendant did alledge the common voice and fame of the country and the being in company with those that killed A. B. for where a man doth iustifie for suspition of felonie he may shew as many causes of suspition as he can And it is a good cause of suspition to say Causes of suspition that huy and crie was leuied after a felony committed and that the plaintife was a man suspected Or to say that the plaintife was a vagarant exercising no trade to get his liuing by and no laborer Or to pleade that parcell of the goods stollen were taken in the possession of the plaintife 38. Ed. 3. 6. 10. H. 7. 20. 47 In an action of false imprisonment Arresting vpon doubts of Manslaughter the defendant pleaded that the plaintife had so beaten and wounded an other man that he was in great perill and daunger of death and that vpon the same huy and cry was leuied whereupon the defendant being Constable did arrest and imprison the plaintife foure dayes vntill it might be knowen whether the partie wounded were like to liue or dye and when he perceiued that the partie beaten was like to liue he did let the plaintife go at libertie and this was adiudged a good plea in barre 24. Ed. 3. 9. And in the like case in an action of False imprisonment brought against one the defendant pleaded that the King had directed a Commission to certaine persons to apprehend those that were notoriously slaundered for felonies or great trespasses notwithstanding they were not indicted thereof and that the plaintife had most dangerously wounded I.S. whereupon the Commissioners directed their warrant to the defendant to apprehend the plaintife which he did accordingly And this was allowed a good iustification and the plaintife was barred of his action for in both these cases the peace was broken and at the time of the arrest it was vncertaine whether the offence would proue felonie or not A Iustice of peace warrāt to arrest a felon 48 In an action of False imprisonment the defendant iustified 14. H. 8. 16. for that a Iustice of peace directed a warrant vnto him to arrest the plaintife for felony which he did And it was holden that a Iustice of peace cannot make a warrant to arrest a Felon vnlesse he be indicted for he is a Iudge of record and he must haue a record whereupon hee doth award his proces But if a Bailife serue his warrant it is a
good iustification for him though the Iustice of peace did erre in the awarding of the proces And the same law is if the Shirife doth erre in any warrant that he doth direct to the Bailife of a Libertie Arresting an offendor deliuering him to the Constable If a man do arrest an other 10. Ed. 4. 17. who he knoweth hath committed a robberie man slaughter or other felony do deliuer him to the Constable to carrie to the gaole and the Constable will set him at libertie or doth not carrie him to the gaole or that the same person arrested be rescued out of the possession or custodie of him that did arrest him yet in neither of the foresaid cases he that was arrested shall haue an action of False imprisonment against him that did arrest him for that there was no default in him that the offendor was not imprisoned according to his desert Imprisonmēt vntill he hath made an Obligation 50 An action of False imprisonment was brought for imprysoning the plaintife vntill he had made an Obligation of xl 2. Ed. 4. 19. pounds to the defendant and others vnknowen by duresse and this was adiudged maintenable for if the plaintife did not know their names he could not expresse their names for the Obligation is not the effect of this suit but the imprisonment and he shall not recouer dammages for the Obligation but for the imprisonment for that he is not yet damnified by the Obligation because when that is sued he may plead that it was made by duresse of imprysonment and so auoid it But if the action of False imprisonment be brought of an imprisonment vntil he had made a fine he shall recouer dammages for both for he is presently grieued by the fine and so is he not by the Obligation 51 If a master do imprison a man in a house 22. Ed. 4. 45. and deliuer the key of the doore of that house to his seruant The seruant not chargeable for the masters offence the partie imprysoned cannot haue an action of False imprysonment against the said seruant for the kéeping of the key But if the seruant that hath the key do know that the same partie were wrongfully imprysoned then he ought to let him go at libertie for the seruant is bound to obey his masters commaundement but in those things that be lawfull onely And if the seruant which kept the key did not know that the same partie was imprysoned in that house then vpon his plea of not guiltie he shall be excused in an action of False imprisonment brought against him by the partie imprisoned Imprisonmēt by force of a Iustices 52 If a writ of Natiuo habendo or a Iusticies be directed to the Shirif 2. H. 4. 24. he cannot iustify the impris of any man by force therof for they be but commissions to hold plea. And the bodie of a man shall not be arrested or taken but by proces awarded out of a court of record and by those Commissions the Shirises court is not made a court of record 9. Ed. 4. 30. 53 In an action of False imprisonment A warrant vpon a Supplicauit it is a good iustification for the defendant to plead that a Supplicauit came to the Shirife to apprehend the plaintife who made his warrant to the defendant to take him which he did accordingly And yet the Shirife can not giue his authority to an other to take suerty of him 5. H. 7. 6. 54 A Iustice of peace can not direct a warrant to apprehend him who hath broken the peace for he is to be punished by inditement Arresting him who would break the peace at the Kings suit or by action of Trespas of batterie at the partie grieued his suit But he may direct his warrant to apprehend him who he doth doubt meaneth to breake the peace in time to come and to bring him before himselfe or some other Iustice or else to commit him to prison for one Iustice of peace alone may doe his endeuor to preserue the peace before it be broken but being once broken it must be punished by inditement in the presence of diuers Iustices of peace or by action at the common Law Sta. 5. El. 4. 55 If any seruant woorkeman or laborer Imp. of a seruant for assaulting of his master shall wilfully or maliciously make any assault or affray vpon his master mistresse or dame or vpon any other that shall at that time haue the charge or ouersight of him or of the worke wherein he is appoynted or hired to worke and beeing thereof conuicted before any two of the Iustices of peace Maior or head officer of a towne corporat where the offence is committed or before either of the Lords Presidents of the North or Wales by the confession of the said seruant workman or laborer or by the witnesse and oath of two honest men Then euery such offendor shall suffer imprisonment by the space of one whole yeare or lesse by the discretion of two Iustices of peace if it be without a towne corporat if it be within a towne corporat then by the discretion of the Maior or head officer of the same towne corporat with two others of the discréetest persons of the same corporation at the least And if the offence shall require further punishment then to receiue such other open punishment so as it extende neyther to life or limme as the Iustices of peace in open Sessions or as the more part of them or the said maior or head officers or vj. or iiij at the least of the discréete persons of the same corporation before whom the offence shall be examined shall thinke conuenient for the qualitie of the said offence so committed 56 By which foresaid cases and many more Where imprisonment is lawfull and where not it appeareth that imprisonment is lawfull and sufficiently authorized by the Common Lawes and Statutes of this Realme in diuers respectes and for many crimes and there is by it no breach of the peace nor offence to the Law when it is inflicted by the warrant of the law for it aduaunceth as much the justice and peace of the Realme to haue offendors punished as to haue the innocent protected But the imprisonment which tendeth to the breach of the peace and the offence of the law is when one person or more vpon his or their owne authoritie eyther in reuenge of some supposed wrong receiued or in hope of a priuat gaine expected or for some other cause will of his or their owne authority imprison or arrest an other for the redresse whereof the party grieued shall haue an action of false imprisonment or an action of trespas recouer his damages And the same offendor which before did wrongfully imprison an other shall then vpon his conuiction by verdict or his owne confession be himselfe lawfully imprisoned vntill he hath paid to the king a
to the plaintife was of the plaintifes owne assault and in defence of the defendant Iustifiing in his owne defence And likewise it is a good plea in barre in an appeall of maihem for the defendant to plead the plaintifs release made vnto him after the supposed offence done of all actions personals or of all actions The plaintifes release or of all appeales or of all demaunds for in this case the plaintife is but to recouer dammages 7. H. 4. 30. 66 If an appeal of maihem be brought against diuers Execusion in appeal of maihem one of them doth appeare in court and confesse the maihem and is committed to the Marshalsea and the plaintife hath iudgement against him he can not sue against the residue vnlesse he will suffer him that hath confessed the maihem to goe at liberty for if he hath iudgement and the body of him who confessed the maihem to remaine in prison that shall be an execution for this whole maihem 67 The Sages and Iudges of the land in former ages did hold it for law An action of Trespas after an appeal of maihem that if one doe assault Fitz. Coron̄ 110. 22. Ass p. 82 beate and maihem an other and the partie maihemed doth bring an appeall of maihem against the offendor and recouer dammages against him yet after he may haue an action of Trespas of assault and battery against the same offendor and recouer dammages for his beating and the recouerie of dammages in the appeal of maihem shal be no plea in barre against the plaintife for the appeal doth only medle with the maiheming not with the beating But if the plaintife do bring an appeal of maihem in the Kings bench 43. Ass p. 39 and after apparance be nonsuit in the same and then doe bring an action of Trespas of assault and batterie for the same fact Then the defendant may plead the same appeal and nonsuit in barre against the plaintife and it is a good plea. 41. Ass p. 16 Co. Lib. 4. 43. But of late yeares viz. An̄ 31. Eliz. it was adiudged that in this and all cases when the plaintife for one wrong and iniurie is but to recouer dammages he shall not be for that cause satisfied twice for one offence And in these two actions of appeal of maihem and trespas the plaintife shall onely recouer dammages And therefore it was adiudged a good plea in barre in an appeal of maihem to plead that the plaintife had before brought an action of Trespas against the defendant of assault battery wounding and had recouered dammages therein and to auerre that the same assault batterie and wounding and this maiheming were all one offence 68 As the law hath prouided remedies to punish those who by menace Restraint of affraies by Iustices of peace assault battery imprisonment or maiheming do breake the peace So hath it alwaies had a vigilant eie by anticipation to preuent many others that would breake the peace by any of the meanes aforesaid and therefore hath from age to age appointed méet magistrates and watchmen to whose charge specially as selected Sentinels she did commit the preseruation of the peace who in times past before the raigne of King Edward the third were called Conseruators of the peace Stat. 1. E. 3. 26. and sithence they haue béen termed Iustices of peace because they be Iudges of record or otherwise they be named Commissioners of the peace because they haue and deriue their authority by the Kings Commission who him selfe being the chiefe and generall Conseruator and Preseruer of the peace throughout all his Dominions doth by his seuerall Commissions commit some particles of his authoritie touching the continuance of the peace and maintenance of certaine of his Lawes to some chiefe and select men in all the parts of the Realme whom he taketh to be the most méete men for the same in respect of their integritie wisdome learning courage and liuelyhood The forme of so much of which Commission as toucheth the Peace and good Abearing is this Iacobus c. praedilecto fideli Conciliario nostro Thomae domino Elsmere domino Cancellario nec non praedilectis A.B.C.D.E.F.G. H.I.L.M.N.O.P. c. The Commission of the Peace Sciatis quod assignauimus vos coniunctim diuisim quemlibet vestrum Iusticiarios nostros ad pacem nostram in Comitatu nostro buck conseruand ' ac ad omnia ordinationes Statuta pro bono pacis nostrae ac pro conseruatione eiusdem pro quieto regimine gubernatione populi nostri aedita in omnibus singulis suis articulis in dicto comitatu nostro tam infra libertates quam extra iuxta vim formam effectum eorundem custodiend ' custo dire faciendum Et ad omnes contra formam ordinationū vel Statutorum illorum aut eorum alicuius in comitatu praedicto delinquentes castigandū puniendum prout secundum sormam ordinationū Statutorū illorum fuerit faciendum Et ad omnes illos qui alicui vel aliquibus de populo nostro de corporibus suis vel de incendio domorū suarum minas fecerint ad sufficientē securitatem de pace vel bono gestu suo erga nos populum nostrū inueniendam coram vobis seu aliquo vestrum venire faciendum Et si huiusmodi securitatem inuenire recusauerint tunc eos in prisonis nostris quousque huiusmodi securitatem inuenirent saluo custodire faciendum Et ideo vobis cuilibet vestrum mandamus quod circa custodiam pacis ordinationum Statutorum omnium singulorum caeterorum praemissorum diligenter intendatis Et ad certos dies loca quae vos vel aliqui duo vel plures vestrū vt praedict ' est ad hoc prouideritis super praemissis faciatis inquisitiones premissa omnia singula audiatis terminetis ac ea faciatis expleatis in forma praedicta factur̄ in de quod ad Iusticiam pertinet secundū legem consuetudinem Regni nr̄i Angliae saluis nobis amerciamentis alijs ad nos inde spectantibus 69 And though there be many other offences mentioned in the said commission which the Iustices of peace are by force of the said Commission to enquire of heare and determine and to punish the offendors therin according to the lawes and Statutes of the Realme Yet as it appeareth by the words of the said commission the same hath his chiefe care and respect of the peace to the preseruation thereof And to the intent that the said Iustices or commissioners should the better remember and respect their charge and dutie they are called Iustices or commissioners of the peace and not commissioners of justice of conscience or equitie c. And so their names together with their offices and duties be in a sort written in their foreheads And the restraining or punishment of all the other offences mencioned in the said
commission do only tend to the maintenance of justice the roote foundation and supporter of peace And whereas the King by the words of the said Commission doth appoint the persons therin named his Iustices to preserue his peace The Commission doth chiefely respect the peace and to kéepe and cause to be kept all ordinaunces and Statutes made for the conseruation of the peace and the quiet gouernment of his people These Statuts amongst many others chiefly be intended Sta. 2. E. 3. 6. 18. E. 3. 2. 34. Ed. 3. 1. the Statutes of Anno 2. Ed. 3. 18. Ed. 3. 34. Ed. 3. by which it is ordained that Iustices of peace shall haue power to heare and determine at the Kings suit all manner of felonies Why they be called Iustices of Peace and Trespasses committed against the peace in the same County and to restraine offendors riottors all other barretors and to pursue take and chasten them to imprison and punish them according to their Trespas and offence and to informe them according to the said Iustices discretion And to inquire of all those that haue béen pillers and robbers beyond the Sea and become againe and goe wandring and will not labour as they had wont to doe And to take and arrest all those which they can find by inditement or suspition and to commit them to prison Binding persons suspected to their good behauiour And to take of all those which be not of good fame in the place where they remaine sufficient suertie and maineprise of their good abearing or behauiour towards the King and his people and the other duelie to punish To the intent that the people be not by such Rioters troubled or endammaged nor the peace broken nor any passengers by the way disturbed or put in perill But the fines which Iustices shall assesse vpon any person shall be reasonable hauing regard the quantitie of the Trespas and the cause 70 So that it appeareth both by the words of the said Commission of peace A Iustice taking suertie of the peace and also by the foresaid Statutes That a Iustice of peace by vertue of his office hath authoritie to preuent the breach of the peace both by taking suertie for the kéeping of it and for the good behauiour of the offendors And that he may do either of his owne motion or discretion or els at the request or praier of an other And by his owne discretion he may cause a common Barretor Rioter or one that maketh an affray in his presence or other person to him suspected to be inclyned to the breach of the peace 9. E. 4. 3. or men menacing one to hurt or kill an other or contending in whote words to finde suertie of the peace And he may perswade one man to require the suertie of peace against an other man and he himselfe after may graunt it for it is no more then he might haue done of his owne authoritie which suertie of the peace What the suertie of the peace is is a recognizance taken by the said Iustice of peace of the partie and his suerties to the King for the kéeping of the peace And as a Iustice of peace may take this suertie of peace or suertie of good abearing as a Iudge by vertue of his office So may he doe it as a minister by force of a Supplicauit directed vnto him out of the Chauncerie Taking suerty of the peace by a Supplicauit in which case he is then only to direct his precept to compell the partie vpon the writ to finde suertie of the peace Which Supplicauit out of the Chauncerie is sometime directed to one Iustice of peace alone sometime to moe and sometime to the Shirife and sometime to him with others And then the same Iustice or Iustices of peace or Shirife must make retorne of the said writ of Supplicauit and a Certificat of his doing into the Court from whence the same was awarded And if the said Iustice of peace shall take the said Recognizance for the kéeping of the peace by vertue of his office Sta. 3. H. 7. 1 then by force of the Statute of Anno 3. H. 7. he shall certifie sende Certificat of a Recognizance or bring the same Recognizance at the next Sessions of the peace where he is or hath bin Iustice that the party so bound may be called And if the partie make default the same then there to be recorded And the same Recognizance with the record of that default shall be sent and certified into the Chauncerie the Kings Bench or into the Exchequer Suertie of good abearing And the suertie of good abearing is granted by authority of the foresaid commission of peace by the warrant of the before rehearsed statut of 34. E. 3. aswell as the suerty of peace is it is ordained for the preseruation of the peace it doth differ in nothing frō that of the peace but that there is more difficultie in the performance of it and the party bound may sooner slide into the peril danger of it The suerty of good abearing is most commonly granted in open sessions or by two or thrée Iust of P. Or vpon a Supplicauit great cause shewed proued it is granted in the Chancery or K. Bench. And though one Iustice of peace alone may grant it if he will yet it is sildom done so 9. E. 4. 3. Kel fo 41. vnles it be to preuent some great sodain imminent enormity or danger The suerty of peace is most times taken at the request of one for the preseruation of the peace chiefely against one But the suerty of good abearing is oftentimes graunted at the suit of diuers and those must be men of credit and to prouide for the safetie of many for the effect and purport thereof is that the partie bound shall demeane himselfe well in his port behauiour and company and doe nothing that may be the cause of the breach of the peace or in putting the people in feare or trouble And it is chieflie graunted against common Barretors common rioters common quarrellers common peace breakers and persons greatly defamed for resorting to houses suspected to maintaine incontinencie or adulterie and against those that be generally feared to be robbers or spoilers of the Kings people or which doe endamage disturbe trouble Articles exhibited to haue good abearing granted or put in peril passengers by the way Co. li. 4. 14. And therefore if one doe exhibit Articles to Iustices of peace against a certaine person comprehending diuers great abuses and misdemeanors not onely touching the Petitioner himselfe but many others to the intent that the same person may be bound to his good behauiour in this case the partie so accused shall not for any matter conteined in the said Articles maintaine an action vpon the case for the party or parties who exhibited the said Articles haue pursued an ordinarie course
of Iust nothing was attempted but the reformation of the mans conditions and to haue the peace and good behauiour continued The suertie of good abearing in other cases then for the peace And though this suerty of good abearing is chiefely prouided for the continuance of the peace yet by force of seuerall Statutes it is also grauntable in some other cases St. 10. E. â— 3 As if the King do graunt to any person a charter of pardon of any felony then he shall come within thrée Monthes before the Shirife and Coronors of the same Countie where the felony was done finde sixe sufficient Mainpernours for whom the said Shirife and Coronors will answere that he from thenceforth shall beare him selfe well and lawfully Sta. 1. M. 3 And if any man disturbe a Preacher in his Sermon he shall be bound to his good abearing for one yeare St. 3. Iac. 19. 5. El. 21. And he shall be bound to his good abearing for seauen yeares who doth vnlawfully hunt and steale deare or conies or take away wrongfully any haukes or haukes egges or shall vnlawfullie distroy or breake the head or damme of any pond poole moate stagne or stew whereas fish are put or shall wrongfully fish in any of them to the intent to steale or take away any of them against the will of the owner or possessor of the same not hauing lawfull authoritie so to doe And he shall be bound with two sufficient suerties in CC. Sta. 23. El. 1. l. to the good behauiour which doth absent himselfe from the Church by the space of twelue moneths c. 71 Because it appeareth by the words of the foresaid commission of peace that the said Iustices of peace shal cause al those to finde suerty of peace which doe threaten any of the Kings people to hurt them in body or to burne their houses For whom against whom the suertie of peace is to be graunted Therefore all lay persons vnder the degrée of Lords or Péers of the Realme and also Ecclesiasticall persons if they be not attendant vpon diuine seruice may be arrested to finde suerty for the peace And if the husband do threaten to kill his wife or outragiously to beate her or that she hath any notorious cause to feare that he will doe so Fitz. Nat. Bre. 80. 239. she may demaund the suertie of the peace against him and she shall haue it graunted And in like sort and for the like causes may the husband demaund suertie of the peace against his wife in which case shée her selfe shall not be bound but others shal be bound for her And a Iustice of peace vpon his owne discretion may in either of the foresaid cases grant suertie of peace And one Iustice of peace may vpon his owne discretion or at the request of an other graunt the suertie of peace against an other of his felow Iustices of peace of the same county And one Iustice of peace may demaund suertie of peace of an other of his fellow Iustices against an other man A man attainted of Treason or Felony or in a Praemunire A man attainted An Heretike A Dumb man An Enfant A Villeine or abiured or conuict of Heresie a dumbe man or an Enfant within the age of xiiij yeares may demaund ought vpon cause to haue suertie of peace And so may a Villeine haue suertie of peace against his Lord least that his Lord should maihem him the Lord may haue suertie of peace against his villein A dumbe man or an Enfant aboue the age of xiiij yeare may also be inforced to find suerties for the kéeping of the peace but then themselues are not to be bound but some others for them Or else they must be committed to prison vntill they can find suerties A Iustice of peace cannot graunt suertie of peace against a Baron of the Realme nor any other aboue the degrée of a Baron A Baron But the party who would haue the peace against him must bring him by Subpoena into the Chauncerie Fitzh Subpoena 20. there he must be bound to the peace A man that is frantike shall not haue the suertie of peace of his owne demaund A mad man because he hath not discretion to request it But a Iustice of peace vpon his own discretion may bind an other to kéepe the peace against him if he sée cause thereof Neither shall he who is a Alien borne no Denizen An Alien nor in friendship with the King the Realme haue suertie of peace graunted him 17. Ed. 4. 4. 72 If a man do threaten an other to imprison him the partie threatned shall not haue the suertie of peace against him that did so menace him Vpon what cause the suertie of peace is to be graunted for that after he is imprisoned he may haue against the other a Homine replegiando or an action of false imprisonment and recouer damages so be recompenced for his imprisonment But if one man do threaten an other to beate him the partie threatned may haue the suertie of peace against him for that beating may tend to the maiheming or killing of him which the suertie of peace might haue preuented If a man do feare that an other will kill him maihem him hurt him in bodie or burne his house or procure or cause the same to be done and will come before a Iustice of peace Fitz. Na. B. 79. take his corporall oath to that effect the Iustice of peace is to graunt him the suertie of peace against the man complained of for that may satisfie the conscience of the said Iustice that the partie doth complaine vpon méere feare and not vpon malice or vexation And though the partie against whom the peace is demaunded may séeme to the Iustice of peace to be a simple person weake féeble impotent or far vnable to incounter by force and strength with him that demaundeth the suertie of peace yet he may procure or cause the other to be slaine maihemed beaten or his house to be burned And further if the party that doth complaine and desiâ—eth the suertie of peace will sweare that he doth feare where indéed he neither doth feare nor hath cause of feare yet his oath doth therein discharge the conscience and oath of the Iustice of peace And the whole fault if any be shall be iustly imputed to the complainor 73 And whereas the words of the kings Commission be Suertie of peace inioyned by word or writing That the said Iustices of peace shal cause all those to find suertie of peace which do threaten any of the kings people to hurt them in bodie or to burne their houses It is to be obserued that in some cases a Iustice of peace may by his owne word only cause suertie of peace to be found sometime he must do it by writing As if one man do in the presence hearing
of a Iust of peace threaten to kill maihem wound or beate an other or to burne his house or in his presence do offer to strike or beate an other the Iustice of peace may commaund him by word to find suertie of peace Or if one man will demaund of a Iustice of peace the suertie of the peace against an other man who is then in the presence of the said Iustice of peace and will then and there be sworne that he is affraid of him the Iustice of peace may by word commaund the same partie to find suertie of peace or otherwise he may commaund the Shirife Bailife or some knowen officer or his owne seruant being then present to arrest the same partie and to bring him before him to find suertie of peace But if the partie against whom the peace is demaunded or the Shirife or Baylife be absent and not at that time in the presence of the Iustice of peace Then the same Iustice must make a warrant or precept in writing to the Constables Boursholders Tythingmen c. or to any other man though he be no Officer to arrest the same partie and to bring him before him or some of his fellow Iustices to find suertie of peace In which Precept must be conteined the cause why the peace was graunted and at whose suit to the intent that the partie to be bound may prouide his suerties ready and take them with him to the Iustice of peace Suertie of peace commaunded by writing And the warrant ought to beare date of the place where it was made 14. H. 8. 18. to the intent that if an action of False imprisonment be brought against him that made the same arrest by force of that warrant the defendant in his plea must shew the place where it was made If suertie of peace be required of a Iustice of peace of one County which at that time remayneth out of the Countie where he is Iustice against a man of the Countie where he is Iustice the same Iustice may graunt a precept to be serued in the Countie where he is Iustice A Iustice remayning out of the countie But when the partie shall be warned to find suerties Plow Com. fol. 37. 13. Ed. 4. 8. the officer must not carrie him out of that Countie to the Iustice that made the precept but to some other Iustice of that Countie for a Iustice hath no authoritie but in the Countie where he is Iustice The seruing of proces for the peace 74 If a Precept be made by a Iustice of peace either as he is a Iudge or as he is a minister to two men to arrest a man to find suertie of the peace yet one of them alone may do it If it be directed to the Shirife he may commaund his Vndershirife Bailife or other sworne or knowen officer to serue it Who may serue a warrant without writing who not without any precept by writing But if he will commaund an other man that is no knowen officer to serue it he must deliuer him a precept in writing for otherwise he doth if not by sufficient warrant so a writ of False imprysonment will lie against him for the arrest And if a Iust of peace do direct his warrant to the Shirifes Bailife his owne seruant or to a stranger to arrest one for to find suertie of the peace the partie to whom that warrant is made must serue it himselfe for he can commaund none other to do it either by precept or word A sworne knowen officer be he Shirife Vndershirife or Bailife Who may serue a warrant without shewing of it and who not c. 8. E. 4. 14. 20. H. 7. 13. néed not to shew his warrant to a man when he commeth to serue it vpon him for his knowen office doth authorize him But if a Iustice of peace will direct his warrant to his seruant or to an other stranger to serue he must shew his warrant to the partie if he will demaund it or otherwise the partie may make resistance and néed not to obey it And if the party against whom the suertie of the peace is graunted Refusing to obey the Iustices warrāt will vpon the seruing of the Iustices precept refuse to come to be bound to the peace the partie to whom the warrant is directed may commit him to the gaole of the same Countie there to remaine vntill he will find suerties A warrant for the peace Buck. The forme of which warrant for the peace is this viz. Anthonius Greenway Miles vnus Iusticiariorum domini Regis nunc ad pacem in Comitatu praedicto conseruandam assignatus vicecomiti comitatus praedicti Nec non omnibus singulis Balliuis Constabularijs ceterisque Dn̄i Regis ministris tam infra libertates quam extra in eodem com̄ salutem Quia A. B. de Bechampton in comitatu praedicto Taylor venit coram me sacramentū praestitit corporale quod ipse sibi metuit damnum vel malum de vita mutilatione membrorum per R.C. de Stonistratford in comitatu praedict ' Butcher vel per alium per eius procurationem ficri Ideo vobis cuilibet vestrū exparte dicti Domini Regis mando quod capiatis seu vnus vestrum capiat p̄fatū R. C. ita quod habeatis seu vnus vestrū habeat corpus eius coram me vel aliquo sociorum meorum Iusticiaor̄ dicti dn̄i Regis ad pacem in p̄dict Comitur conseruandā assignatur quā cito capi possit ad inueniendā sufficientē securitatē quod ipse aliquod malum vel damnum de vita seu mutilitatione membrorū dicto A. B. non faciet nec fieri procurabit quouismodo Et si hoc facere recusauerit tunc ipsū R. C. Gaole dicti dn̄i Regis in comitatu p̄dict ' duci faciatur seu vnus vestrum duci faciat ibidem moraturum quousque hoc gratis facere voluerit Et qualiter hoc praeceptū fuerit executum scire facias dictis Iusticiarijs ad proxima generalem Sessionem pacis in com' paedict ' tenendam habeas ibi tunc hoc preceptum Dat. apud Lecomstead c. 21. H. 7. 21. Co. li. 5. 59. 75 If a Iustice of peace doe direct his warrant to a Constable or other officer to arrest one and to bring him before the same Iustice To which Iustice of peace the partie arrested is to be brought or some other of his companions to find suertie of the peace and he doth arrest him accordingly but will not bring him before such a Iustice of peace as the partie arrested will nominate but before some other yet notwithstanding the party arrested shall not haue an action of false Imprisonment or an action of the case nor other remedy against the same Constable or officer for it is in the discretion of the same Constable or officer to bring the party arrested before which Iustice of peace of that
DnÌ„i Reg. erga ipsuÌ„ dominuÌ„ Reg. cunctuÌ„ populuÌ„ suuÌ„ precipuè erga C. D. de Twyford in comÌ„ praedicto Husbandman conseruabit ideo ex parte dicti dnÌ„i regis vobis cuilibet vestruÌ„ mando quod de arrestando imprisonando seu aliqualiter molestando praedictuÌ„ A. B. ex causa pÌ„dicta Supersedeatis quilibet vestruÌ„ Supersedeat omnio Et si euÌ„ ex dict' causa non alia ceperitis seu imprisionaueritis seu aliquis vestruÌ„ ceperit seu imprisonauerit tunc à prisona illa sâ—ne dilatione deliberari faciatis Supersedeas in the Chancery for one bound in the common plaâ—e datuÌ„ apud Hilsdon c. 22. H. 6. 59. But if a man be arrested in the common place for the suertie of peace and he is lett to baile to a certaine day at which day he doth bring a Supersedias out of the Chauncerie that he hath found suerties in the Chauncery that is not alloweable because he was by baile which is an imprisonment in law and therefore the suertie in the Chauncery will not serue And it may be that the suerties in the Chancery be not sufficient and that the King and the Court was deceiued therein And yet the common place hath no authority to take suerty of peace 2. H. 7. 1. but of the peace broken before them 81 When the partie against whom the precept is awarded to find suerties for the kéeping of the peace A Recognizance for the keeping of the peace doth come before the Iustice of peace to be bound to the peace then it resteth in the discretion of the same Iustice of peace if he deale in this cause as a Iustice of peace by force of the generall commission of peace and so as a Iudge to assigne what number of suerties he will accept to be bound with the party in what summe of money the party his suerties shall be bound to allow or disallow of the sufficiencie of those suerties to limit the time how long the party shall be bound and to determine vpon some such other circumstances touching that matter But if the same Iust of peace be commanded as a minister in the erecution of the writ of Supplicauit to take the peace of any person then he must do as the writ doth direct him which sometime is to take sufficient suertie to be bound in a summe prescribed and some other time not then it resteth in his owne discretion The most vsuall maner is for a Iustice of peace to take two suerties besides the partie himselfe to be bound by Recognizance to the King viz. Domino Regi and that must alwaies be for the kéeping of the peace The forme of which Recognizance for the kéeping of the peace is as followeth viz. Memorandum qd ' nono die Augusti Anno regni dnÌ„i nostrÌ„ Regis Iacobi dei gratia c. 5. A.B. de Padburie in Comitatu pÌ„dict ' Husbandman Buck. in ê“pria persona sua venit coram me Richardo Ingols by Milite vno IusticiarioruÌ„ dicti dnÌ„i Regis ad pacem in dicto Comitatur conseruandam assignatoruÌ„ assumpsit proseipso sub poena xx li. et D.E. H.I. de C. in Comitatur praedictur Husbandmen adtunc ibmÌ„ in ê“prijs personis suis similiter venerunt manuceperunt pro praedicto A. B. viz quilibet eorum seperatim sub poena x. li. quod idem A. B. personaliter comparebit coram Iusticiarijs dicti domini Regis ad pacem ad ê“ximam generaleÌ„ Sessionem pacis in ComÌ„pÌ„dicto apud Buck. tenendam ad faciendum recipienduÌ„ quod ei per Curiam tunc ibidem iniungetur Et quod ipse interim pacem dicti dnÌ„i Regis custodiet erga ipsum dominuÌ„ Regem cunctum populuÌ„ suum praecipue versus L.M. de O. de comitatu praedict Et quod damnum vel malum aliquod corporale aut grauamen praefatur L.M. nec alicui de populo dicti domini Regis quod in laesionem aut perturbationem pacis ipsius Domini Regis seu praefati L.M. cedere valeat quouismodo non faciet nec fieri procurabit Quam quidem summam xx l' praedict ' A.B. quilibet manucaptorum praedictorum praedictas seperales summas x. l' recognouerunt se debere dicto domino Regi de terris tenementis bonis catallis suis cuiuslibet eorum ad opus dicti domini Regis fieri leuari ad quorumcunque manus deuenerunt si contigerit ipsum A.B. praemissa vel eorum aliquid in aliquo infringere inde legitimo modo conuinci In cuius rei testimonium ego pÌ„dictus Richardus Ingolsby sigillum meum apposui Datur apud Lethenborow die Anno supradict ' And the forme of the Recognizance for the good abearing is this viz. A Recognizance for the good abearing MemoranduÌ„ c. quod ipse A. B. interim se bene geret erga DnÌ„m Reg. cunctuÌ„ populuÌ„ suuÌ„ praecipuè erga L. M. Et quod ipse non inferet nec inferri ê“curabit per se nec per alios damnuÌ„ aliquod seu grauamen pÌ„fato L.M. seu alicui de populo ipsius dnÌ„i Regis de corporibus suis per insidias insultus seu aliquo alio modo quod in laesionem seu perturbationem pacis dicti dnÌ„i Regis cedere valeat quouismodo viz. vterque praedict ' D. E. et H. I. sub poena 50. librÌ„ et praedict ' A. B. sub poena 100. librÌ„ c. And this may be done by a single Recognizance in Latin with a Condition thereunto added in English for the kéeping of the peace or the good Abearing and for the day and place of the parties apparance at the Quarter Sessions 82 A Iustice of peace who vpon his owne discretion compelleth one to find suertie of the peace vntill a certaine day may vpon the like discretion release the same before that day A Releas of the suertie of peace But if a Iustice of peace do graunt the peace at the request of an other viz. at the suit of A. and that the Recognizance be taken to kéepe the peace against A. then may the same A. only releas it and none other before the same Iustice of peace or any other Iustice that will certifie the same releas before the Iustices of peace at the next quarter Sessions for that certificat being of record will discharge it which a releas by déed can not do the suertie of peace being a Recognizance and so of it selfe a record And though the Recognizance be versus cunctum populuÌ„ precipuè versus A. yet may the same A. releas it for though it may séeme populer and that others should haue equall interest therein with A. yet as it appeareth by the word precipuè it was specially taken for his safetie But though in some case a Iustice of peace may releas the suertie of the peace in some
other case the partie yet the King can in neither of the said cases releas it vntill it be forfeited for the mischiefe that may come to A. thereby though the Recognizance be taken domino Regi for that it is not a debt vnto him vntill it be forfeited But being forfeited then the King and none other may releas pardon the forfeiture And in the cases aforesaid though the Iust of peace or the party may releas the suertie of the peace Buck. The Iustices release of the peace yet the Recognizance before taken for the suertie of the peace must not be cancelled least the peace was broken before the releas made so the Recognizance was forfeited And the forme of the Iustice of peace releas of the peace is this Ego p̄fatus Paulus Risley armiger vnus Iusticiariorū dn̄i Regis nunc ad pacem in Com̄p̄dictur conseruādam assignatur qui S. T. de Preston ad securitatē pacis inueniendam mea discretione compuli eandem securitatem pacis quantū in me est in mea discretione 10. die Maij An̄ 5. Reg. Iac. c. remisi relaxaui Dat' apud Chetwood c. And the forme of the release of the party before the same Iustice that tooke the Recognizance of the peace is this Memorandum quod 10. die Iulij Anno 5. The parties release of the peace Regis Iacobi c. A. B. venit coram me Francisco Cheney Milite vno Iusticiariorum dom̄ Regis nunc ad pacem c. gratis remisit relaxauit quantum in se est praedictam securitatem pacis per ipsum versus supranominatum S. T. petitam In cuius rei testimonium ego p̄fatus F. C. c. Datur apud Chessam Bois c. And in like sort the Iustice or Iustices of peace may doe which tooke suretie for the good abearing if they sée cause 83 The peace or good abearing is broken Causes of the breach of the peace or good abearing the Recognisance taken for the kéeping of the same is forfeited by violent extreame malicious and vnlawfull menacings assaults affrayes batteries strikings or imprisonments as if a man bound to the Peace doe wrongfully and malitiously menace assault beat or imprison another or doe forcibly thrust him into a riuer well or pond whereby he is in danger of drowning or doe rauish a woman against her will or doe commit manslaughter burglarie or robberie or treason against the person of the King Br. peace 20 And if a man be bound to the peace after he doth procure another to breake the peace this is a cause of forfeiture of his recognizance taken for the surety of the peace for that the peace is broken by his meanes 18. Ed. 4. 28. And if one be bound to the peace after doe menace I. S. to his face in his presence to kill or beate him this is a breach of the peace But if I. S. be absent when he is menaced then is it no breach of the peace vnles the same partie doe according to his menace lie in waight to kill or beate I. S. for then also it is a breach of the peace 22. Ed. 4. 35. And though the suertie of the peace be not broken without fighting 2. H. 7. 2. beating imprisoning or extremity of menacing yet the suertie of good abearing may be forfeited by the extraordinary number of people 10. H. 7. 12. that the partie bound hath attending vpon him or by his wearing of harneis or other weapons more then before he hath vsually done or be méete for his degrée or estate or by vsing of rigorous or terrible words or threatenings tending or inciting to the breach of the peace or indemeaning himselfe in his behauiour company or gesture or doing of any thing which shall tend to the breach of the peace or to put the people in dread or feare 84 As the wisdome of the Realme hath ordained Iustices of peace to be preseruors of the peace and men wholy or specially deuoted assigned to that office So hath she made choice of other magistrates who with their other offices haue the conseruation of the peace annexed to their charges as a thing incident or inseperable from their other functions and goe continually lincked arme in arme with them As euery Shirife in his County euery Coroner The Shirife Constable c. conseruators of the peace high constable of any lath-rape wapentake hundred or fraunchise and euery petit Constable Borshoulder Tithingman Headborough Boroughhead Thirdborough and chiefe pledge in euery Towne Village hamlet is within his limits and the precincts of his authoritie a conseruator of the peace And so is the Steward in euery Léete and view of franck pledge the Steward of euery Court of Pipowders a conseruator of the peace and if an affray be made in their presence sitting in their Court each of them may commit the offendors to prison And they all are in dutie first to bend their care foresight to preuent the breach of the peace next to imploy both their owne valor and strength to commaund the helpe force of others to pacifie those who by word or déed are in breaking of the peace And thirdly to punish those who haue broken the peace according to the law St. 5. F. 3. 14. And therefore any of the officers aforesaid may take and arrest suspected persons which walke in the night and sléepe in the day and carrie them before a Iustice of peace to finde suerties of their good behauiour Sta. 13. E. 1. And if any be taken by watchmen in the night watch that is suspected of euill behauiour they may take him and imprison him vntill he be deliuered by the ordinarie course of law And if any doe goe or ride armed by day or night in fayers or markets or other places sauing the Kings seruants in his presence or in executing of his precepts or such as doe pursue huy and cry where offences be done any of the same officers may take their armor from them to the Kings vse and commit them to the gaole And if any assemblies Rout or rumor shall be begun St. 17. R 2. 8 the Shirifes and other the Kings officers shall take the power of the County and disperse them and shall commit the offendors to prison vntill they be duely punished according to the law And if any do threaten to kill maihem or beate an other or doe attempt or goe about to doe it then any of the said officers may arrest the offendor to come before a Iustice of peace to finde suertie for the kéeping of the peace or els the same officer may commit him to prison 1. H. 7. 7. And if either of the said officers shal perceiue any other in his presence to be in breaking of the peace eyther dy drawing of their weapons or by assaulting or striking one of an other or by assaulting
persons vnlawfully assembled Then euery person which so being able and required doth willingly and obstinatly refuse so to doe shal suffer imprisonment for one yeare without baile or mainprise And as in al the cases aforesaid euery able person is bound vpon request to assist the Iustices shirifes other the Kings officers to pursue apprehend arrest and imprison Manquellors robbers felons or other disturbers of the peace and so to do his whole endeuor to be a conseruator of the peace of the Realme Euerie person must assist to execute the K. Writ In like sort is euery able person bound by the common law and by the Stat. of Westm̄ 1. Westm̄ 2. to be attendant vpon the Shirife St. 3. E. 1. 17. S. 13. E. 1. 39. or vndershirife in the execution of the kings writs and by that meanes to be a supporter of the justice of the Realme These offēces punishable in the Starre Chamber 86 Menaces assaults batteries imprisonments and maihems committed by some persons to some persons at some times in some places in some manner forme sort and with some circumstances besides the penalties aforesaid inflicted vpon the offendors therein are also punishable in the Kings high Court of the Starre chamber as other offences hereafter mentioned be as it doth more at large appeare in Oppressions 35. ¶ Of Riots Routs vnlawful and rebellious Assemblies RIots Routs The enormitie of Riots vnlawfull Rebellious assemblies haue bin so many times pernitious fatal enemies to this kingdom the peace tranquillity thereof haue so often shaken the foundation and put in hazard the very forme and state of gouernment of the same that our lawmakers haue béen enforced to deuise from age to age one law vpon an other one stat after another for the repressing punishing of them haue endeuoured by all their wits to snib the sprouts quench the very first sparkes of them as euery man may easily perceiue there was cause thereof who will looke back and call to his remembrance what that small Riot begun at Dartmouth in Kent in the raigne of King Richard the second betwéen the collector of a subsidy and a Tyler and his wife about the payment of one poore great did come vnto which being not repressed in time did grow to so great a rebelliō that after it put in hazard the life of the K. the burning of the Citie of London the ouerthrow of the whole Nobility gentlemen and all the learned of the land and the subuersion of this goodly Monarchy and forme of gouernment Or if they will call to mind the small Riot or quarrell begun in the raigne of King Henry the sixt between a Yeoman of the gard and a seruingman of Richard Neuils Earle of warwick which so farre increased for want of restraint that it was the roote of many wofull tragedies and a meane to bring to vntimely death first Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke proclaymed successor to the Crowne and the chiefe pillar of the house of Yorke and after him King Henry the sixt and Prince Edward his sonne the heires of the house of Lancaster and to ruinate with the one or the other of them most of the Péeres great men and gentlemen of the realme besides many thowsands of the common people West 1. 3 E. 1. 32. Sta. 7. Ed. 1. St. 13. E. 1. 6. And therefore King Edward the first did well ordaine That no Shirifes shall suffer Barretors or maintainers of quarrels in their Counties And that to all parliaments Treatises and other assemblies each man shall come peaceably without any armor and that euery man shall haue armor in his house according to his ability to kéepe the peace And King Edward the third prouided Statutes ordained to preuent forces or Riots that no man shall come before the Iustices St. 2. E. 3. 3. St. 5. E. 3. 14. nor goe or ride armed And that suspected lewd and riotous persons shall be arrested and safely kept vntill they be deliuered by the Iustices of Gaole deliuery St. 34. E. 1. 3. Sta. 2. R. 2. 6. And that Iustices of peace shall restraine offendors riotors and all other Barretors and pursue take and chasten them according to their Trespas and offence Sta. 5. R. 2. 6. St. 15. R. 2. 2 St. 7. R. 2. 13 King Richard the second did prohibit Riots Routs and forcible entries into lands that were made in diuers counties and partes of the Realme And that none from thenceforth should make any Riot or Rumor And that no man shall ride armed 20. Rich. 2. 1 nor vse Launcegaies And that no laborer seruant in husbandry or Artificer St. 12. R. 2. 6 or victualer shall weare any buckler sword or dagger And that all the Kings officers shall suppresse and imprison such as make any Riots Routs St. 17. R. 2. 8. or vnlawful assemblies against the peace King Henry the fourth enacted That the Iustices of peace the Shirife shall arrest those which commit any Riot Rout or vnlawfull assembly shall enquire of them and record their offences St. 13. H. 4. 7 King Henry the fift assigned commissioners to enquire of the same Iustices Shirifes defaults in that behalfe St. 2. H. 5. 8. and also limited what punishment offendors attainted of Riot should sustaine King Henry the seauenth ordained Sta. 19. H. 7. that such persons as were returned to enquire of Riots should haue sufficient fréehold or copihold land within the same Shire And that no maintenance should hinder their Inquisition And in the Raigne of Quéene Mary Sta. 1. M. 12. there was a necessary Statute established to restrain and punish vnlawfull and rebellious assemblies raised by a multitude of vnruly persons to commit certaine violent forcible and Riotous acts 2 As the said Lawes Statutes were deuised in seueral ages by the wisedom of the Realme to enquire of and restraine Riots Routs vnlawfull and rebellious assemblies and to checke violences and forces before they should grow to a head So haue our prouident forefathers erected the most honorable Court of Starre chamber The Court of Starre chambers authoritie to punish Riots c. to examine and punish those and other offences when they breake out to extremities viz. to great and haynous Riots or such like enormities thereby to kéepe euery person in awe and so the whole Realme in peace As appeareth by the Statute of Anno 3. H. 7. whereby it is inacted That the Chauncellour and Treasorer of England for the time being and the President of the Kings Councell St. 3. H. 7. 1. Stat. 21. H. 8. 22. and the kéeper of the Kings priuy seale or two of them calling to them a Bishop and a Temporall Lord of the Kings most honorable priuy Councell the two chiefe Iustices of the K. Bench and common place for the time being or other two Iust in their absence vpon bill or information put to
the said Chauncellor for the King or any other against any person for any misbehauing by vnlawfull maintenances giuing of liueries signes and tokens retainers by Indentures oathes writings or otherwise embracery of the Kings subiects vntrue demeanings of Shirifes in making of pannels and other vntrue returnes by taking of money by iniuries by great Riots and vnlawfull assemblies haue authority to cal before them by writ or by priuy seale the said misdooers and they and other by their discretion by whom the truth may be knowne to examine and such as they finde therein defectiue to punish them according to their demerits after the forme and effect of the Statutes thereof made in like manner and forme as they should or ought to be punished if they were thereof conuict after the due order of the law And though the Iustices of peace doe assesse a fine in the Country vpon some that haue committed a Riot there yet the Lords in the Starre chamber may assesse vpon the said offendrs for the same Riot a greater penalty if they sée cause for in this case the offendors be not twice punished for one offence but part of the due punishment is inflicted at one time and part at another And the Lords doe sufficiently punish an offence which was but remisly done by the Iustices 3 A Riot is where thrée persons or aboue do assemble themselues together to the intent to beate or maihem a man to pul downe a house wall pale What is a Riot hedge or ditch wrongfully to claime or take common or way in a ground to destroy any parke warren douehouse pond poole barne mill or stacke of corne or to doe any other vnlawfull act with force and violence and against the peace and they doe it If a man goe abroade with his houshold seruants which he hath commonly of his owne familie though they be more then his abilitie or degrée is to maintaine and doth make a fray by the way this is no Riot vnlesse the Master did before make his seruants priuy that hée meant to make an affray for it is no riot except there be an intent before to doe some violence and hurt If thrée foure or more doe enter into landes with force vppon the possession of an other though their entrie be lawfull yet is it a Riot St. 5. R. 2. 7. for the Statute of Anno 5. Richard 2. doth prohibite entrie into Landes and Tenements with force or a multitude of people 4 An vnlawfull assembly is where thrée persons or aboue What is an vnlawfull assembly doe assemble themselues together to the intent to doe any of the Actes aforesaide or any other such vnlawfull act with force and violence against the Peace although they doe it not indéede but after their assemblie they departe by their owne consent vpon some feare conceiued or other cause without dooing of any outrage for their intent of assembling was vnlawfull though the act subsequent did not ensue according to the same 5 A Route is where thrée persons or aboue doe assemble themselues What is a Rout. for the reuenge of their owne common quarrell As if the Inhabitants of a Towne doe assemble together to pull downe a house wall pale ditch or other inclosure of a parke pasture or close or the head of a poole where they wrongfully pretend to haue title of common or a way or to beate or maihem one man or more that haue done to them all some publike offence If they once méete 17. Ed. 4. 4 procéede and goe forward towardes the execution of any of the Actes aforesaide and doe shew by Armour Gesture or Spéech that they meane to doe any violence or to terrifie or feare any of the Kings people it is a Rout whether they put their intended purpose in execution or not But if a Maior and Aldermen or Bayliffe and Burgesses or the fellowes of any societie doe assemble in their common quarrell and make a Riot Rout or Vnlawfull assembly this shall be punished in their owne priuate naturall persons and not in the body politike for it was their priuate persons that assembled to offend the Lawe and not the bodie politike If a man goe to the Sessions Market Faire Rout by wearing of Armour or other assemblie of company with his seruants in Harnesse though he hath no intent to fight or to commit any Riot yet this is a Rout by the manner of his comming and is contrary to the Statute of 2. St. 2. Ed. 3. 3 Edw. 3. which hath ordained That no man shall bring any force in affray of the peace nor shall go armed in faires markets or elsewhere vpon paine of imprisonment and forfeiture of his Armour Lawfull assemblies of thrée persons or more 6 An Assembly of thrée persons or more which is not to the terrour of the people nor to doe some Act with force and violence against the peace is not vnlawfull nor prohibited by any of the Statutes before mentioned The watch in London vpon Midsummer night is lawfull and so be such like in other Cities and Townes Assemblies be lawfull that be vsed vppon Maie day to fetch in Maie boughs or floures and so be assemblies at Church-Ales Whitson or Midsummer-Ales Assemblies at the fetching home setting vp or dauncing about a Maie-pole and assemblies at the bayting of a Bull or Beare or at the mowing or making of Dole or Reuell meade and assemblies of Minstrells and their fellowes at certaine places and times of the yéere allowed by old and ancient customes are also lawfull And Assemblies to play at Cardes Tables Bowles Clash Bucklers Wasters halfe Sword Tennis Quoits Cailes or such other games be likewise by the common lawe tollerable though some of the same games be prohibited vpon some penalties by Statute to be vsed by some persons and assemblies to runne at Quintall Sand bagge Base Footeball Stooleball Handball St. 33. H. 8. 9 or such like disports be also lawfull For these assemblies be not made with the intent to breake or disturbe the Peace or to offer violence force or hurt to the person of any but either to trie Actiuity or to increase societie amitie and neighbourly friendship And if in any of the said assemblies any of the parties the same shall make a fray with a stranger that is no Riot neither doth it make the residue of the same company Riotors who came thither for their disports and not to any euill or vnlawfull intent But if any of the same company shall fall out with a stranger or some others of their owne associates and then some of them doe take one parte and some of them another An Assembly lawfully begunne doth end riotously whereby a Riot is committed then so many of both sides as shall take sides and be parties to that quarrell shall be adiudged Riotors but not the residue for the Riot did not take his beginning at the first méeting when they did all
Regis nunc ad pacem in Comitatu praedicto conseruandam A precept to the Shirife to returne a Iurie to inquire of a Riot nec non ad diuersas felonias transgressiones et alia malefacta in eodem Comitatu audiendum terminandum assignati vicecomiti Comitur praedicti salutem Ex parte dicti Domini Regis tibi praecipimus firmitèr iniungentes quod non omittas ê“pter aliquam libertatem in Balliua tua quin eam ingrediaris venire facias coram nobis apud Cauluerton in Comitatu praedicto 10. die huius mensis Ianuarij 24. ê“bos legales homines Comitatur praedicti quorum quilibet habeat terras tenementa infra dictuÌ„ Comitatum liberi tenementi per chartam ad valoreÌ„ viginti solidorum aut per Copiam Rotulorum curie ad valorem 26. s. 8. d. aut de vtroque vltra omnes reprisas ad inquirendum pro dicto dnÌ„o Rege de quodam Riotto apud C. in comitatu pÌ„dicto nuper commisso vt dicitur qd'suê‘ quemlibet IuratoruÌ„pÌ„dictoruÌ„ tunc returnes in exitibus xx s. Et hoc nullatenus omittas sub pena xx.li. quam noueris te incursurum si in executione pÌ„missorum tepidus seu remissus fueris Et habeas ibi hoc praeceptum Testibus nobis pÌ„fatis H.L. W. A. quarto die Martij AnÌ„ regni dnÌ„i nostrÌ„ Regis Iacobi dei gratia c. tertio And when the Shirife hath returned his precept at a day and place then two Iustices of peace at the least without the Shirife who is not to sit vpon the Inquisition are to make enquiry by the same Iury returned the forme of which Inquisition is this Buck. Inquisitio pro Domino Rege capta apud Wynslowe in Comitatu praedicto primo die Octobris Anno Regni dicti domini nostri Regis Iacobi c. quinto coram Roberto Dormer milite Anthonio Tiringham milite adtunc Iusticiarijs dicti Domini Regis ad pacem in Comitatu praedicto conseruandam necnon ad diuersas felonias c. assignatis super sacramentum A. B. C. D. E. F. G. c. The forme of an inquisition of a Riot Qui dicunt super sacramentuÌ„ suum quod H. I. K. L. M. N. de Addington in Comitatu praedicto husbandmen c. simul cum alijs malefactoribus pacis dicti Domini Regis perturbatoribus ignotis ad numerum decem personaruÌ„ vi armis modo guerrino arraiati viz. cum gladijs Bacculis Arcubus Sagittis vicesimo die Septembris Anno quinto supradicto inter horas septimam vndecimam ante meridiem eiusdem diei domum mansionalem cuiusdam S. T. de Wynslowe praedictur fregâ—runt intrauerunt in ipsum S. T. adtunc ibidem insultum fecerunt ipsum verberauerunt vulnerauerunt maletractauerunt ita qd ' de vita cius desperabatur in magnam perturbationem pacis dicti domini Regis populi sui terrorem ac contra formam statuti de Riotis Routis illicitis congregationibus in parliamento domini Henrici nuper Regis Angliae quarti Anno regni sui decimo tertio aediti St. 13. H. 4. 7 10 By the foresaid Statute of 13. H. 4. it is moreouer established that if the truth cannot be found in maner aforesaid then within a Moneth next after the same Iustices thrée or two of them and the said Shirife Certifying a Riot or Vndershirife shall certifie before the King and his Councell of the whole fact and the circumstances thereof which certificat shall be of the same force that a presentment by twelue men is Vpon which certificat the said trespassors and offendors shall be put to aunswere and they which shall be found guilty shall be punished by the discretion of the King and his Councell And if the same trespassors and offendors do trauerse the matter so certified Trauerse of a Certificat the same certificat and trauerse shall be sent into the Kings Bench there to be tried and determined according to the order of the Law St. 13. H. 4. 7 11 The same Statute of 13. H. 4. hath also prouided that if the said trespassors and offendors do not come before the King and his Councell Proces against offendors or into the Kings Bench at the first precept then an other precept shall be deliuered to the Shirife of the Shire to take the said trespassors and offendors if they may be found and to bring them at a certaine day before the King and his Councell or into the Kings Bench And if they cannot be found the Shirife or Vndershirife shall make proclamation in his full Countie next insuing the said second precept that they shall appeare before the King and his Councell or in the Kings Bench or in the Chauncerie in the time of vacation within thrée wéekes then next following And if the offendors do not appeare as is aforesaid and the proclamation be made and returned they shall be attainted and conuicted of the Riot Assemblie and Rout aforesaid St. 13. H. 4. 7 12 By the said Statute of 13. H. 4. it was lastly enacted The forfeiture of the Iustices which do not inquire of Riots that the Iustices of peace which dwell néerest in euery County where such Riot of people shall be together with the Shirife or Vndershirife of the same Coâ—ntie And also the Iustices of assise for the time that they shall be in their Sessions in case any such Riot assemblie or Rout be made in their presence shall doe execution of this Statute euery one vpon paine of C. li. to be paied to the King as often as they shall be found in default of execution of the same Statute 13 Because it was not prouided by the foresaid Statute of 13. H. 4. A commission to inquire of the Iustices c. default that the partie grieued should haue any other remedie if default should be in the said Iustices Shirife or Vndershirife where such Riot assemblie or rout should be made nor at whose costes the same riot should be repressed neither was it limitted what punishment the parties attainted of such Riots should suffer St. 2. H. 5. 8. Therefore by an other Statute made Anno 2. H. 5. it was established That if default be found in the said two Iustices of peace or Iustices of Assise and the Shirife or Vndershirife of the Countie where such Riot assemblie or rout shall be made touching the execution that they ought to make by vertue of the said statute of 13. H. 4. and whereof the said Statute maketh mention Then at the instance of the partie grieued the kings commission shall be awarded vnder the great Seale to inquire aswell of the truth of the case and of the originall matter for the partie complaynant as of the default or defaults of the said Iustices Shirife or Vndershirife in this behalfe supposed to be directed to sufficient and indifferent
persons at the nomination and by the aduise of the Chauncellor of England And the said Commissioners incontinently shall send into the Chauncery the Enquests and matters before them in this behalfe taken and found Vpon the Cōmission the coronors shal returne the Iury 14 The Coroners of the same Countie for the time being St. 2. H. 5. 8. in which Countie such Riot Assemblie or Rout shall be made shall make the panell vpon the said commission retornable for the time that the Shirife so supposed in default shal remain in his office which Coroners shal return no persons but only such which haue lands c. to the value of x. l. by the yere at the least And also the same coroners shal return vpon euery of the said persons impannelled at the first day when issues be to be lost xx What issues shal be returned vpon the Iurors s. at the least at the second day xl s. at the least at the third day C. s. at the least at euery day after the double at the least which issues so returned because of non-appearance of such persons impanneled shall be forfait to the King and leuiable to his vse And if default be found in the said coronors touching the returne of such persons to be impanneled or touching the returne of such issues as afore is said euery of them shall pay to the Kings vse forty pounds Where the shirife shal return the Iury and not the coronors 15 And if the Shirife so reputed in default be discharged of his office St. 2. H. 5. 8. at the time that such commission shall goe out of the Chauncerie then the new Shirife of the same County his successor mediate or immediate and not the coronors shall make the pannell vpon this commission returnable in manner and forme as the said coronors should doe in time when the Shirife so reputed in default stood in his office And the same Shirife shall incurre like paine of xl li. to the King if any default in him be found touching the returne of other persons by him impannelled which haue not lands tenements or rents to the value of x. li by the yeare or of returning such issues as the said coronors be aboue charged to returne as the said coronors be to lose to the King in this behalfe A writ directed to enquire of a Riot 16 The Chauncellor of England as soone as he may haue knowledge St. 2. H. 5. 8. of such Riot assemblie or Rout shall cause to be sent the Kings writ to the Iustices of peace and to the Shirife or vndershirife of the County where they be so made that they shall put the foresaid Statute of 13. H. 4. in execution vpon the paine contained in the same And though such writ come not to the said Iustices Shirife or vndershirife they shall not be excused of the paine of 100. pounds aforesaid if they make not execution of the said Statute Riots shal be inquired of at the Kings costs 17 The Iustices and other officers aforesaid shall doe their offices at the Kings costs in going tarrying St. 2. H. 5. 8. and returning in dooing their said offices by payment thereof to be made by the Shirife of the same County for the time being by Indentures betwéene him and the said Iustices and other officers aforesaid to be made of the payment aforesaid whereof the said Shirife vpon his accompt in the Exchequer shall haue due allowaunce St. 2. H. 5. 8. 18 Such Riotors attainted of great and haynous Riots The punishment of Riotors shall haue one whole yeares imprisonment at the least without being let out of prison by baile mainprise or in any other manner during the yeare aforesaid and the Riotors attainted of petit Riots shall haue imprisonment as the King and his Councell shall thinke good St. 2. H. 5. 8. 19 The Kings liege people being able to trauaile in the Countie where such Riots assemblies or routs shall be made shal be assistant to the Iustices Each man shall helpe to represse Riots commissioners Shirife or vndershirife of the same County when they shal be reasonably required to ride with the said Iustices Shirife or vndershirife in aide to resist such Riots Routs and assemblies vpon paine of imprisonment and to make fine and ransom to the King St. 2. H. 5. 8. 20 The Bailifes of franchises Bailifes of Franchises shall impannell sufficient people as before vpon paine to loose xl li to the King in case that such sufficient persons may be found within the said franchises Corporat towns hauing Iustices And like ordinances and paines shall hold place and take effect in Cities Boroughs other places and townes enfranchised which haue Iustices of peace within them 21 Forasmuch as in the before rehearsed Statute of 13. H. 4. it is not expressed of what sufficiency the Iurors impannelled by the Shirife to inquire of Riots should be Nor what issues they should lose if they appeare not Nor any mention is made of any punishment the maintenors and embraceors of the Iurors that so shall be impannelled should haue for their misdemeanor A Iury to enquire of Riots if any should be St. 19. H. 7. 13. Therefore by a Statute made Ann̄ 19. H. 7. it was enacted that if any Riot Rout or vnlawfull assemblie be committed within this realme the Shirife hauing a precept directed to him shall returne xxiiij persons dwelling within the Shire where such Riot c. shall be so committed whereof euery of them shal haue lands and Tenements within the same shire to the yearely value of xx s. of Charter land or fréehold or xxvj s. viij d. of copihold or of both aboue all charges for to inquire of the said Riot Rout or vnlawfull assemblie And he shall returne vpon euery person so by him impanelled in issues at the first day xx s. at the second xl s̄ if that they appeare not and be sworne to enquire of the premisses at the first day And if default be found in the Shirife or vndershirife for returning of other persons being not of the same sufficiency or for not returning issues in forme aforesaid then the said Shirife shall forfeit to the King for either twenty pounds St. 19. H. 7. 13. 22 If the said Riot Rout or vnlawful assemblie be not found by the said Iury by reason of any maintenance or embracery of the Iurors Maintenance where by a Riot is not found then the same Iustices and the Shirife or vndershirife beside such certificat that they be bound to make according to the foresaid Statute of 13. H. 4. shall in the same certificat certifie the names of the mainteinors and embraceors in that behalfe if any be with their misdemeanors that they know vpon paine of euery one of the said Iustices and Shirife or vndershirife to forfait xx li. if they haue no reasonable excuse for not certifying of
the same which certificat so made shall be of like force and effect in the law as if the matter contained in the same were duly found by the verdit of xij men And euery person duly proued to be a mainteinor or embraceor of the same shall forfeite to the King xx l. and shall be committed toward there to remaine by the discretion of the Iustices What one Iustice of peace may doe alone in a Riot 23 One Iustice of peace alone can neither make inquiry of a Riot Rout 7. Ed. 4. 18. or vnlawfull assemblie when it is done nor assesse any fine nor award any proces for it nor otherwise meddle with it in the nature of a Riot or Rout but only as a trespas against the peace or vpon the statute of Northampton or the Statut of 34. Ed. 3. or vpon the Stat. of forcible entries for the wordes of the foresaid Statute of 13. H. 4. be That if such trespassors or offendors be departed before the comming of the said Iustices Shirife or c. the same Iustices thrée or two of them shall diligently enquire c. So that there must be two of them at the least to make such inquirie 14. H. 7. 9. But if one Iustice of peace doe heare of any Riot Rout or vnlawfull assembly he alone with his seruants may goe to the place where the assemblie is reported to be made and if he finde any riotously gathered together he may arrest them to finde suerties of their good behauiour according to the Statute of 34. Ed. 3. Kel fo 41. he may take their weapons from them and retaine them vntill their hot bloud be cooled And if they refuse to finde suerties of their good behauiour he may commit them to prison But this must be done presently vpon the act doing for if there be any meane time he hath then no authority to commit them to prison And if he come to the place whither he doth vnderstand that some persons will repaire to commit some Riot Rout or violent act against the peace and the same persons be not yet come thither he may leaue his seruants there to restraine them from committing their intended Riots or other offences or else to arrest them to finde suerties of their good behauiour if they doe offer to commit any Riot or to breake the peacce And so may he also doe if he shall be sicke and heare of any Riot c. intended to be done he may send his seruants to represse it or to bring the offendors before him or some other Iustice of peace to finde suerties to kéepe the peace or else to commit them to the Gaole So that one Iustice of peace alone may by the warrant of the said Statute of 34. Ed. 3. doe much in preuention of a Riot c. before it be done for the stayiâ—â— of it whilest it is in dooing but nothing to punish it as a Riot when it is done for that statute of 34. Ed. 3. was made for the common profit of the Realm spéedily to interrupt and preuent present mischiefes to disperse malefactors Barretors and other Riotors in their very first méeting and encounter and so farre as may be to parte and cut off the quarrell before it grow to any head or extremity which peraduenture would not be easily pacified if one Iustice should doe nothing vntill some other of his fellowes came to assist him therein And a Iustice of peace may by word only without warrant in writing commaund his owne seruants or any of them to apprehend those that are about to commit a Riot in his presence And they may iustifie the taking of them though those Riotors be gone or fled away out of the presence of the same Iustice before his said seruants can lay hold on them 24 Although this Statute of 13. H. 4. doth not make that mention which the Statute of 8. H. 6. of Forcible entries doth touching complaint to be made to the Iustices of peace of a Riot Rout or vnlawfull assemblie but doth hinde the next Iustices of peace to doe execution of this Statute euery one vpon pain of C.li. yet the Sages of the Realme and the wisedom of the interpreters of the law The Iustices must haue notice of the Riot haue thought it reason 4. El. Dy. 210. that notice should be giuen vnto the said next Iustices thereof before they should incurre the said penaltie of C.li. vnles it be some great notorious and very perilous Riot which by common intendment euery person in those parts may take knowledge of for as the said Statute of 13. H. 4. doth relate to the Statute of 8. H. 6. touching the conuiction of offendors by the record of the Iustices So it is like that the meaning of the makers thereof was it should doe in giuing notice or making of complaint of the wrong receiued 25 If the Iustices doe assemble themselues the Shirife The parties agréement no discharge of the inquisition and the Iurie to make inquirie of a Riot within a moneth according to the Statute and after at the parties request they do not inquire of it but doe dismisse the Iurie for that the parties haue agréed betwéene themselues Yet the Iustices shall pay a fine to the King although none doe giue euidence for the King vpon that Riot for they ought to take and charge an enquest and to make enquiry of that Riot whereof they were enformed or of all Riots séeing it may be that the Iurors themselues haue knowledge of the Riot And moreouer they must make proclamation if any will enforme the Kings Iustices of any Riots Routs c. And the said Statute of 13. H. 4. which giueth authoritie to the Iustices and Shirife c. to inquire of the Riot and to heare and determine it according to the law was ordained to punish Riotors for breaking of the Kings peace and thereby to make them an example to others and also to intitle the King to a fine And therefore the law will not permit that the satisfaction of the parties grieued should depriue the King of his fine or ease the offendors of their due and deserued punishment and also yéeld incouragement to others vpon hope of agréement to put in practise the like Riots or other outrages St. 13. H. 4. 7 26 And whereas the said Statute of 13. H. 4. hath ordained that if any Riot or c. against the law shall be made the Iustices of peace the Shirife or vndershirife shall come with the power of the Countie if néede be to arrest them That power of the County is expressed before by the Statute of 17. What power of the County the Iustices shall vse to represse Riots R. 2. viz. Al Lords and other liege people of the Realme as Knights Esquires gentlemen yeomen laborers seruants apprentises villaines and all others of the age of 15. yeares or aboue which be not of the Clergie decrepite or
of the same that first there ought to be awarded a Venire facias against the offendors and if they do not appeare then a Capias for the words of the Statute be if they do not come before the King and his councel or into the Kings Bench at the first precept then another precept shal be deliuered to the Sherife to take the said offendors c. And this proces must be returned before the Kings councell or in the Kings Bench but if there be awarded against the offendors a Subpena or a priuie seale it shall be void St. 13. H. 4. 7 30 Notwithstanding the said Statute of 13. H. 4. The penaltie of C. l. for not executing this Statute hath inflicted a penalty of C. l. vpon the next Iustices of the county where such riot shal be committed if the execution of that Statute be not done yet if other Iustices of the same county do performe that office then the next Iustices shall be excused and the same penaltie shall be saued for the Statute doth wholy or chiefly respect that the offendors shal be arrested or disturbed their offences inquired of recorded and punished and by that meanes the peace preserued for all the Iustices of peace within the commission how farre off soeuer they dwel so that they dwel within the said countie if they haue notice of such a riot rout or vnlawfull assemblie ought to enquire of it to record it and to suppresse it or otherwise they may be fined by the Lords in the Star chamber though the penaltie of one C. l. shal be inflicted onely vpon the two next Iustices for that they are intended most likely and soonest to haue knowledge of it But if the Sherife or Vndersherife should not come to the Iustices béeing sent for to assist the same Iustices and to further the repressing of that riot and the performance of that seruice then all the said Iustices dwelling néere or remote shal be excused of the same penaltie of C. l. or any other for the said statute doth giue him equal authoritie and as it were ioyne him in commission in the copulatiue with them St. 13. H 4. 7. 31 It appeareth by the said stat of 13. H. 4. Trauerse to an Inditement of Riot that if the offendors trespassors do trauerse the matter certified by the Iustices of peace to the King his councell the same certificat and trauerse shal be sent into the K. Bench and there be tried determined according to the law And in like sort if the trespassors offendors do trauerse the matter found by Inquisition before the Iu. of peace in the countie the same Inquisition shal be sent to the Iustices of peace at the next Quarter Sessions of the same countie city borough or towne corporat hauing Iustices of Peace within themselues there the trauerse shal be tried and determined according to the Law the forme of which trauerse taken in a towne corporat is this Alià s scilicet ad Sessionem pacis tentam apud Buckingham in comitatu praedicto die Lune proximo post festum Sancte Trinitatur Anno regni dnÌ„i nrÌ„i Regis Iacobi dei gratur Angliae c. secundo coram Iohanne Nichols generoso Balliuo Burgi parochiae de Buckingham praedicta Francisco Fortescue milite Thoma Denton milite Richardo Ingolsbie milite Willihelmo Androwes milite Roberto Iohnson milite Paulo Risley armigero A trauerse to an InditemeÌ„t of riot Simone Lambard generoso alijs socijs suis Iusticiarijs dicti domini Regis ad pacem in dicto Burgo parochia conseruandam necnon ad diuersas felonias transgressiones alia malefacta in eisdem Burgo parochia perpetrata audienda terminanda assignatis per sacramÌ„ duodecem Iuratorum extitit presentatum Quod A.B.C.D.E.F. de Galcot cum diuersis alijs malefactoribus pacis dicti Domini Regis perturbatoribus modo guerrino arraiati vniti assemblati vicesimo die Maij hora quarta post meridiem eiusdem diei Anno eiusdem domini Regis nunc secundo vi armis viz. baculis gladijs pugionibus falcastris alijs armis tam inuasiuis quam defensiuis apud Prebend-end in Buckingham praedicta clausum cuiusdam L. M. vocatum Bone-hill close illicitè riotosè routosé fregerunt intrauerunt decem carractatas seni ad valenc ' quatuor librarum de bonis catallis dicti L. M. adtunc ibidem iniuste illicite ceperunt asportauerunt contra pacem dicti domini Regis contra formam statuti inde editi prouisi Per quod praeceptum fuit Iohanni Crooke subballiuo quod non omitteret propter aliquam libertatem c. quin venire faceret eosdem A.B.C.D.E.F. ad respondeÌ„dum c. Posteaque scilicet die Lune proximo post festum sancti Michaelis Archang ' anno regni domini Regis nrÌ„i Iacobi secuÌ„do coraÌ„ praefatis Iusticiarijs veneruÌ„t pÌ„dicti A.B.C.D.E.F. in proprijs personis suis habito auditu Indictamenti pÌ„dicti seperatim dicunt quod ipsi non sunt inde culpabiles Et de hoc ponunt se super patriam Et H. I. qui pro domino Rege in hac parte sequitur similiter Ideo veniunt inde Iuratur coram Iusticiarijs dicti dnÌ„i Regis ad pacem in Burgo parochia pÌ„d conseruandam assignatis c. ad Sessionem pacis apud Buck. pÌ„d die Lune proximo post Epiphaniam dnÌ„i tunc proximo futuro teneÌ„dam Et qui c. Ad recog c. Quia tam c. Idem dies datus est tam praefato H. I. qui sequitur ê“ DnÌ„o Rege quam pÌ„fatur A.B.C.D.E.F. Ad quas quidem Sessiones pacis tentas apud Buck. pÌ„d in comÌ„ pÌ„d dicto die Lune proximo post festum Epiphaniae domini Anno regni dicti Regis dnÌ„i nostri Iacobi tertio coram dicto Balliuo dictis F.F.T.D.R.I. socijs suis Iusticiarijs dicti DnÌ„i Regis ad pacem in dict' Burgo parochia conseruandam necnon ad diuersas felonias transgressiones alia malefacta in eodem Burgo parochia perpetrata audienda terminanda assignatis venerunt tam pÌ„fatus H.I. qui pro dnÌ„o Rege in hac parte sequitur quam pÌ„fatur A.B.C.D.E.F. in proprijs personis suis Et Iuratores ê‘ subballiutim Burgi parochie pÌ„d ad hoc impannellatur exacti viz. E.F. Mercer O.P. Draper c. similiter venerunt qui ad veritatur de pÌ„missis dicendam triati iurati dicunt super sacrum suum quod pÌ„d A.B.C.D.E.F. culpabiles sunt eoruÌ„ quilibet culpabilis est de transgressione contemptu riotto pÌ„d in Indictamento pÌ„d superius specificatis modo forma prout superius versus eos supponitur Ideo coÌ„cessuÌ„ est ê‘ curÌ„ ê™ pÌ„d A.B.C.D.E.F. capiantur ad satisfaciendum dicto domino Regi de finibus suis occasione transgressionis contemptus riotti
praedicti Qui quidem A. B. C. D. E. F. adtūc ibid p̄sentes in cur̄ petierūt se ad finē cū dict' dn̄o Rege occasione p̄d admitti Et inde pon̄ se seperatur in miserecordia dn̄i Regis Et assessatur finis eiusd A.B. per Iusticiar̄ p̄d ad 5. li. Et assessatur finis eiusdem C.D. ad 3. li. c. bone legalis monetur Angliae ad opus vsum dicti dn̄i Regis 32 Thogh the laws statutes before rehearsed or mētioned did take sufficiēt order for the inquiring of repressing punishing of such as did cōmit riots routs or vnlawfull assemblies by iij. iiij.v or some small number of persons and then were apprehended or dispersed by the Iustices of Peace the sherife or vndersherife with the help of the countrie when néed required Yet there was no sufficient law deuised to suppresse and punish such as did assemble in great numbers routs and tumults and would in contempt of the law and in rebellious manner put in practise vnlawfull forcible and violent acts and being by authoritie of the same law in calme manner required to the contrary would yet stand at the staues end with the peace of the realme and the iustice of the law and as it were in despite of all gouernment and gouernors procéed in their furie Therfore to continue peace and tranquilitie in the common weale and by a more sharpe corrasiue to bridle or punish so great maladies St. 1. M. 12. by a statute made Anno 1. M. it was enacted Twelue or aboue assembled to change lawes That if any persons to the number of xij or aboue being assembled together shall intend goe about practise or put in vre by force of armes vnlawfully and of their owne authoritie to alter or change any lawes made or established for religion by authoritie of Parliament which stand in force or any other laws or statutes of this realm or any of them the same number being commanded or required by the sherife of the shire or by any Iu. of peace of the same shire or by the mayor sherife I. of peace or by the baylifs of any citie borough or towne corporat where such assemblies shal be vnlawfully had and made by proclamation in the Queens name to retire and repaire to their owne houses and habitations or places frō whence they came and they or any of them notwithstanding such Proclamation shall remaine and make their abode and continue together by the space of one whole houre after such commandement or request made by Proclamation or after that shall willingly in forcible and riotous manner attempt to do or put in vre any thing aboue specified Then as well euery such abode or continuing together as euery such act or offence that after such commandement or request by Proclamation had or made shal be attempted to be done practised or put in vre by any of the persons being of the number aforesaid shal be iudged felonie in all and singular those persons that so shall make their abode or continue together or shall attempt or commit any act And the offendors therein shal be adiudged felons and shall suffer only execution of death as in case of felony St. 1. M. 12. 33 If any persons to the said number of twelue or aboue shall intend Practising to destroy parks ponds conduits goe about practise and put in vre in manner and forme aforesaid to ouerthrowe cut breake cast downe or digge vp the pales hedges ditches or other inclosure of any Parkes or Parke or other grounds or ground inclosed or the bankes of any fish-pond or poole or any conduits for water conduit heads or conduit pipes hauing course of water to the intent that the same or any of them from thenceforth should remaine open not inclosed or voyd Common or way or vnlawfully to haue common or way in the same Parkes or Parke or other groundes or ground inclosed or in any of them or to destroy in manner and forme aforesaid the Deere in any Parks or Parke or any warrens or warren of Conies Destruction of déere conies doue-houses fish Pulling downe houses burning stacks of corne abating of rents or any Doue-houses or any fish in any fish-pond or poole or to pull or cut downe any houses barnes milles or bayes or to burne any stackes of corne or graine or to abate or diminish the rents or yearely value of any mannors lands or tenements or the price of any victuall corne or graine or any other thing vsuall for the sustenance of men being required or commanded by any I. of peace or by the Sherife of the countie or by the mayor bailife or bailifs or other head officers of any citie or towne corporat where such assemblie shall be had by proclamation to bee made in the Quéenes name to retire returne in peaceable maner to their places and houses from whence they came and they or any of them notwithstanding such proclamation shall remaine or make their abode or continue together by the space of one whole houre after such cōmandement or request made by proclamation or after that shall in forcible maner do or put in vre any of those things last before mentioned Then aswell euery such abode or continuing together as euery such act that after such commandement or request by proclamation or request had or made shall be done practised or put in vre by any of the persons being aboue the number of twelue shal be adiudged felonie and the offendors therein shall be adiudged felons and shall suffer only the execution of death as in case of felonie Raising of vnlawfull assemblies by some acts or words 34 If any person or persons vnlawfully and without authority 1. M. 12. by ringing of any bell or bels sounding of any trumpet drumme horne or other instrument whatsoeuer or by fiering of any beacon or by malitious speaking or vttering of any words or making of any outcrie or by setting vp or casting of any bils or bil or writing whatsoeuer or by any other déed or act shall raise or cause to be raised or assembled any persons to the number of twelue or aboue to the intent that the same persons should doe or put in vre any of the things aboue mentioned that the persons to the number of twelue or aboue so raised and assembled after request or commandemēt had or giuen in forme aforesaid shall make their abode or continue together as is aforesaid or vnlawfully and in forcible manner perpetrate doe commit or put in vre any the acts or things abouesaid Then all and singular persons by whose speaking deed act or any other the meanes aboue specified any persons to the number of twelue or aboue shall be raised or assembled for the doing committing or putting in vre of any the acts or things aboue mentioned shal be adiudged for his so speaking or doing a felon shall suffer executiō of death as in
and euery the heire and heires of all and euery the offendor and offendors in any the cases aforesaid and all and euery person and persons 1. M. 12. bodies politicke and corporat their heires successors and executors and euery of them other than such person and persons onely as shall be attainted conuicted and outlawed of any the foresaid offences of felonie shall haue hold enioy all such right title entrie interest leases possessions rents conditions profits and aduaÌ„tages as they or any of them shall or of right ought to haue in or to any mannors lands rents reuersions seruices or hereditaments whatsoeuer or in or to any part thereof in as large manner to all intents as if such attainder had neuer beene had any thing in this act c. notwithstanding c. Sauing to euery person and persons bodies politicke and corporate and their successors their liberties and franchises in such maner as if this act had neuer beene made Procuring others to offend 46 If any person or persons doe moue stirre 1. M. 12. or procure any person or persons to commit any of the offences in this Act specified then euery such person and persons which shall procure stirre or mooue any person or persons so to offend shall suffer such punishment by imprisonmeÌ„t without baile or mainprise as is before expressed in this Act against counsellors of such offendors Vnlawful assemblies by xl or aboue 47 If any persons to the number of fourtie or more 1. M. 12. shall assemble together in forcible manner vnlawfully and of their owne authoritie to the intent to execute doe or put in vre any of the things aboue specified or to doe any other felonious or rebellious act or acts and so shall continue together by the space of three houres after proclamation shall bee made at or nigh the place where they shall be so assembled or in some market towne thereunto next adioyning and after notice to them giuen thereof Then euery person so willingly assembled in forcible manner and so continuing together by the space of three houres after such proclamation made and notice thereof giuen shall bée adiudged a felon A lieutenant shall not appoint a deputie 48 No lieutenant that shall bee made by authoritie or colour of this Act 1. M. 12. or for to execute this Act shall constitute vnder him or in his place any deputy nor shall call or appoint to appeare before him by the onely authoritie of lieutenancie or of commission of lieutenancy any person for any cause or matter whatsoeuer saue onely for the causes and matters expressed in this Acte and for none other Aiding of the offendors after the offence 49 No person or persons shall bee put to any losse forfeiture paine 1. M. 12. or punishment of life land or goods as accessorie to any person or persons that shall commit any of the offences contained in this act for receiuing comforting or aiding of any such offendor after such act committed or done 1. M. 12. 50 No attainder or conuiction of any person or persons The attainder of those offences no corruption of blood for any offence or offences herein contained shall be any corruption of blood betwixt the offendor and any of his auncestors or such person or persons as should haue beene heire to such offendor if no such attainder or conuiction had béene had sauing to euery person and persons bodies politicke and corporat c. their liberties and franâ—â—â—ses in such manner as if this Act had neuer beene made ⧠Of Force forcible Entries and forcible retayning of possessions Vnlawfull force an enemy to peace 1 FOrce and violence executed without warrant of Law be so méere contrarie to the peace and justice of the Realme as disobedience is to loyaltie and contempt to gouernment for whosoeuer doth make a Forcible entrie into lands in the possession of an other doth secretly reuolue in his mind and distrust to himselfe that there is no Law in the Realme to redresse his wrong or no ministers to execute the same and therefore he will sit in iudgement of that cause himselfe and take into his owne hands the distribution of justice and assume into his possession by the strength of his arme what the phantasie of his head shall resolue to be his due whereas the Law in conuenient time would truely satisfie him whether the land in question by the rules of justice be his or not and also assigne him a milde and calme course to recouer all his whole dutie with valuable damages for the time he is iniured And because this force and forcible entrie into lands is so opposite and méere repugnant to the peace and justice of the Realme and tendeth so much to the dishonour of the King and his Crowne and the discredit of the Law that any person by byrth and oath deuoted to the obedience of the King and his Lawes should presume of his owne authoritie by force and strong hand to resist them both and as it were in contempt of them violently to intrude himselfe into an other mans possession before the law hath decided his title therein Therefore the wisedome of the Realme hath by the space of many generations first prouided to restraine those forces and forcible Entries and next to inflict condigne punishment vpon them which were offendors therein Whereupon by a Statute made AnÌ„ 5. There shal be no forcible entry into lands R. 2. the King defended St. 5. R. 2. 7. that none from thenceforth should make any Entrie into any lands and tenements but in case where entrie is giuen by the Law and then not with strong hand nor with multitude of people but only in a peaceble course maner And if any from henceforth do the contrary and thereof be duely conuict he shall be punished by imprysonment of his bodie and thereof ransomed at the Kings pleasure 2 But for that the said Statute of 5. R. 2. did giue no spéedie remedie to those which were expelled out of their lands or tenements nor assigned any speciall persons to suppresse the said disorder Therefore by an other Statute made AnÌ„ 15. St. 15. R. 2. 2 R. 2. it was further ordained The penaltie of forcible entrie into lands or benefices That when any such forcible entrie shall be made into lands or tenements or into any Benefices or offices of the Church and the complaint thereof come to the Iustices of the peace or any of them that the same Iustices or Iustice take sufficient power of the County and go to the place where such forcible entrie is made if he or they find any that holdeth such place forcible after such entrie made they shall be taken and put into the Gaole there to abide conuict by the record of the same Iustices or Iustice vntill they haue made fine and ransom to the King And all they of the Countie aswell the Shirife as other
may haue a writ directed out of the Chauncerie to the Shirife only or to the Shirife and the Iustices of peace vpon the Statute of Northhampton made AnÌ„ 2. Ed. 3. St. 2. E. 3. 3. commaunding that proclamation may be made vpon that Statute 6 And for that it is conuenient that he who is with force expelled out of his lands or by force detained from the same should not be long kept out of possession thereof but that there should be a spéedie redresse to restore him to his owne and also because it is meant that the inquisition of that force should be made by men of good estate and so the more like to be indifferent of better vnderstanding and to declare the truth in those cases Therefore by the foresaid statute of Anno 8. Sta. 8. H. 6. 9. H. 6. it was moreouer ordained That when the said Iustices or Iustice shall make such inquiries as are beforesaid they shall cause their warrants and precepts to be directed to the Shirife of the same Countie A precept to the Shirife to impannell a Iurie commaunding him on the Kings behalfe to cause to come before them and euery of them sufficient and indifferent persons dwelling next about the lands so entred vpon as before to enquire of such entries whereof euery man that shall be impannelled and may inquire in this behalfe shall haue lands or tenements to the value of xl s. by the yeare at the least aboue reprises and that the Shirife returne issues vpon euery of them at the day of the first precept returnable xx s. and at the second day xl s. and at the third day fiue pounds and at euery day after the double And if any Shirife or Baylife within a fraunchise hauing the returne of the Kings writs be slacke and make not execution duly of the said precepts to him directed to make such inquiries he shall forfeit to the King xx.li. for euery such default Shirifes forfaiture and moreouer shall make fine and ransom to the King And aswell the Iustices or Iustice aforesaid as the Iustices of Assise and euery of them at their comming into the Country to take Assises haue power to heare and determine such defaults and negligences of the said Shirifes and Bailifes and euery of them aswell by bill at the sute of the party greiued for himselfe as for the King to sue by Inditement only to be taken for the King And if the Shirife or Bailife be duly attainted in this behalfe by Indictment or by bill he which sueth for himselfe and for the King shall haue the one moitie of the forfaiture of xx li. together with his costs and expences The proces And the same proces shall be made against such persons indited or sued by bill in this behalfe as should be against persons indited or sued by writ of Trespas with force and armes against the Kings peace 7 The forme of which precept by a Iustice of peace Buck. to the Shirife to returne a Iurie to enquire of Forcible entries is this Edwardus Tirrell miles vnus Iusticiariorum dnÌ„i Regis The forme of a Precept to the Shirife to returne a Iurie ad pacem in Comitatu Buck. conseruandam assignatorum vicecomiti eiusdem Comitatus salutem Ex parte dicti Domini Regis tibi mando quod venire facias coramme apud Thornborough in Comitatu praedicto 10. die Octobris proximo futuro 24. probos sufficientes legales homines de viceneto de Thornborough praedicto quorum quilibet habeat 40. solidos terrarum tenementorum vel reddituum pet annum ad minus vltra reprisas ad inquirendum super sacramentum suum si A. B. de Adstock in dicto Comitatu Buck. blacksmith alij malefactores pacis dicti domini Regis perturbatores in vnum mesuagium 20. acras terrae alia tenementa de C. D. husband de T. praedict ' manu forti super possessionem dicti C. D. ingressi sunt aut eadem cum fortitudine adhuc tenent occupant Et videas quod super quilibet Iuratorum in hoc parte impan nellandorum xx s. ad primum diem returnes hoc nullatenus omittas sub pena xx.li. quam noueris te incursurum si in executione praemissorum tepidus aut remissus fueris Et habeas ibi hoc praeceptum Datur apud Thornton xx die Septemb. Anno Regni domini nostri Regis Iacobi c. tertio 8 The forme of an inquisition or verdit of the Iury which are returned and sworne to enquire of forcible Entrie into lands or tenements or of the forcible detayning of them taken by a Iustice of peace is this Buck. The forme of an Inquisition of forcible entrie viz. Inquisitio pro domino Rege capta apud Buckingham in ComÌ„ praedicto xx die N. Anno Regni domini nostri Regis Iacobi c. quarto super sacramentum A. B. C. D. E. F. G. c. coram Thoma Temple milite vno IusticiarÌ„ dicti domini Regis ad pacem in dicto Comitatu conseruandam assignatorum Qui dicunt quod vbi H. I. de Tyngswicke in Comitur praedict husbandman qui legitime pacifice seisitus fuit in dominico suo vt defecdo de vno mesuagio cum pertinentijs in Tyngswick praedicto possessionem suam sic continuauit quousque L. M. de Maydsmoorton in Comitatu praedicto laborer alij malefactores pacis dicti domini Regis perturbatores xxx die O. iam vltimo elapso vi armis viz. cum baculis gladijs arcubus sagittis fustibus gunnis balistis in mesuagium praedictum c. intrauerunt ipsum H. I. inde expulerunt idem mesuagium c. a praedicto xxx die O. vsque ad diem captionis huius inquisitionis c. cum huiusmodi fortitudine potentia tenuerÌ„ occupauerunt in magnam pacis dicti domini Regis perturbationem contra formam statuti in tali casu editi ê“uisi vbi nullus eorum nec aliquis alius cuius statum ipsi aut aliquis eorum habuerunt aut habuit aliquid in eodem mesuagio c. aut aliqua inde parcella habuerunt aut habuit infra tres annos proximos ante ingressuÌ„ suum praedictuÌ„ nequè aliquo tempore praecedente ad notitiam Iuratorum pÌ„dictorum 9 And for that the said Statute of 8. H. 6. hath ordained That if it be found before any of the said Iustices of peace that any doth contrarie to that Statute then the said Iustices or Iustice shall cause the lands or tenements so entred or holden with force to be reseised and shall put the partie so put out in full possession of the same lands so entred or holden as before they were entred or holden Therefore when the Iustice of peace shall by the said Inquisition be informed or by the view of his owne eye perceiue that any such forcible entrie into any
land without interruption 22. H. 6. 18. Fitz. Na. B. 249. he may kéepe his possession by force against all others And he is neither to be remoued from his possession by a Iust of peace though it be found by inquisition that he held that land by force nor yet by an action of Forcible entry brought against him vpon the said statute of 8. H. 6. Otherwise it is of a disseisor where restitution notwithstanding three yeares possession or of a man that commeth to land by a wrongful and vnlawfull title for if he hath detained the land by force thrée yeares 14. H. 7. 28. or twenty yeares he may be indited by vertue of the statute of 8. H. 6. before a Iustice of peace of forcible detaining of the same land and that being found the said Iustice of peace is to reseise the land and to award restitution to the party disseised or expelled thereof And also the same disseisor shall make fine and ransome to the King cui nullum tempus occurrit whose peace is brokeÌ„ by this long and vnlawfull detaining of the possession of another mans land by force But the party disseised expelled or kept out of possession cannot in this case maintaine an action of Forcible entry vpon the said statute of 8. H. 6. against the said disseisor séeing he hath omitted his time suffered the disseisor to gaine of him thrée yeares possession therby the benefit of the same prouiso contained in the said statute of 8. H. 6. 13 If a man who hath made an Entry vpon the possession of another of any lands or tenements by force or doth hold lands by force 1. R. 3. 4. after a peaceably entry made doe doubt that he shal be thereof indited before a Iustice of peace vpon the statute of 8. H. 6. and that restitution will be thereupon awarded he may haue a Certiorari out of the Kings Bench ready and when the Bill of Indictment is found he may presently deliuer it to the court and that shal be a Supersedeas to stay Restitution A Supersedeas to stay restitution for that by this Certiorari the indictment shal be remoued And though the indictment be found after the Teste of the writ of Certiorari it is not materiall for they be both the Kings Courts And when an indictment vpon the said statute of 8. H. 6. 2. 3. P. M. Dy. 122. is remoued into the kings Bench and that the party indited doth tender to trauerse the same the Iustices of the same Bench may graunt or stay restitution at their discretion according as the truth of the Title shall appeare to them But if a speciall sessions be procured to inquire of a Forcible entry or detaining of possession according to the said statute of 8. H. 6. and the Iustices to whom complaint is made do repaire to the place supposed to be entred vpon or holden with force 2. 3. P. M. Dy. 187. and doe sée the same according to the said statute after they do inquire thereof and that is found and thereupon they graunt restitution no other Iustice of peace can graunt a Supersedeas to stay the same restitution for by the said statute no other Iustice hath authority to graunt restitution but he or they to whom the complaint is made and before whom the force is found the writ shal be graunted vnder the Teste of one of them onely sauing the Iustices of the K. Bench who haue supreme authority and where the law doth intend that the King himselfe doth sit 14 Whereas the words of the foresaid statute of 8. H. 6. be Sta. 8. H. 6. 9. If it be found before any of the Iustices or Iustice of peace that any doth contrary to this statute viz. enter vpon or hold lands with force then the said Iustices or Iustice shall cause the lands or tenements so entred or holden to be reseised and shall put the party so put out in full possession of the same landes or tenements so entred or holden as before they were entred or holden And therefore if the father be put out of possession of lands by force and dieth before or after inquisition thereof his heire shall not haue restitution thereof vpon the said statute of 8. H. 6. for that he was not the same person which was put out And the same Law is if after the death of the father Where force found and no restitution dying seised of certaine lands a stranger doth abate and holdeth the same lands by force against his heire before he had gotten any possession indéed and that force is found before a Iustice of peace by an inquisition the same heire shall not haue restitution by the words of the said statute for that the same heire had but a possession in law and was not in actuall possession of that land neither is hée that party who was put out And so it is if tenant for terme of yéeres of certaine lands be put out of his terme by force and die though after his death the force he fâ—und by inquisition taken by a Iustice of peace his executors shall not be restored to the possession of that land by the same Iustice of peace causa qua supra But yet in the cases aforesaid the offendor shall be punished by imprisonment fine to the K. for by his forcible entry he hath broken the peace St. 15. R. 2. 2. 15 Whereas by the before rehearsed statute of 15. Rich. 2. it is ordayned That when any forcible entry shal be made into lands and complaint thereof come to a Iustice of peace he shall go to the place where the entry was made and if he find any that hold any such place forcibly after such entry made they shal be taken and put into the Gaole c. The forme of which Iustice of peace Mittimus whereby he shall send the same offendors to the Gaole is this viz. Francis Fortescue knight Buck. A Mittimus to send to the gaole such as do hold land by force one of the Iustices of peace of our Soueraigne Lord the King within the county of Buckingham to the keeper of his Ma. Gaole in Aylesbury in the said county and to his deputie and deputies there and to euery of them greeting Vpon complaint made to me by A. B. of Whaddon in the said county husbandman that C. D. E. F. of S. in the said county labourers and other malefactors and disturbers of the Kings peace had forcibly and with strong hand entred into his house c. in Whaddon aforesaid and him expulsed the same yet held with force I went this present day to the said house and there found the said C. D. E. F. holding the said house c. with swords and bucklers bils and staues to the great disturbance of his Ma. peace and against the forme of the said statute in that behalfe ordained And therefore I send you
or defeated of his land lease annuitie debt accompt action suit or demaund is no lesse perillous and preiudiciall to the party thereby wronged if it be not discouered preuented or auoided then the wresting and euicting from him of the same land lease annuitie debt or demaund And the offendors therein do as iniuriously and with as small colour of iustice wrest from the party grieued his said land lease annuitie debt c. as the robber doth take a purse from the traueller by the way or the burglarer his intended prey from the houskéeper in the night And if those reall dueties or things in action were conuerted into things personall the vndue conueying of them in this vnlawfull manner would deserue to be accounted and punished amongst other felonies as in some sort it is ordained so to be by the statute of anno 5. Eliz. St. 5. El. 14. And because diuers persons did forge false déeds and miniments and did cause them to bée openly pronounced published and read to trouble change or vndoe the lands of other persons and to vndoe and troble the possessions and titles of the kings peope therefore by a statute made anno 1. H. 5. it was ordained St. 1. H. 5. 3. that the partie grieued thereby shall haue his suit in that case and recouer his dammages and the partie conuict shall make fine and ransome at the kings pleasure But forasmuch as the wicked and daungerous practise of making forging and publishing of false and vntrue déeds and writings was much more practised and put in vre in all the parts of this Realme than in times past it had béene to the disherison of diuers persons and the great subuersion of iustice which hath growne chiefely by that the paines and punishments limited for such great offences by the lawes and statutes of this Realme before time were so small and easie that such euill people were not afraid to enterprise the practising and doing of such offences The repeale of former statutes of Forgerie Therefore by a statute made anno 5. St. 5. El. 14. El. it was enacted That all other statutes before that time made and prouided for forger of false déeds charters miniments or writings and all and euerie penaltie appointed for the same should from the first day of Iune then next following be void Forging of a déed whereby anothers fréehold shal be troubled 3 To the intent that condigne or some sharper punishment might bée ordained for such as should bée offenders in that crime of forgerie than in time past had béene by the sayd statute of anno 5. Elizab. it was established St. 5. El. 14 That if any person or persons after the first day of Iune then next following vpon his or their owne head and imagination or by false conspiracie and fraud with others shall wittingly subtilly and falsly forge or make or subtilly cause or wittingly assent to bée forged or made any false déed charter or writing sealed court roll or the will of any person or persons in writing to the intent that the estate of Fréehold or inheritance of any person or persons of in or to any lands tenements or hereditaments fréehold or copihold or the the right title or interest of any person or persons of in or to the same or any of them shall or may bée molested troubled defeated recouered or charged Or shall pronounce Publishing of a forged déed publish or shew forth in euidence any such false and forged déed charter writing court roll or will as true knowing the same to bée false and forged as is aforesaid to the intent aboue remembred and shall bée thereof conuicted either vpon any action or actions of Forger of false deeds to bee founded vpon this statute at the suit of the partie grieued or otherwise according to the order and course of the lawes of this Raalme or vpon Bill or Information to be exhibited into the Court of Starre chamber according to the order and vse of the Court he shall pay vnto the partie grieued his double costs and dammages to bée found or assessed in the Court where such conuiction shall bée and also shall be set vpon the Pillorie in some open market towne or other open place and there to haue both his eares cut off and also his nostrels to be flit and cut and seared so as they may remaine for a perpetuall note or marke of his falshood and shall forfeit to the Queene her heires and successors the whole issues and profits of his lands and tenements during his life and shall suffer and haue perpetuall imprisonment during his life The same dammages and costs to bée recouered at the suit of the partie grieued as is aforesaid to be first paid and bee leuied of the goods and cattels of the offendors and of the issues and profits of the said landes tenements and hereditaments of such partie conuicted or of one or both of them the sayd title of the Queene her heires and successors to the same notwithstanding Stat. 5. El. 14 4 If any person or persons after the said first day of Iune next Forging a déed whereby a lease or annuitie may bée claimed vpon his or their owne imagination or by false conspiracie or fraud had with any other shall wittingly subtilly and falsly forge or make or wittingly subtilly or falsly cause or assent to bee made and forged any false Charter Deed or Writing to the intent that any person or persons shall or may haue or clayme any estate or interest for terme of yeares of in or to any Mannours Lands Tenements or Hereditaments not beeing Copihold or any Annuitie in Fee simple Fee tayle for terme of life liues or yeares Or shall as is aforesayd forge make or cause or assent to bee made or forged any Obligation or Bill obligatorie or any Acquitance Release or other discharge of any Debt Account Action Suit Demaund or other thing personall Or shall pronounce publish or giue in euidence such false or forged Charter-Déed Writing Obligation or Bill obligatorie or any Acquitance Release or discharge as true knowing the same to bee false and forged and shall bee thereof conuict by any of the wayes or meanes aforesayde Then hee shall pay to the partie grieued his double costs and dammages to bee found and assessed in such Court where the sayde conuiction shall bée had and also shall bee set vpon the Pillorie in some open Market Towne or other open place and there haue one of his eares cut off and also shall suffer imprisonment by the space of one whole yere without baile or mainprise Stat. 5. El. 14 5 The partie and parties grieued by reason of any the offences aforesaid Seuerall remedies for the partie grieued shall and may at his and their pleasure haue and sue his action of forger of false déedes vpon this Statute against any of the offendors in the same by originall writ out of the Chauncerie and
thing and things in all points as other Iustices of Assise in their circuits or Iustices of peace in the Counties by vertue of this Act be limited and appointed to do and execute for the punishment and correction of like offendors as beforesaid is limited Sauing to the partie grieued by such deceit such remedie by way of action The remedie of the partie grieued or otherwise of for the same money goods cattels iewels or other things so obtained as he might haue had if this Act had neuer bin made Any thing in this Act c. notwithstanding 26 Forgerie of writings hath béene alwayes so hatefull in this realme that our law-makers haue pursued the practisers therof with sharpe and bitter punishment though in some cases the same was not put in vse to molest or euict any man of his land lease annuitie debt account action suit or other demaund nor to get into his hands any others goods cattels or iewels but only to escape the ordinance and censure of the law As by a statute made anno 5. Eliz. it is established St. 5. El. 7. That no person retained in husbandry or in certain inferior arts or faculties in the said statute mentioned shal depart out of one citie towne or parish into another nor out of the Lathe Rape Wapentake or Hundred nor out of the County or Shire where he last serued to serue in another Citie Towne Forging of a testimoniall c. vnlesse he haue a Testimoniall of the said Citie or town corporat from whence he departed or of the Constable or other officer c. And if any such person shall be taken with any counterfeit or forged testimoniall then he shal be whipped as a vagabond ⧠Periurie Subornation of witnesses Truth tried by the othes of men 1 THe Law of the Realme desirous to trie out truth in all causes called in question before her to the end she might procéed in iudgement and execute iustice accordingly hath in all ages prooued it to bee the best meanes to search out this truth by the othes of honest lawful and indifferent persons intending that the man who doth professe God to bee his Creator Redéemer and Sanctifier and hopeth to be saued by his blood when hee doth come in the presence of that God and his people and doth aduisely sweare that he will declare the trueth according to his knowledge in that matter in question as God shall help him which is to say as he will expect the blessing of God in this life and eternall saluation in the life to come is void of all partialitie and priuat affection in all respects to be credited and will tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth And therefore an othe is aptly termed Sacramentum a holy band or sacred tie or godly vow The credit of an othe some do call it firmamētum veritatis the foundation ground of truth and some other vinculum pacis a meane of the knot or lincke of peace And if it be taken and found by a whole Iurie consisting vpon twelue persons or aboue it is called veredictum viz. a presentment of truth And others doe hold it a ceremonie instituted by God wherein himselfe is a partie and therefore he will see it verified or sharply punished Wée know that the proofe of most of our acts déeds and writings doe depend vpon the othes of others and whatsoeuer men do for their owne particular account most certaine is altogether in most cases vncertaine vnlesse it may be iustified by the othes of others As if one doe commit murder rape burglarie robberie or other offence whatsoeuer and it be denied and cannot be prooued by the othe of some other the offendor shall escape vnpunished for it And likewise if a man do buy land of another if the feoffor doe make him a déed of feoffement thereof do seale and deliuer it and giue him possession and after will denie it vnlesse it can be prooued by the othe of some other the feoffée shall loose his land and money And so it is of leases annuities releases acquitances obligations bargaines contracts couenants promises offences entries disseisins and other matters in fait if they be denied trauersed and called in question the proof and validitie of them doth depend wholly vpon the othes and testimonie of others And there is no case so plaine which commeth in question betweene partie and partie but one of the parties to the sute may pleade such a plea as shall come to be tried by the othes of others 2 Therefore as the Lawe doth reuerently respect the othes of men What sorts of persons are to be deposed taketh her intelligence of matters in fait from them doth cleaue leane vnto them and giueth such credite and approbation vnto them that shée doth found and build her iudgements in most cases of greatest importance vpon them So shée retaineth a vigilant and carefull eye that those othes be taken by men of sinceritie of life and maturitie of iudgement persons not stained with Periurie or other gréeuous or foule offences men indifferently affected and such as will in swearing respect the trueth of their knowledge and not the face of the person for if shée espie any of those defects in him she doth either wholly reiect his othe or else shée giueth little or no credite vnto it and further inflicteth condigne punishment vpon him according to his desert Mag. Char. 9. H. 3. 29. 3 And because the King himselfe at his Coronation is sworne that iustice shall be solde deferred or denied to no man nor that any man shall be condemned but by lawfull triall and euery of his Iudges be sworne that hée shall doe equall Lawe and execution of iustice to all the Kings Subiects Sta. 18. Ed. 3 rich and poore without hauing regard to any person All the parties to the execution of iustice sworne Therefore the law hath deuised that those Iudges before whome any cause is called in question and is brought to an issue shall be informed of the trueth of that issue by the othes and verdict of twelue Iurors who are impannelled returned and sworne to trie that issue to the end the same Iudges may ground their iudgement thereupon and so doe equall iustice to the parties according to their oathes and also that the saide Iurors shall be ascertained of the veritie of the fact by the Othes of witnesses or other euidences that they may giue their verdict thereupon according to their Othes And séeing those Iurors being the greatest number of persons that be vsually sworne for the furtherance and execution of iustice be returned by the Shiriffe of the Countie where the cause dependeth in question his vndershirife or the Bailife of some Libertie or for some default in them by the Coroners Therefore the Lawe hath further ordained that the saide Shiriffe Vndershiriffe or c. shall be indifferent persons of themselues and also deale vprightly
or Elegit or by Action of Debt against euery person of the petit Iurie so forfeiting and against his Executors and Administrators hauing then sufficient goods of their said Testator not administred And euery of the said petit Iurie shall seuerally make fine by the discretion of the Iustices before whom the said false Serement shall be found after their seuerall offences defaults and sufficiencie of them And those of the petit Iurie so attainted shall neuer be after of any credit nor their oath accepted in any court And if a false verdict be giuen in any action suit or demaund before any Iustice or Iudge of Record Attaint wher the thing doth not extend to xl l. of any thing personal as debt trespas and other like which shall be vnder the value of xl pounds then the partie grieued shall haue an Attaint And if the petit Iurie be attainted then euery of them shall forfeit fiue pounds to the King and the partie after the forme aforesaid and also shall make fine by the discretion of the Iustices And euery person that may dispend fiue markes by the yeare of fréehold out of auncient demesne or is worth an hundred markes in goods is able to passe in the same Attaint 18 The Law doth so hate Periurie and so much endeauour to extirpate the very roote thereof that shée doth sometime punish it in the onely will and intention of a man though that will neuer come to effect so that the same will and meaning may bée laid open vnto her The meaning to commit periurie punished by due proofe as it appeareth by a braunch of the before specified Statute of Anno 11. Hen. 7. St. 11. H. 7. 21. whereby it is ordained That if it be found by the graund Iurie that the petit Iurie haue giuen a true verdict in any of the courts of the citie of London in a suit whereupon an Attaint is brought then the graund Iurie shall haue authoritie to inquire if any of the petit Iurie hath receiued any summe of money or other reward or promise of money or other reward of the named defendants or tenants in the same Attaint or of any other person by the commandement couin or assent of any of them for the intent of their verdict giuing whereupon the same Attaint is grounded And after any such corruption by the said graund Iurie found Decies tantuÌ„ then the Iuror that is so found defectiue in taking money or rewards c. shall pay to the plaintife named in the said Attaint tenne times the value of the summe or other reward so taken or promised and shall suffer imprisonment without Baile or Maineprise sixe moneths or lesse by the discretion of Mayor and Aldermen of the said citie and shall bee disabled for euer to bée sworne in any Iurie before any temporall Iudge And such defendant and tenant in the same Attaint shall pay to such vse as other penalties bee forfeited within the same citie tenne times the value of the summe of money or other reward by him so giuen to any of the said petit Iurie and shal be imprisoned without Baile or Maineprise during sixe moneths or lesse by the discretion of the said Mayor and Aldermen And in like sort St. 34. E. 3. 8 38. E. 3. â—2 and for the same cause the Statutes of Anno 34. Edw. 3. 38. Edw. 3. were prouided whereby it was enacted That if any Iuror sworn in Assises or other Enquests to be taken betwéene the King and the partie or betwéene partie and partie doe by himselfe or any other take any thing of the plaintife or defendant to giue his verdict and thereof is attainted at the suit of the partie which will sue for himselfe or for the King or of any other person entring his plaint by Bill immediately before the Iustices before whom the Iurie was sworne the said Iuror shall pay tenne times so much as he hath receiued Decies tantuÌ„ And all those which bee Imbraceors Imbraceors to lead and procure such Enquests in the Countrie to make a gaine and profit thereof shall be punished as the Iurors And if the Iuror or Imbraceor so attainted haue not wherewith to make recompence in forme aforesaid he shal be one yeare imprisoned which imprisonment shall not be pardoned for any fine and the partie grieued may haue his action before other Iustices if hée will But no Iustice or other officer shall inquire of office vpon any of the points of this Statute but onely at the suit of the partie and of others as aforesaid By which foresaid Statutes it doth appeare that the Law doth punish Periurie not onely in such Iurors as doe commit it but also in those persons who bée the Imbraceors Perswaders or Procuters of it and not onely in those who doe commit or procure it but likewise in those who giue or take rewards to haue it done though it bée neuer effected for shee accounteth that when a man hath giuen his heart leaue for a reward to bée sworne it is the reward he respecteth in his oath and not the truth of the cause which reward will lead him blindfold into the dungeon of Periurie and therefore hee deserueth to be punished as a periured person S. Maintenance c. 6. 19 Because diuers did resort to Iurors in Wales and the Marches thereof and suborned them to acquit Murderers Felons and Accessories openly knowns St. 26. H. 8. 4 therefore by a Statute made Anno 26. H. 8. it was enacted That forthwith vpon the charge giuen to any Enquest to bee taken and sworne before any Iustices Steward Lieutenant or other officer within Wales or the Marches of the same of for or vpon any Trauerse against the King or the triall of any Recognizance broken or any other forfeiture forfeited to the King or of for and vpon the triall of any Murderer felon or accessorie of felonie or murder an officer shall be sworne for the kéeping of the same Iurors And if the same Iurors doe acquit any such felon murderer or accessorie vpon whose triall they shall be charged or giue any vntrue verdict against the King vpon the triall of any Trauerse Recognizance or other forfeiture The punishment of periurie committed by an enquest in Wales contrarie to the good and pregnant euidence ministred to them by the persons sworne before the said Iustice Steward Lieutenant or other officer Or that the said Iurors or any of them doe eate drinke or speake to or with any person or persons than to such as be sworn with them or otherwise misdemeane themselues after they be sworne and before they haue giuen their verdict Then the Lord President or other of the Councell of the Marches for the time béeing vpon notice or complaint thereof to be made shall not onely haue authoritie to call such Iurors before them but also the same Iusticiar Steward or other officers afore whome any such acquitall vntrue
for commencing a wrong full suit for the law doth intend those suites to be pursued for vexation trouble and likewise in some other cases the def is amerced for the wrongfull detaining of that which is not his owne and for inforcing the plaintife by suit in law to séeke recouer his owne But as in all cases the vnlawfull maintainor of suits is in fault so is he in euery such case punishable For though the case of the plaintife or def which he vndertaketh to maintaine be iust and lawfull in him who prosecuteth or defendeth the suit whose the cause is yet in the maintainor it is vnlawfull for it is not his owne suit neither is it pursued or defended for the recouery or protection of that which he pretendeth to be due to himself and so in a sort he maketh complaint where he hath no wrong or maketh defence where none séeke to hurt him whereby opposing himselfe against others who do not contend with him he laboureth to disturbe the ordinary course of iustice and therewith to blemish the peace of the Realme for as it appeareth partly by the statute of Anno 1. Ed. 3. Sta. 1. E. 3. 14 and specially by the preamble of the statute of Anno 32. H. 8. St. 32. H. 8. 9 Nothing conserueth the people in more peace good concord then the due administration of iustice and the indifferent triall of titles and issues according to the Lawes of this Realme which being hindered letted by Maintenance Embracery Champertie Subornation of witnesses sinister labour and buying of titles there will of necessitie insue thereof great periurie vnquietnesse oppressions troubles wrongs and disheritances 2 And because this Maintenance is as an euill Trée hauing growne out of it many corrupt branches therefore the wisdome of the Realme hath frō time to time prouided seuerall statutes as it were sharpe hatchets to loppe or shred those boughes when they did spring and shoot out As King Ed. 3. Maintenance by men of authority perceiuing that his Counsellors Magistrates and Officers in his house certaine great men of the Realme by sending of Letters Messengers giuing of Liueries by other means did sollicite matters and maintaine quarrels and tooke parts in the Countrey St. 1. E. 3. 14 20. Ed. 3. 3. by a statute made Anno 1. of his raigne and another Anno 20. of his raigne did ordaine That common right should be done to all persons as well poore as rich and that none of his said Officers nor any Noblemen nor any other great or small should take vpon him to maintaine quarrels or to take parts to the let or disturbance of the common law Nor that any should take in hand or meddle with quarrels or questions but their owne And because there was no speciall punishment ordained by the said statute of Anno 1. Ed. 3. for those who should transgresse that Law therfore King R. 2. by a statute made in the first yeare of his raigne established St. 1. R. 2. 4. That if the kings Counsellors or great Officers should take vpon them to sustaine any quarrell by Maintenance in the Countrey or elsewhere he so offending should indure that paine which should be inflicted by the King himselfe by the aduice of the Lords of his Realme and other inferior officers and seruants of the Kings in the Exchequer and other Courts and his meniall seruants shall loose their offices and seruices and be imprisoned be ransomed at the kings pleasure euery of them according to his degrée estate and desert and all other persons of the Realme of what estate soeuer they be shal be imprisoned and ransomed as the other aforesaid St. 33. Ed. 1. 3 The statute intituled Definitio de conspiratoribus made Anno 33. E. 1. Maintenance by cōbination doth decypher another sort of Maintainors which there be called conspirators in this sort St. 1. R. 2. 7. viz. Conspirators be they that bind themselues by oath couenant or other alliance that euery of them shall helpe and sustaine the other falsely maliciously to indite or falsely to moue or maintaine pleas and also such as cause children within age to appeale men of felony whereby they are imprisoned sore grieued and such as retaine mē in the country with liueries or fées to maintaine their malicious enterprises and this extendeth aswell to the takers as to the giuers and stewards and bailifes of great lords Maintenance by noblemens officers which by their seigniorie office or power vndertake to vphold or maintaine quarrels pleas or debates that concerne other parties then such as touch the estate of their lords or themselues 4 There is also another kind of Maintenance which is called Champerty Maintenance by champerty and the offendors therin be called Champertors whom the foresaid statute of Anno 33. St. 33. Ed. 1. E. 1. doth define in this maner Who be champertors viz. Champertors be they that moue pleas and suits or cause to be moued either by their owne procurement or by others sue them at their proper costs for to haue part of the land in variance or part of the gaines which Champertors were accounted great maintainors of suits and professed enemies to peace whereupon it was ordained by the statute of West 1. St. 3. E. 1. 25. That no Officer of the Kings by themselues nor by other shall maintaine pleas suits or matters hanging in the Kings Court for Lands Tenements or other things for to haue part or profit thereof by couenant made betwéene them and he that doth shall be punished at the kings pleasure and after by the statute of Westm 2. St. 13. E. 1. 48 the same was expressed more at large by the which it was enacted That the Chauncellor Treasurer Iustices nor none of the Kings Councell no Clarke of the Chauncerie nor of the Exchequer nor of any Iustice or other Officer nor none of the Kings house Clarke nor Lay shall receiue any Church land nor tenement by gift in fée nor to farme nor for purchase nor otherwise so long as the thing is in plea in the Kings Court or before any of his Officers nor shall take reward therefore and hee that doth contrary to this Act eyther himselfe or by any other or make any bargaine shall bee punished at the Kings pleasure as well he that doth purchase as he that doth giue And because other Officers were not bound by the foresaid Statutes as well as the Kings and to the intent some certaine and more sharpe penaltie might bee imposed vpon the transgressor of the said statutes then before time had béene prouided Therefore by a statute made Anno 28. E. 1. St. 28. Ed. 1. 11. intituled Articuli super Chartas it was ordained That no Officer nor any other for to obtaine part of the thing in plea shall maintaine any matter that is in suit Nor none vpon such couenant shall giue vp his
the land or thing in variance so it is Maintenance to take part in any quarrell depending in suit in the Kings court or to worke any fraud whereby iustice may be hindered Westm 1. 3. E. 1. 28. as it appeareth by the statute of West 1. whereby it is ordained That if any Clerke of the kings or of any Iustice The penalty for maintaining of suits do receiue the presentment of any Church for the which any plea or debate is in the K. Court without the kings speciall licence he shal loose the Church and his seruice And if any Iustices or Shirifes Clerke take part in any quarrell depending in the Kings Court or doe worke any fraud whereby common right may be delayed or disturbed he shall loose his seruice and be further punished if the Trespas doe require St. 32. H. 8. 9 And after by a statute made Anno 32. H. 8. there was a greater penalty imposed vpon those who shall be maintainors of suits By which statute it was ordained That no person or persons whatsoeuer shall vnlawfully maintaine or cause or procure any vnlawfull maintenance in any action suit demaund or complaint in any of the Kings Courts of the Chauncerie Starre-chamber White hall or elsewhere within any of the K. dominions of England or Wales or the marches of the same where any person or persons haue authoritie by vertue of the K. Commission Patent or Writ to hold plea of lands or to heare examine or determine any title of lands or any matter of witnesse concerning the title right or interest of any lands tenements or hereditaments Or shall vnlawfully retaine for maintenance of any suit or plea Retaining for maintenance or imbracing or suborning of Iurors any person or persons or embrace any fréeholders or Iurors or suborne any witnesse by letters rewards promise or by any other sinister labour or meanes for to maintaine any matter or cause or to the disturbance or hinderance of iustice or to the procurement or occasion of any manner of Periurie by false verdict or otherwise in any of the Courts aforesaid vpon paine of forfeiture for euery such offence x. pounds to the king and Inf. to be recouered by him that will sue for the same in any of the kings Courts of Record by Action of Debt Bill Plaint or Information wherein no W.E.P. c. if the suit be commenced in any of the kings Courts within one yeare next after any such offence committed or els not 10 As it is Maintenance to haue by agréement part of the land in variance or part of the gaines of the suit in question so is it Maintenance to buy a pretenced right or title of another of or to lands or tenements whereof the seller hath no possession for this oft times the cause of Subornation of witnesses procurement of Periurie and of the subuersion of iustice For the redresse whereof by the last specified Statute of Anno 32. H. 8. St. 32. H. 8. 9 it was first enacted That all Statutes heretofore made concerning Maintenance Champertie and Embracerie or any of them then standing in force should be put in due execution according to the effects of the same And also by the same statute it was ouer that ordayned Maintenance by buying of pretēced titles That no person or persons of what estate degrée or condition soeuer he or they be shall bargaine buy or sell or by any meanes obtaine get or haue any pretenced rights or titles or take promise graunt or couenant to haue any right or title of any person or persons in or to any Manors Lands Tenements or other Hereditaments but if such person or persons which shall so bargaine giue graunt couenant or promise the same their auncestors or they by whom he or they claime the same haue béene in possession of the same or of the reuersion or remainder thereof or taken the rents or profites thereof by the space of one whole yeare next before the said bargaine couenant graunt or promise made vpon paine that he that shall make any such bargaine sale promise couenant or graunt shall forfeit the whole value of the Lands Tenements or Hereditaments so bargained sold promised couenanted or graunted contrary to the forme of this Act. And the buyer or taker thereof knowing the same shall also forfeit the said value of the said Landes Tenements or Hereditaments so by him bought or taken as is aforesaid the one halfe of the said forfeitures to be to the king and the other halfe to the party that will sue for the same in any of the kings Courts of Record by Action of Debt Bill P. or I. c. wherein no W. E. P. or I. c. if the suit be commenced by A. B. P. or I. in any of the kings Courts within one yeare next after any such offence committed or els not Prouided alwayes The possessor purchaseth a pretenced title That it shall be lawfull to any person or persons being in lawfull possession by taking of the yearely ferme rents or profites of any Manors Lands Tenements or Hereditaments to buy obtaine get or haue by any reasonable meanes the pretended right or title of any other person or persons to be made to of or in any such lands tenements or hereditaments whereof he shal be so in lawfull possession Any thing in this Act c. notwithstanding 22 23. El. Dyer 374. 6. Ed. 6. Dy. 74. Plow Com̄ 87. 11 If a man take a lease or promise a lease for the terme of certain yéeres to another of land contrary to the foresaid statute of Ann̄ 32. H. 8. What is selling of a pretenced title viz. of those lands whereof neither he himselfe nor any of his auncestors nor any by whō he doth clayme the same land haue béene in possession of the same nor of the reuersion nor remainder thereof nor taken the rents or profits thereof by the space of one whole yeare before the said bargaine graunt and demise made he is within the danger of the foresaid statute of Anno 32. H. 8. as well as if hée had made an estate for the terme of life in taile or in fée simple of the same lād for that the scope and effect of the statute is vtterly to root out of Maintenance and bargaines and promises of Titles for the which the words of the statute be That no person shall sell or buy any pretenced rights or titles And a lease is no more lawfull for one yeare then for an hundred yeares and some man will be as ready to maintaine to haue a lease for yeares as to haue a greater estate Wherefore he that doth make a lease for yeares or make promise of a lease for yeares of lands whereof he hath but a pretenced right or title shall forfeit to the King and him that will sue the whole value of the inheritance of the land as well as if he had bargained and sold the fée simple thereof But
of the stat of 18. El. 14 Maintenance Champertie buying of titles Embracery haue bin accounted so offensiue professed enemies to the iustice peace of the realm that though by the stat of an 18. El. it is ordained Stat. 18. El. 5 That euery informer vpon any other penall stat shal exhibit his suit in proper person pursue the same onely by himselfe or by his Atturney in court and that none shal be admitted to pursue against any person vpon any penall stat but by way of information or originall writ and not otherwise nor shall haue any deputy at all And that vpon euerie such information which shal be exhibited a speciall note shall be made of the very day moneth yere of the exhibiting therof into any office or to any officer which lawfully may receiue the same without any maner of antedate to be made thereof And that vpon euery such proces shal be indorced aswel the parties name that pursueth the same proces as also the stat vpon which the information in that behalfe made is grounded and that no Informer or plaintife shall compound or agrée with any person that shall offend or shal be surmised to offend against any penal statute for such offence but after answer made in court vnto the information or suit in that behalfe exhibited or prosecuted nor after answer but by the order or consent of the court in which the same information or suit shal be depending Yet in the said stat of 18. El. there is a prouiso That it shal be lawfull for any person or persons grieued by means of any maintenāce chāpertie buying of titles or other embracery to pursue vpō any stat prouided against maintenance champerty buying of titles or embracery as he or they might haue done before the making of the said act Which prouiso was made to the end that all persons grieued by reasons of any maintenance champertie buying of titles or embracery should be left at libertie to pursue chasten the offendors therin by all such means as former laws haue authorised thē not be restrained by any of the ordinances or articles before rehearsed for that the said offēces were by the makers of the said stat adiudged to be greater impedimēts obstacles to the execution of iustice than other penal stat were 15 As the policie of the realme hath deuised the foresaid popular actions and suits to enable euery person that will Assurances to haue mainte void in diuers cases to pursue prosecute maintainors champertors buyers of pretenced rights c. to the intent the sooner to root out extirpat those offendors who indeuor to wrest the execution of lawes out of their due course to subuert iustice thereby to hinder the peace of the realme so hath it in some cases gone further ordained that some assurances made for maintenance shal be presently void as it appeareth by the stat of an 8. St. 8. H. 6. 9 H. 6. wherby it was enacted Lands gotten by force assured to haue maintenance That if any person after his entry into lands or tenements holden with force do make a feoffement or other discontinuance to any Lord or other person to haue maintenance or to toll defraud the possessor of his recouerie in any wise If alter in an Assise or other action thereof to be takē or pursued before the Iust of Assise or other the kings Iustices whatsoeuer they be by due inquiry therof to be taken the same feoffements and discontinuances may be duly proued to be made for maintenance as is aforesaid that then such feoffements or other discontinuances so as before made shall be void St. 4. H. 4. 8. holdē for none And by the stat made an 4. H. 4. it was established That if any man great or small of what estate or condition they be Lands forcibly gotten by maintenance make any forcible entry in his own right or to his own vse or in anothers right to his vse by the way of maintenāce therof is attained at the suit of the party grieued he shal be one yere imprisoned pay to the partie grieued his double dammages And also he shall answer to the partie grieued damages for his goods cattels if vpon the said forcible disseisin he tooke away any 16 As by the before mentioned stat maintenance champerty What maintenance is punishable and what iustifiable embracerie buying of titles be in generall termes deciphered together with their seuerall penalties so haue the learned Iudges Sages of the law expounded the particular branches of euery of those stat as they grew in question were prosecuted in suit before them also resolued what maintenance is punishable and what iustifiable who may pursue an action writ bill or information c. of maintenance champerty c. against whom the same is to be brought for what offēce or cause the same is maintenable what pleas are to be pleaded to the writ or in bar of the said actions writs informations c. what iudgemēt shall ensue thereupon As euerie champertie is an vnlawful maintenāce prohibited by the foresaid stat of West 1. West 2. 9. H. 6. 64. St. 28. E. 1. 11. and punishable according to the before rehearsed stat of An. 28. E. 1. and euerie chāpertie is a maintenance the partie grieued may haue aswel a writ of Maintenance as of Champertie for by that meanes the champertor hauing bargained to haue part of the land or thing in question doth ofttimes moue further the suit suborneth witnesses corrupteth the Iurie and so subuerteth iustice but there must be a suit depending before it can be adiudged maintenance in any sort for if one man wil giue money to another to beginne and prosecute a suit against a third person 3. H. 6. 55. 8. H. 5. 8. 10. Ed. 4. 19. 30. Ed. 3. 3. this is no maintenance for that this mony was giuen when there was no suit depending and if there be a writ brought and neuer returned it is no maintenance No maintenance in a Iuror for giuing his verdict 17 If there be a suit depending betwéene two and they do ioyne an issue 18. E. 4. 2. 28. H. 6. 6. which is tried by xij men found for the plaintife in this case the defendant cannot haue an action of maintenance against the said Iurors or any of them for this verdit giuē for that they gaue their verdit according to their euidence and their knowledge of the truth of the matter and besides they did not thrust thēselues into that cause but were compelled to appeare by an ordinarie course of law being impanelled returned by the Sherife or some other lawfull officer Maintenance by a Iuror suing for iudgement but if after the verdit giuen any of the Iurie wil solicit or labor to the Iudge or Iudges of the court where the said suit
law doth allow him to doe in respect the sooner to deliuer his seruant from suit and trouble that hée may not loose the benefit of his seruice for the longer he doth lacke his mans seruice the greater is the Masters losse And if the seruant be arrested in any priuiledged place the Master may maintaine him and spend his owne money to deliuer him in respect that otherwise he should loose his seruice for by that meanes he doth maintaine him in his owne behalfe and to auoid his owne hinderance But if the seruant be impleaded in a reall action wherein he may appeare and answer by Attourney and that his owne presence is not requisit 21. H. 7. 40. then the master may not maintaine him therein for that the Master shall receiue no preiudice if the land in question shall be recouered from his seruant And in like sort the seruant may maintaine the Master How the seruant may maintaine his Master in any suit commenced by or against his said Master in all lawfull manner As he may trauaile in furtherance of his Masters suit 19. H. 6. 31. 19. Ed. 4. 3. he may retaine his counsell with his Masters money and shew his counsell or the Iurie vpon the tryall of his Masters cause in question his Masters euidence for he is bound to doe his Master his diligent seruice and that which his Master commaundeth him to do touching his suit is his Masters seruice But that seruant which may iustifie to maintaine his Master in such sort as is aforesaid must be a seruant who is retained with his Master for a yeare 39. H. 6. 5. or some long time and to do all such seruices as he shal be imployed in by his said Master for if he be a seruant onely hired for a day two or thrée or to ride but some one iourney or to do but some one speciall seruice then if he do maintaine his Master or his Master maintaine him in any sort as aforesaid it is vnlawfull maintenance in him But if in either of the cases aforesaid the Master for his seruant or the seruant for his Master shall giue or promise money or other reward to any of the Iurie to giue his verdict or do threaten any of them to be killed beaten maimed dispossessed of their farmes 12. E. 4. 14. 19. H. 6. 31. or do giue his owne money to the Sherife to arrest the other partie to that suit then it is punishable by action of Maintenance in him that shal so offend ⧠Deceit Couin Collusion Fraud 1 DEceit Couin Collusion and Fraud bée great offences to the Commonweale and speciall impediments of the iustice and peace of the Realm wherof there be so many and of so generall sorts and kinds as there be wicked deuises in the hearts of men and lewd persons to put them in practise And it were a worke almost as infinite to diuulge the particulars and to reduce into writing all the Deceits The multitude and enormitie of Deceits and Frauds Couins Collusions and Frauds which in time haue béene inuented and effected as it were to poise the weight of the sands of the sea or to decipher the number of the starres of the element for by how many meanes a man may trust by so many and more hee may bee deceiued And therefore I will vndertake to treat of no more than our common and statute lawes haue detected and accused to bée deceits frauds c. and amongst others but of those which the makers expositors and Sages of our lawes haue noted to be chiefely offensiue and most opposite to the due execution of iustice vpon which this peace whereof I doe write doth chiefely depend For the wisedome of this Realme first in the making of our lawes and after in expounding them haue bent their chiefe care to crush and beat downe Deceit and Fraud plainely séeing that the greatest part of the crimes which bée committed in this kingdome from the highest treason to the smallest trespasse haue some intermixture with them And that if they with their dependants could bée fully extirpat both iustice and peace would more brightly flourish And notwithstanding they doe not begin their quarrels with rapier and dagger sword and buckler as some other of the offences before mentioned do yet is there grafted in the root of them as much gawle and venim and more durable and bitter extremities do spring from them than â—oe ensue by the Canon shot the light horsemans staffe or the footmans bill For though some part of euerie kings raign hath had a calme and repose from war and hostilitie yet neuer any age or yeare was cléerely fréed of falshoods corruptions deceits and frauds 2 The wisedome of the Realme perceiuing how necessarie a thing iustice is and how opposite and repugnant vnto it deceits and frauds bee doth therefore specially prouide to make choyce of such men of all sorts The reward for paines and punishments for deceit of officers towards the law to execute the same iustice as she is persuaded by their learning and experience can by their vertue integritie will performe to euerie person his due and tread beat downe fraud whose pains she doth requite with reuerend respect liberal rewards titles of credit large priuiledges But if she do find any of the said officers whom she putteth in trust to deceiue her expectation and to practise falshood or guile then she doth as sharply punish them as she did before munificently wage them As appeareth by the stat of An. 8. St. 8. R. 2. 4. R. 2. wherby it was ordained A Iudge A Clerke That if any Iudge or Clerke do make any false entring of a plea rase any rol or change any verdict whereby any person receiueth disheritance he be thereof conuict before the K. and his Counsell he shal be punished by fine ransome at the K. pleasure and satisfie the partie And for the recouerie of the inheritance the partie shall sue by writ according to the law And for the auoyding of corruption which may happen in officers in those courts places wherein there is requisit to be had the true administration of iustice to the intent that worthy persons should bée preferred to the places of iustice none other should attaine the same for fée or reward by a stat made An. 5. Stat. 5. 6. E. 6. 16. 6. E. 6. it was enacted No office of iustice shal be sold or bought That if any person bargaine or sell any office or deputation of office or take any mony fée reward or other profit directly or indirectly or take any promise agréement couenant bond or assurance to receiue or haue any mony reward c. for any office or the deputatioÌ„ of any office or any part of any of theÌ„ or to the intent that any person shold enioy any office or the deputation of any of theÌ„ or any part or parcel of any
of them which office or any part of it doth concerne the administration or execution of iustice or which shall cōcern any clerkeship to be occupied in any court of record wherin iustice is to be ministred then he so offending shall not loose onely all his right estate which hée shall then haue of in or to the sayd office or deputation but also he that shal giue or promise any money fée or reward for any such office or deputation shall immediatly vpō the said gift or promise be adiudged a disabled person in the law to all intents to haue or enioy the said office or deputatiō And euerie such bargain sale bond couenant promise and assurance shall bée void to and against him by whom the same is made But this Act shall not be preiudiciall to the chiefe Iust of the K. Bench Common pleas or to the Iust of Assise but they may do in euerie behalfe concerning any office to be granted by any of thē as they might haue done before the making of the same Act. And because the prouidence of the realm did conceiue some iealousie suspition in those learned men in the lawes of this realm who by their owne means industrie for their own cōmoditie and ease obtained to be Iust of Assise in the counties where they were borne or did dwell and did feare that affection fauor towards their kinsmen allies neighbors and friends might sometime allure thē to decline from the beaten path of iustice therfore by one stat made An. 8. St. 8 R. 2. 2. St. 33. H. 8. 14. R. 2. another An. 33. H. 8. it was enacted No man shal be iustice of Assise in his owne countie That no Iustice nor other man learned in the laws of this realm shal exercise the office of Iust of Assise within the countie where he was borne or doth inhabit vpon pain to forfeit for euery offence done contrary to this act C. l. to the K. him that will sue by B. P. I. or actiō of debt wherin no W. E. P. But this stat doth not extēd to any Clerk of Assise associat to any Iust of Assise nor to the Iustices Iustices Clerks or Clerk of Assise withithin the Duchie and County Palantine of Lancaster nor to the I. of the one Bench or the other for taking hearing determining of Assises in the said courts nor to any Iust that shal take any Assise vpon adiournment for difficultie of the same nor to any Maiors Sherifes Recorders Stewards Bailifs Sutors or other officers in any citie borough or towne but they may be I. of Assise of Fresh force and of other Assises in the same towne c. where he or they do dwell or were borne as they might haue bin before And in like sort by the stat of W. 1. A Serieant A Pleader it was established That if any Serieant Pleader St. 3. Ed. 1. 2 or other do any deceit in the K. court or do consent therunto to beguile the court or the partie is therof attainted he shal be imprisoned a yeare a day and being a counsellor he shal not any more be receiued to plead in the K. court for any man and if he be any other than a pleader he shal be imprisoned as aforesaid And if the trespas require a greater punishmēt it shal be at the K. pleasure And by the stat of An. 10. A Philozer An Exigēter H. 6. An. 18. H. 6. it was enacted That if any Philozer Exigenter St. 10. H. 6. 4 18. H. 6. 9. or any other officer of the K. Bench or Common pleas do make any entry in any suit that the plaintife in the same suit hath offered himselfe in his owne proper person except the pl. in the same suit before such entrie be made do appeare in his own proper person before some of the Iust of the place where the plea is depēding there be sworn vpō a book that he is the same person in whose name the said suit is pursued or that some other credible person of the K. counsell wil take such oth for him the said philozer exigenter c. shal forf xl s. to the K. euery time that he shal be attainted by the examinatiō of any of the I. of the same place where any such entry or record is 3 And because Atturneies be also necessary mēbers in the cōmonweale special means to solicit further the executiō of iustice therfore the law hath had a careful regard that they should be men of integrity vertuous and of good name and hath prouided seueral stat to punish such of thē as shall cōmit any notorious falshood guile fraud slacknes ignorance omissiō or contempt of dutie As by the stat of An. 4. H. 4. it was ordained St. 4. H. 4. 18 That all Atturnies shal be examined by the Iust by their discretiōs their names shal be put in the rol they that be good vertuous learned of good name shal be receiued sworne wel truly to serue in their offices specially that they make no suit in a forein coūty And if any such Atturney be notoriously found in any default of record or otherwise he shal forsweare the court neuer after be receiued to make any suit in the K. courts And this ordināce shal be performed in the Exchequer after the discretiō of the treasurer the barōs there And accordingly by one other stat made an 3. Ia. it was enacted St. 3. Iac. 7. That none shall from henceforth be admitted Atturneies in any of the K. courts of record at West but such as haue bin brought vp in the same courts Who shal be Atturneyes or otherwise wel practised in soliciting of causes Soliciters haue bin foūd by their dealing to be skilful of honest dispositiō and none to be suffered to solicit any cause or causes in any of the courts aforesayd but only such as are known to be men of honest dispositiō And no Atturney shal admit any other to follow any suit in his name Following a suit in anothers name vpō paine that both the Atturney he that followeth the suit in his name shal each of thē forf for such offence xx l. to the K. and the party grieued to be recouered in any of the said courts of record by A. B. P. I. wherin no W. E. P. c. And the Atturney in such case shal be excluded frō being an Atturney for euer hereafter By the stat of an 18. H. 6. it was enacted St. 18. H. 6. 9 That in all cases wherin proces of Capias Exigēt lyeth if the Atturney haue not his warrant of record the same terme that the Exigent is awarded he shal lose xl s. to the K. if he be attainted therof by examinatiō of the Iust And by the stat made an 32. H. 8. St. 32. H. 8.
30. St. 18. El. 13. an 18. El. it was established That euery such person which shal be Atturney for any other person or persons being demandant or plaintife tenāt or defendāt in any actiō or suit cōmenced in any of the K. courts of record at West plead to an issue in the same shal deliuer or cause to be deliuered his lawfull warrant of Atturney to be entred of record for euery of the said actions or suits wherin he is named an Atturney to the officer or his deputy ordained for the receit or entring therof in the same terme whē the issue is entred of record in the said court or before vpon paine of forf of x. l. for euery default for not deliuery of the said warrāt the one moity to the K. his heirs successors the other to such officer to whō or in whose office the same warrāt shold be deliuered entred or filed to be rec by A. of det B. P. or I. wherin no W. E. P. c. also he shal suffer such imprisonmēt as by the discretiō of the I. of the Court where any such default shall be made shall be thought good Fit N. B. 9 6 If a man make an Atturney in a real action brought against him Deceit by an Atturney after by couin agréed vpon betwéene the demandant and the said Atturney the same Atturney maketh default whereby the tenant doth loose his land then the same tenant who lost his land may haue a writ of Deceit against the Atturney And so it is if a man bring an action of Trespasse against two others Register fo 113. Fit N. B. 96. and the plaintife and an Atturney by couin agréed vpon betwéene them doe cause two straungers not parties to the writ to come into the court and to say that they be the same two defendants named in the writ and that they do constitute the same man to be their Atturney in that suit wherupon the same Atturney as Atturney to the defendants named in the writ do plead to an issue and after suffer the enquest to passe by his default by which meanes the plaintife doth recouer against the defendant in this case they who be indéed defendants and against whom the same action of Trespasse was brought may haue a writ of Deceit against the same Atturney that appeared as Atturney for them and shall recouer their dammages 10. Ed. 4. 9. 20. Eliz. Dyer 367. If an Atturney be informed by his client to plead a false plea which he cannot in conscience plead he may procure this Entrie to bée made Quod non fuit veracitér informatus ideo nihil c. to defend him in a writ of Deceit brought against him by his said client If an Atturney do sue forth a Capias where there was no originall writ before 20. H. 6. 39. he shal be committed to prison and thrust out of his place in that and all other Courts 4 As the law doth punish her Officers who do practise or commit any deceit or fraud in stead of truth in place of iustice The law reiecteth fraudulent acts so doth she renounce and condemne all acts of greatest importance if they be intermixt with guile and falshood For though Iudiciall acts as Fines Recoueries Warranties deedes inrolled c. being of their owne natures iust and lawfull and meanes to settle titles to appease controuersies and to yeeld each person his due bee therefore greatly respected and fauoured in her sight yet if any of them be deuised or executed by couin or to deceiue then she doth vtterly reiect them and adiudge them void Co. li. 3. 77. As a man was Lord of the Mannor of D. wherein there was a tenant which had some parcels of freehold land in fee simple the Lord demised certaine lands parcell of the demesnes of his said Mannor to the said freeholder for xxj yeares reseruing certaine rent and demised some other lands parcell of the said demesnes to the same fréeholder at will reseruing another rent and graunted by copie of Court roll certaine other lands parcell of the same Mannor to the sayd freeholder for the terme of life according to the custome of the sayd Mannour reseruing a third rent And after the same freeholder demised all the sayd lands which hee held by lease for yeares at will and by copie in D. to a straunger for the terme of life and then the same freeholder leuied a fine with proclamations of so many messuages so many acres of land medow pasture c. as he had by lease for yeres at will by copie of Court roll of his owne inheritance in D. by couin fraud to barre the lord of his inheritance All the proclamations were made and the fiue yeres were past the same fréeholder continued in possession of the land which was graunted to him by lease for yeres at will and by copie and paid to the Lord yerely his seuerall rents for the same And after the stranger to whom the fréeholder made the lease for life died and the lease which the Lord made to the fréeholder for xxj yeares expired And then the same freeholder claimed the inheritance of all the land which the Lord demised vnto him for yeares at will by copie intending to barre the Lord thereof by force of the fine with proclamations the fiue yeares past But this fine was adiudged void against the Lord and that it did not barre him to clayme and enter vpon his land for that it was leuied by him who had but estate in those lands for yéeres at will or by copy of court Roll and that neither had nor could pretend any title to the inheritance of the land but only by fraud practised the disheritance of the leassor And whereas the meaning of the makers of the statute of Anno 4. H. 7. St. 4. H. 7. 24 was as it may appeare by the preamble of the same that fines ought to be of the greatest strength to auoid strifes and debates when the lessée for yeares at will or copyholder shall make an assurance by fraud and couin A fine leuied of land to defraud the right owner therof to the intent a fine may be leuied to disherit the right owner of his land this is not a meanes to auoid or appease strife but to begin it where none was before and therefore the same statute did not intend to ratifie such an estate begun by deceit And further the meaning of the makers of the said statute was not That he who could not leuie a fine of this land in respect of the debilitie of his estate therin should be enabled by his owne practise and deceit to leuie a fine therof to barre him who had a lawfull title therein and a right to leuie a fine thereof And the same lessée for yeares tenant at will and copyholder contriued his fraud in so secret manner that by his couert practise he depriued his
to haue execution of a fine if the shirife returne the tenant of the land summoned by two summoners whereas he was not summoned by which returne the demaundant shall recouer and haue execution of the land if the tenant do not appeare and the tenant shall loose the land in this case the tenant may haue a writ of Deceit against the shirife and the demaundant that did recouer and him that is then tenant of the land and shal be restored to his former possession And the like law is 17. Ed. 3. 12. if a man sue a Scire facias vpon a Recognizance against another for a debt before recouered Deceit to auoid a recouery of debt if the shirife returne the defendant summoned whereas he was not summoned by reason wherof the defendant hath execution awarded against him of the debt then the defendant may haue a writ of Deceit against him that had the execution and the shirife and the shirife shall be punished for his false returne and the party who did recouer shall make restitution of that which he recouered and if the defendant die his executors may haue a writ of Deceit Where executors shall haue a writ of Deceit and be restored if the deceit be proued and that the Testator was not garnished whereupon the garnishers shal be examined And so it is if a man recouer in a writ of Annuity Annuity and after doth sue a Scire facias and recouereth by default of garnishment Fitz. Deceit 42. the defendant may haue a writ of Deceit For by the statute of Anno 2. Ed. 3. St. 2. E. 3. 17. 17. a writ of Deceit holdeth place and is maintenable as well in case of garnishment which toucheth plea of land where such garnishment is giuen as in case of Summons in a plea of land for in all the cases aforesaid a Deceit was wrought by the shirife to the Court and the party grieued by his false returne and the Law hath ordained That euery of those deceits shal be reformed by the writ of Deceit And a recouerie and iudgement had made and giuen to the intent to defraud and frustrate the true meaning of a statute shal be void as amongst others it appeareth by the statute of Anno 43. A iudgement to defraud the meaning of a statute Eliz. whereby it was ordained St. 43. Eli. 9. That all iudgements which shal be had for the intent to haue enioy any lease of a benefite with cure or any bonds contracts promises couenants made for any person to enioy the same contrary to the statute of An. 13. El. 20. An. 14. El. 11. or any of them shal be void in such sort as bands couenāts are appointed to be void which are made void for that purpose for that the suits whereupon the same iudgements be giued were commenced prosecuted vpon collusion fraud to defeat and make frustrate the true intent and meaning of the said statutes or of one of them Deceit vhon recouery in a Quare impedit 8 If any person do recouer against another in a Quare impedit by default of the defendant whereas he was not summoned 27. H. 6. 5. Fitz. Deceit 57. 19. Eliz. Dyer 353. then the same defendant may haue a writ of Deceit and the Summoners and the pledges vpon the attachment and the mainpernors vpon the distresse shall be examined and if the deceit be found the first iudgement shal be reuersed and there shal be a writ awarded to the Bishop to remoue the Clerke that was in the Church And so it is Deceit vpon a recouery in wast if any person do bring an action of Wast against another 29. Ed. 3. 42. 48. Ed. 3. 20. Fitz. Deceit 30. the plaintife doe recouer against the defendant by default whereupon a writ is awarded to the shirife to inquire of the wast whereas the defendant was not summoned the defendant may haue a writ of Deceit against him that recouered in the same action of Wast and he shall suppose that hee was not summoned attached nor distrained and proces shal be awarded against the summoners the pledges and the mainpernors who shal be seuerally examined and if they all did not their duty according to the Law the plaintife in the writ of Deceit shal recouer and be restored to that which before he lost in the action of Wast Deceit vpon a recouery by a Praecipe in capite 9 And the like law is 17. Ed. 3. 31. 36. if any person doe recouer land against another by a Praecipe in capite where the same land is not holden of the King in chiefe but of a meane lord by other seruices and where the demaundant had no licence of the chiefe lord to sue at the common place then the chiefe lord may haue a writ of Deceit against him that recouered the same land wherein he shall recouer his dammages the demandant shal be imprisoned for the deceit and also the lord shal retaine his seigniory in the same land But the recouery shal remain in force and he that did recouer shall also hold of the K. in chiefe by the way of estoppell And this writ of Deceit is maintenable in this case by force of the stat of Magna Charta 9. H. 3. 24. whereby it is ordained That the writ which is called Praecipe in capite shal be granted to no man wherby any fréeman may loose his Court. 10 Couin is accounted so professed an enemy to iustice Where a good title shal be impaired by a couenous recouery therefore is so hated by the law that she adiudgeth that bad and vnlawful which is mixed with couin though before of it selfe it were good lawful as if the issue in taile who hath good cause to bring a Formedon in discender vpon a discontinuance made of certaine lands by one of his auncestors 44. Ass p. 28 41. Ass p. 28 be of couin that a stranger shall disseise the tenant of the land against which stranger he doth bring his action doth recouer this land and hath execution in this case he shall not be remitted to his former estate though his title be good but shall be adiudged in possession by disseisin 44. Ed. 3. 46. 15. E. 4. 4. 7. H. 7. 11 Co. lib. 5. 31 in respect of the couin And so it is if a woman that hath good cause to be indowed of her late husbands lands will be of couin that a stranger shall disseise the tenant of the land wherof she is indowable against which stranger she will bring a writ of Dower and recouer hath execution she shal be adiudged in possession against the disseisée but as a disseisor in respect of her couin though she had good title to be indowed And so couin mingling together vertue vice persuadeth the law to reiect condemne a lawfull title which is vnlawfully atchieued 11
yeare vnder their couent seales within one yeare next before the making of the said act should be vtterly void St. 31. H. 8. 13 And by a like statute made Anno 31. H. 8. it was ordayned That all leases of lands tenements or other hereditaments not vsually let leases of lands c. in reuersion leases of lands c. not reseruing the old and accustomed rent sales of wood assurances of lands of the kings gift or auncient foundation without the kings licence made by any abbots or gouernours of any Monasteries or other religious houses which were before the making of the said act dissolued within one yeare before the comming to the K. hands of the same Monasteries religious houses c. or which after that should bee dissolued or come to the kings hands should be vtterly void for the same leases sales of wood and assurances were intended to be made by fraud to deceiue the king of certaine commodities which the makers of that statute did meane and intend to giue him 40 Where maidens and women children of noblemen gentlemen and others as well such as were heires apparant to their auncestors as others hauing left vnto thē by their father or other auncestor friends lands tenemēts hereditaments or other great substance in goods cattels moueable for and to the intent to aduaunce them in marriage somewhat like according to their degrées and as might be most for their surety comfort as wel for themselues as of all other their friends kinsfolks were ofttimes vnawares to their said friends or kinsfolkes by flattery trifling gifts faire promises and other such deceitfull fraudulent practises of many vnthrifty light persons therunto by the intreaty of lewd persons others that for rewards bought and sold the said children secretly allured and woon to contract matrimonie with the said vnthrifty light persons and thereupon either with sleight or force oft times were taken conueyed away from their said parents friends or kinsfolkes to the displeasure of God disparagement of the said children continuall heauinesse of all their friends For the redresse and preuention wherof by a statute made Anno 4. St. 4. 5. P. M. 8. 5. P. M. it was enacted Deceitfull conueying a maid inheritable vnder xvj yeares of age That it shall not be lawfull to any person or persons to take or conuey away or cause to be taken or conueyed away any maid or woman child vnmaried being within the age of xvj yeares out of or from the possession custodie or gouernance and against the will of the father of such maid or woman child or of such person or persons to whom the father of such maid or woman child by his last Will or by any other act in his life time shall assigne bequeath giue or graunt the order kéeping education or gouernance of such maid or woman child except such taking conueying away as shal be had made or done by or for such persō or persons as without fraud or couin then shal be the master or mistresse or the gardian in socage or gardian in chiualry of or to such maid or woman child St. 4. 5. P. M. 8. If any person or persons aboue the age of xiiij yeares shal vnlawfully take or conuey The forf for taking away a maid vnder 16 yeares of age or cause to be taken or conueied any maid or woman child vnmaried being within the age of xvj yeares out of or from the possession against the will of the father or mother of such child or out of or from the possession of such person or persons as then shall haue by any lawfull wayes or meanes the order kéeping or education or gouernance of any such maid or woman child then euery such person persons so offending being thereof lawfully attainted or conuicted by the due course of the law of this realme other then such of whō such person taken away shall hold any lands or tenements by knights seruice shal be 2. yéeres imprisoned of his or their bodies without baile or mainprise or els shall pay such fine for his or their said offence to the Q. and party grieued as shal be assessed by the Q. counsell in the starre chamber at Westminster If any such person or persons shall so take away St. 4 5. P. M. 8. or cause to be taken away as is aforesaid Taking away deflouring or cōtracting matrimony with a woman c. and defloure any such maid or woman child as is aforesaid Or shall against the will or vnknowing of or to the father of such maid or woman child if the father be in life or of or to the mother of such maid or woman child hauing the custody gouernance of such child if the father be dead by secret letters messages or otherwise contract matrimony with any such maiden or woman child except such contracts of matrimony as shal be made by the cōsent of such person or persons as by the title of wardship shall then haue or be intituled to haue the mariage of such maid or woman child then euery such person or persons so offending being thereof lawfully conuicted as is aforesaid shall suffer imprisonment of his or their bodies by the space of fiue yeares without baile or maineprise or els shall pay such fine for his or their offence to the Quéene and party grieued as shal be assessed by the Quéenes Counsell in the Starre-Chamber The Quéenes Counsell of the Starre-chamber by bill of complaint or information Who may hear and determine these offences and Iustices of Assise by inquisition or indictment St. 4 5. P. M. 8. haue authority to heare and determine the said offences vpon euery which indictments and inquisitions such processe shall be awarded as vpon an indictment of Trespas at the common law If any woman child or maiden being aboue the age of xij St. 4 5. P. M. 8. yeres and vnder xvj A woman consenting to an vnlawfull contract doe at any time cōsent to such person that so shall make any contract of matrimonie contrary to the forme and effect of this statute then the next of her kinne to whom the inheritance should returne or come after her decease shall from the time of such assent haue and enioy all such lands tenements and hereditamēts as she had in possession reuersion or remainder at the time of such assent during the life of such person that so shall contract matrimony and after the decease of such person so cōtracting matrimony thē the said lands shall discend reuert remaine and come to such person or persons as they should haue done in case this act had neuer béen made other then to him onely that so shall contract matrimony But this act shall not extend to take away or diminish any liberty custome St. 4 5. P. M. 8. or authority cōcerning any
heices c. the other moitie to the party grieued which will sue for the same at any time during the said suit or within one yeare after the same cause discontinued or decréed and in his default of such suit to him or them that will sue for the same by originall writ B. P. or I. in the Kings Court of Starre-chamber or in any of his Courts of Record at Westminster in which suit by B. P. or I. no W. E. P. S. P. or any other delay shall be admitted The Clerkes duty Prouided neuerthelesse That it shal be lawfull for the Clerke to take for his paines for writing of euery such report or certificat twelue pence for the first side and two pence for euery side after and no more vpon paine to forfeit tenne shillings for euery penny taken ouer and aboue the said summes to be had and recouered as aforesaid Extortion in the shirife coroner other officers 3 For that the kings of this Realme haue allowed to their Officers from time to time sufficient Salaries to maintaine them according to their estates and degrées to the intent that they should not otherwise extort any thing from their subiects but such fées duties as the auncient customes laws or statutes of the realme did allow them Therfore by the statute of West 1. it was ordained That if any shirife coroner St. 3. E. 1. 26 or other officer of the kings do take any thing to execute his office but only that which the king alloweth him he shal render double to the party and shal be punished at the kings pleasure St. 3. E. 1. 29 4 To preuent extortion in certaine Officers of the Iudges Extortion in a Serieant Crier or Marshall of a Iudge by the same stat of West 1. it was enacted That if the Serient Crier or Marshall of any Iustice do wrongfully take mony of any which doth recouer land obtaine his suit leuie a fine or prosecute any suit touching any plea of the Crowne he shal be punished at the kings pleasure and yéeld treble damages to the party grieued And if hée be a Serieant of fée his Office shal be seised into the K. hands But in an attaint 29. Ass p. 13 if the plaintife be nonsuit euery of the petit Iurie shall pay xij d. to the Marshall and be discharged 5 To eschew extortion which in some cases before had béen committed by some Coroners St. 1. E. 1. 10. St. 1. H. 8. 7 first by the stat of anno 3. E. 1. Extortion in a Coroner and after that by the stat of anno 1. H. 8. it was established That a Coroner vpon request made to him to come and inquire vpon the view of any person slaine drowned or otherwise dead by misaduenture the same Coroner shall doe his office diligently vpon the view of the bodie of euerie such person or persons without taking any thing therefore vpon paine to euery Coroner that will not endeuor himselfe to doe his Office as is aforesaid or that hée taketh any thing for dooing of his Office vpon euerie person dead by misaduenture for euerie time fortie shillings 27. Ass p. 14 And vpon the said statute of Anno 3. Ed. 1. two Coroners were indicted of Extortion for that they had taken of some of the K. people halfe a mark at seuerall times contrarie to the foresaid stat and their othes and therefore they paid a fine to the King 6 Because the Sherife of euerie Countie is a great and necessarie Officer in the Commonweale and vsed as a speciall instrument to the furtherance of iustice in all suits pursued at the common law and his seruice is imployed in the beginning prosecuting and ending of the most of them therefore as the law hath alwayes had a speciall regard of him and foreséene that he shall be a man of wisedome of worth of credit countenance and ability and that he shall be allowed a conuenient stipend and salary for his pains in most cases so doth she carrie a vigilant and watchfull eye vpon him and his inferiour Officers or Substitutes knowing what grieuous oppressions might ensue if she should leaue a man of his authoritie and necessarie imployment at libertie to diue at his pleasure into other mens purses and to take what hee would and therefore she hath restrained him his Vndersherife Bailife of Franchise and other Bailife within certaine lists and assigned them what they shall take for Arrests Attachements Mainprises letting to Baile and seruing of Executions which if any of them do cxcéed he shall forfeit the penalties hereafter expressed and be adiudged an extortioner Extortion in Sherifes Vndersherifs Bailifes As appeareth by the stat of An. 23. St. 23. H. 6. 10. H. 6. whereby it was ordained That no Sherife Vndersherife Bailife of Franchise nor any other Bailif by occasion or vnder colour of his Office shall take any other thing by themselues or by any other person to their vse or to their profit of any person by any of them arrested or attached nor of any other for them for the omitting of any arrest or attachement to bée made by their bodies or of any person by any of them by force or colour of their office arrested or attached for fine fée mainprise letting to bayle or for shewing any ease or fauour to any such person so arrested The fées of the Sherife for arrests c. for their reward or profit but such as followeth viz. The Sherife xx d the Bailife which maketh the arrest or attachement iiij d. the Gaoler if the prisoner be cōmitted to his ward iiij The Sherifes duetie for the making of a copie of a Panel d. The Sherife Vndersherife Sherifes Clerke Steward or Bailif of Franchise seruant to the Bailife or Coroner shall not take by colour of his office by himselfe nor by any other person to his vse any thing of any person for making of any returne or panell and for the copie of a panell iiij d. No Sherife nor none of the officers aforesaid shall take or cause to be taken or made any obligation by colour of their office but onely to themselues of any person nor by any person which shall be in their ward by course of the law but in the name of their office and vpon condition written that the said prisoners shall appeare at the day of the said writs bils or warrants and in such places as the said writs bils or warrants shall require And if any of the said Sherifes or other officers aforesaid take any Obligation in any other forme by colour of their offices it shall be void And he shall take no more for making of any such obligation The Sherifes c. forfeiture for extortion warrant or precept by him to be made but iiij d. And all Sherifes Vndersherifes Clerks Bailifes Gaolers Coroners Stewards Bailifes of Franchises or any other Officers or Ministers which doe contrarie to
person so taking or contracting or agréeing to take or haue any thing for the same shall forfeit double the summe of money or value of the thing so receiued and taken or agréed to be receiued or taken And euery person by whom or for whom any money gift or reward as aforesaid shal be giuen or agréed to be paid shal be vncapable of that place or roome for that time or turne shall not be nor had nor taken to be a lawfull fellow scholler or officer of any the churches colledges halls hospitals schooles or societies or to haue such room 〈◊〉 place there But they to whom it shall appertaine at any time thereafter 〈◊〉 and may elect choose present and nominate any other person fit to be elected presented or nominated into the said roome or fellowship as if the said person by or for whom any such money gift or reward shall be giuen or agréed to bée paid were dead or had resigned and left the same And to the intent that euery person that is or may be subiect to the said penalties may take notice thereof This Stat. shall be read at euery election by the said statute it was also ordained That at euery election of fellowes schollers and officers this Act and the Statutes of the same places concerning such election shal be publikely read vpon paine that euery person in whom the default shal be shal forfeit xl l to him that will sue and to the same colledge societie c. Extortion by gathering others money 36 If any person doe leuie and receiue money of certaine other persons 27. Ass p. 15 which they ought to pay in discharge of a fiftéene due by a towne to the king and he doth not pay the same money to the king he may be indited of extortion and the matter beeing found accordingly the offendor shall be distrained to pay the same money to the people of the said towne toward their discharge of the said fiftéene 48. Ed. 3. 8. 37 If a man be amerced in a Court Baron for a trespasse done to the Lord of the Manor and the amerciament is affâ—ired in the Lords court Extortion for amerciament in a court baron this is extortion in the Lord But if the Lord doe accept the amerciament that is a sufficient satisfaction for the trespasse and a good barre in an action of trespasse brought by the Lord against the offendor 38 But though extortion and exaction be prohibited by the lawes Stat. before specified as things offensiue to the lawes and iustice of the Realm No extortion to take lawful fees yet the same law doth allow to each officer and other person to haue a reasonable consideration and satisfaction for his paines according to his countenance degrée and calling and the paines and seruice which he shall doe and imploy in the furtherance or execution of iustice 34. H. 6. 38. 8. Ed. 4. 18. as the L. Chancellor and they which write to the great seale are not to make writs without their fées and if a prisoner be discharged of his imprisomnent by the court paying his fées the Marshall of the Kings Bench the Sherife of the countie nor any Gaoler or keeper of prison ought to detaine him in prison for meat drinke or other thing which he hath bought but for his fées onely But if a man be committed to prison for suspitioÌ„ of felonie 11. H. 7. 16. and after he is acquitted thereof and discharged by the court paying his fées the Sherife or Gaoler may take of him barre-fées and this is no extortion but iustifiable for this money is not taken coÌ„trarie to the foresaid stat of anÌ„ 23. H. 6. which prohibiteth the sherife to take money for shewing ease or fauour to any person arrested Taking of barre-fees no extortion For this barre-fée is money which the court froÌ„ one age to another hath in discretion assigned the prisoner so discharged to pay to the Sherife or Gaoler for his great paines and charge for the safe keeping of the prisoners for attending vpon them and for conueying of them safely to the barre and from it to the prison If a man bee committed to prison for two seuerall felonies 26. Ass p. 47. and after he is discharged by the court paying his fées he shal pay but one fée for the Gaolers attendance was but vpon one person And if the Sherife or Gaoler take from a prisoner in his custodie the money in his purse or any garment that he hath this is no extortion but a trespasse for the recouerie whereof the prisoner may haue an Action of trespasse against the same Sherife or Gaoler and recouer the value thereof in dammages No extortion for gloues giuen vpon the allowance of pardon And if a man indited and arraigned of felonie 4. Ed. 4. 10. doth plead and shew forth the Kings pardon of the same felonie which is allowed by the court whereupon hee doth pay and giue his fées of gloues to the Iustices and other officers of the court this is no extortion 34. H. 6. 38. but an auncieÌ„t fée and lawfully due vnto them If the Iustices in an especiall Assise doe take their lawfull fées this is no extortion for they are not bound to sit vnlesse they haue them 34. H. 6. 42. 39 If a man that is attainted of trespasse doe come into the court Extortion in taking fees of him that doth appeare gratis where he was attainted and prayeth to make his fine to the King and offereth pledges for his fine if the Warden of the Fléet or other Kéeper of a prison do take any fées of him it is extortion seeing hee came in gratis and out of ward and yéelded himselfe to the court But if there be proces awarded against him for his said fine and he be taken thereby then he shall pay his fées to the warden or Kéeper c. and it is no extortion to take them for that he came in by compulsion and not willingly St. 27. H. 8. 26. 40 After that by the Stat. of anÌ„ 27. H. 8. it was enacted That the Kings countrie or dominion of Wales should be incorporatd vnited and annexed to and with the Realme of England and that all persons borne and to be borne in the said Principalitie and dominion of Wales should haue enioy and inherit all and singular fréedomes liberties rights priuiledges and laws within this Realme and al other the kings dominions as other the Kings subiects borne within the same haue enioy and inherit And that the lawes ordinances and statutes of this Realme of England for euer and none other shall bée vsed and executed in the said dominion of Wales and euery part thereof in like manner forme and order as they be in this Realme And that the said dominion of Wales was by the said Statute of 27. H. 8. and by the statute of anÌ„ 34. H. 8. diuided into xij
seasonable wood bée of it selfe no wast 40. E. 3. 15. 12. H. 8. 1. 10. H. 7. 5. yet if Willowes or any of the trées aforesaid doe growe within the viewe or scite of a Mannor house to defend the house from tempests and stormes or néere vnto the banke of a Riuer to defend the Banke then the felling of them is wast and the tenant of the land is punishable for the same by an action of Wast If a tenant for yeares life 20. Ed. 3. Wast 32. 9. H. 6. 66. 11. H. 6. 1. 22. H. 6. 12. 4. H. 3. Wast 140. or c. doe fell Oakes Ashes or Elmes and after he hath felled them he doth suffer cattell to come into the same ground which doe croppe and spoyle the sprouts or newe springs growing out of the rootes of the same trees then this is a newe and another Wast and punishable by the same Action of Wast that the Trees bée or by another in which Action hée in the Reuersion or Remainder shall recouer treble dammages first for the Trees felled and also treble dammages for the springs spoiled though hee can but once recouer the place wasted If the Termor doe fell greene wood to burne 20. E. 3. Wast 32. 7. H. 6. 40. 22. H. 6. 24. where hee hath dead wood sufficient it is Wast But the felling of dead wood which will beare no leaues in Summer is no Wast neither is the pulling downe of a hedge Wast or of a Pale or Wall that is vncouered Wast And the foresaid Writ of Wast proceedeth further to punish wast in Gardens Wast in gardens Therefore if the Termor doe fell and destroy Appletrees or Pearetrees growing dispersed in seuerall places of the ground demised vnto him it is no Wast for hee may fell them and take them to burne as seasonable wood 10. H. 7. 5. 21. H. 6. 46. But if he fell a whole Garden or Orchard of Apple-trees or Pearetrees or any great number therein it is wast for the wordes of the Writ of Wast doe expresse so much which be Non liceat alicui vastum vendicionem seu destructionem facere in terris domibus Boscis seu Gardinis And if any Appletrees or Pearetrees be throwne downe by the winde in an Orchard or Garden 44. E. 3. 44. and they doe leane vpon some of their boughes and the spurres or rootes of them continuing fast in the ground doe so cherrish the trees that they doe beare fruit it is wast to fell and carrie them away And to make an end of this Braunch with the wordes of the foresaid Statute of Marlebridge touching exile of men If the tenant for yeares life or c. of a Mannor doe so vexe the villeins regardant of the same Mannor by Distresses Wast in men Fines Amerciaments 29. H. 8. Dyer 37. Fit N.B. 55 Fitz. Wast 2. 113. 118. 130. 131. or otherwise that the same villeins doe depart from their Tenements this is to the disheritance of him in the Reuersion or Remainder and therefore punishable by an Action of Wast But if the Termor of a Mannor during his estate doe enfraunchise a villeine regardant to a Mannor this is no Wast punishable by the Lawe 2. H 6. 11. for after the particular estate ended he in the Reuersion or Remainder may seize the same villeine againe cum tota sequela sua If the tenant for yeares life or c. of a Manor or other land wherein there bée cottages or small Tenements doe demise the same Cottages or c. to seuerall Tenants and they doe die of the Plague and the same Leassée can get none other tenants to inhabit the same Cottages or c. whereby they doe decay and fall downe 44. E. 3. 21. Fitz. Wast 104. 105. the Leassée is not punishable therefore by an Action of Wast for that the wast which ensued by the death of those Cotiées or inferiour tenants came by the visitation and hand of God and not by any default of the Termor and therefore the said Termor doing his endeauour to reforme the defect and to prouide other tenants and béeing not able to performe it could not redresse the same 10 When one person doth bargain couenant or coÌ„clude with another for any paimeÌ„t matter cause or thing to be ê‘formed is once fully satisfied therof by money wares or other means according to the true inteÌ„t of the same agréemÌ„t if the same partie doe after sue or attempt by course of Law to obtaine a new or other satisfaction for the same contract this a plaine and manifest wrong and oppression for the said partie doth in a sort endeauour to bee twice satisfied for one debt or dutie And likewise it is an oppression and wrong if one person doe endeauour to lay a burden or charge vpon others which the Lawe of the Realme will not impose vpon them or which himselfe alone or himselfe with others ought to sustaine or when one person shall imprison or restraine another of his libertie who by law ought to bée free As if one person bée bound to another by Statute marchant or Statute Staple for the paiment of a summe of money whereof there is a defeasaunce that if the Conusor doe pay to the Conusée a lesse summe of money at a day prefixed 46. Ed. 3. 4. 47. Ed. 3. 26. 20. E 3. Fi. N.B. 105 or diuers summes at seuerall daies or doe performe certaine couenants or agreements in the said defeasaunce or in certaine Indentures made betwéene them specified and the conusor doth pay the said summe or seuerall summes of money or doth performe all the couenants in the said Indenture specified according to the purport of the said defeasaunce and that notwithstanding the Conusée doth sue execution of the said Statute against the Conusor this is a manifest wrong and oppression pretended to the Conusor Wherefore the Conusor for his reliefe may haue an Audita querela directed out of the Chauncerie to the Iustices of the Kings Bench Oppressions redressed by an Audita querela or Common Place comprehending the whole matter and charging them to call before them the parties Plaintife and Defendant and to doe them iustice according to the Law and Custome of the Realme which is either to graunt a Supersedeas to stay the Execution or to set the bodie of the Conusor at libertie if hée be taken and imprisoned therefore and to discharge his lands and goods of execution if the suggestion of the plaintife in the said writ be prooued to bée true And if the Conusée in the case aforesaid doe take away the defeasaunce or Indenture from the Conusor 47. Ed. 3. 26 Fi. N.B. 103 and after extend the same Statute against him this is likewise an oppression and to bée redressed by an Audita querela And in like sort if the Conusée after the said Statute acknowledged doe make a Release or Acquitance of the same to the Conusor and
adiudged Felonie or Trespasse according to the law of the land in auncient time vsed and according as the case doth require And if in such case or any like the Iustices haue adiudged it Treason before this time and there by the offendors lands and tenements haue come into the kings hands as forfeit the chiefe Lords of the fée shal haue their Escheats of those tenements which be holden of them whether the same tenements be in the hands of the King or of any other by gift or in other manner sauing to our Lord the King the yeare and wast and the forfeiture of the chattels which doe belong vnto him in the cases aforesaid And in such cases writs of Scire facias shal be awarded against the tenants of the land without any other originall and without allowing the kings protection in the same suit And touching those lands which be in the kings hands there shal be writs granted to the Sherifes of the Counties where the lands be to deliuer them out of the kings hands without delay 2 By which statute it doth appeare that there be two sorts of Treason by the auncient common lawes of this Realme viz. High Treason and Petit Treason High treason High Treason when any of the grieuous offences aforesaid be done or attempted to the vniuersall and generall Maiestie of gouernment that is to say to the bodie of the whole Commonwealth or to the King the head ruler and directer thereof Petit treason in his person wife issues or authoritie Petit Treason is when the bloudie and grieuous offence of wilfull murder is done and committed by an inferiour person and one in subiection to another that hath a dominion or a kind of Maiestie in gouernmēt ouer the same partie And though sithence the before mentioned Statute of 25. Ed. 3. diuers other offences haue béene made Treason by the Statutes of 21. R. 2. 3. H. 5. 4. H. 5. 8. H. 6. 14. H. 6. 20. H. 6. 4. H. 7. 22. H. 8. 26. H. 8. 27. H. 8. 28. H. 8. 31. H. 8. 32. H. 8. 33. H. 8. 35. H. 8. 1. Ed. 6. yet euerie of the succéeding ages were soone wearie of the sayd new Treasons and thought that the grieuous paines and most hainous punishments of them were too heauy and vnsupportable for the Subiects of this Realme to endure As the Lords and Commons in the Parliament holden Anno 4. St. 4. H. 4. 10 H. 4. 10. did complaine that diuers paines were ordained to be Treason by the statute of 21. R. 2. insomuch that no man did know how he ought to behaue himselfe to doe to speake or say for doubt of such paines and thereupon it was enacted That in no time to come any treason shall bée adiudged otherwise than was ordained by the Statute of 25. Ed. 3. And long time after the makers of the statute of Anno 1. Mar. considering and rehearsing that the state of euerie King Ruler and Gouernour of any Realme Dominion or Comminaltie consisteth more assured by the loue and fauour of the subiects towards their Gouernour than in the dread and feare of lawes made with rigorous paynes and extreame punishment and that lawes iustly made for the preseruation of the Commonwealth without extreame punishment or great penaltie are more often obeyed and kept than lawes and statutes made with great and extreame punishments and in speciall such lawes and statutes so made whereby not only the ignorant vnlearned and rude people but also learned and expert persons minding honestie are often trapped and snared yea many times for words only without any other fact or déed done or perpetrated and therefore to the intent that the seueritie of such like extreame dangerous and perillous laws might be abolished A repeale of former treasons and adnulled St. 1. M. by the said statute of Anno 1. M. Parl. 1. it was ordained That from thenceforth none act déed or offence being by act of Parliament or stat made Treason Petit Treason or Misprisiō of Treasō by words writing ciphering déeds or otherwise whatsoeuer shal be taken had déemed or adiudged to bee High treason Petit treason or Misprisiō of treason but only such as be declared expressed to be high Treason Petit treason or Misprision of Treason in or by the stat of 25. E. 3. concerning Treason or the declarations of Treasons and none other Nor that any paines of death penalty or forfeiture in any wise ensue or be to any offendor or offendors for the doing or committing of any Treason Petit Treason or Misprision of Treason other than such as bée in the said stat of 25. E. 3. ordained and prouided By force of which stat made Anno 1. M. the subiects of this Realme were eased and vnburdened of al acts déeds and offences made or declared to be treason by the space of two hundred and more years before Or as it may more aptly be said of all offences made Treason by any stat or act of parliament whatsoeuer But sithence the stat of repeale made Anno 1. M. there haue béen diuers other offences made or declared to be treason by the stat of An. 1. M. 6. 1. 2. P. M. 11. 5. El. 11. 18. Offences made treason by Statutes El. 1. 5. El. 1. 13. El. 2. 23. El. 1. 27. El. 2. 3. Iac. 4. whereof the first foure were but as an addition augmentation enlargement or exposition of the before specified Treasons ordained by the common law or declared by the foresaid stat of 25. E. 3. All which said last mentioned Treasons I will set downe and expresse verbatim after I haue somewhat more particularly expressed how the Sages and Iudges of this Realme haue construed and expounded seueral branches of the said statute of explanation made Anno 25. Ed. 3. 3 The foresaid statute of 25. Ed. 3. doth confirme it to be high treason for any person to compasse or imagine the death of our Soueraigne Lord the K. the Quéen c. by which words it doth approue what a great regard and reuerend respect the common law hath alwayes had to the person of the K. which it hath endeuored religiously carefully to preserue as a thing consecrated by almightie God and by him ordained to be the head health wealth of the kingdome and therefore it hath ingrafted a déepe and setled feare in the hearts of all sorts of subiects to offer violence or force vnto it vnder the paine of high treason Leges Aluredi cap. 4. Co. li. 4. 124 in somuch as if he that is non compos mentis do kil or attempt to kill the K. it shal be adiudged in him high treason though if he do cōmit petit treason homicide or larceny it shall not be imputed vnto him as felonie for that hee knew not what he did neither had he malice prepenced nor a felonious intent And this law doth not only restrain al persons from laying
such offence of returning or being in this realme or c. without submission as is aforesaid shall be adiudged a Traitor and suffer and loose and forfeit as in case of high Treason 20 Hauing treated of Treasons generally and first shewed which be high Treasons and which petit Treasons by the common lawe and which be made treasons by Statutes It resteth that I declare what is Misprision of treason how many sortes thereof there be and what is the penaltie or punishment of the offendors therein What misprision of treason is Misprision of treason or felony is most properly when any person doth vnderstand or know that another person hath committed treason or felony and he will not disclose it to the King or his Councell or to some Magistrate that it may be repressed and punished but doth conceale it Bracton writeth Bracton de Corona cap. 3 That if any man doth know another to be guilty of a treason or to be vehemently suspected thereof he ought presently and without any delay come to the King if he can or send to him if he be not able to come or to some other néere about the King and to declare euery thing in order he ought not tarrie in one place two daies or two nights before he doth sée the Kings person neither must he attend any other busines be it of neuer so great importance for hée is scarcely allowed to looke backe because if he doe delay and conceale the matter for a time he shall be accounted a manifest deceiuer of the King and as consenting and agreeing to the offence whether the partie which is accused be his familiar friend or a stranger and if he would after accuse the offendor he shall not be heard vnlesse he can prooue that he was hindered vpon good cause And to the intent it might be certainely knowen what misprision of treason is the Statutes of 5. 6. Ed. 6. St. 5. E. 6. 11 1. 2. P. M. 10. and 1. 2. Ph. M. haue defined it in this manner viz. concealement or kéeping secret of any high treason shal be déemed and taken only misprision of treason the offendors therein to forfeit and suffer as in cases of misprision of treason as héeretofore hath béene vsed The forfeture in misprision And in all cases of misprision of treason the offendor shall forfeit to the King his goodes and his lands during this life 2. R. 3. 10. and he shall be imprisoned during his life And euery treason or felony doth include Misprision so that where any person hath committed treason or felony the King if hée will may cause the offendor to be indicted and arraigned but of misprision But some other offences partly by the common Lawe and partly by Statute be misprision of treason besides concealement or kéeping secret of treason which be héereafter expressed 21 By reason that diuers euill disposed persons as well without this Realme as within were boldened to counterfait and forge such kinde of golde and siluer and vtter the same in the Realme as is not the proper coine of this Realme nor currant in paiment in this Realme because before there was no condigne punishment prouided for such offences For the redresse whereof St. 14. El. 3 by a Statute made Anno 14. Elizab. 3. it was enacted That if any person or persons shall héereafter falsely forge Counterfaiting of money not currant or counterfait any such coine of golde or siluer as is not the proper coine of this Realme nor permitted to be currant within this Realme Then euery such offence shall be déemed and adiudged Misprision of high Treason And the offendors therein their procurors aiders and abettors being conuicted according to the Lawes of this Realme of such offences shall be imprisoned and forfeit such Landes goodes and Chattells as in cases of Misprision of treason for concealement of treason S. Br. 6. St. 23. Eli. 1 22 By the Statute made Anno 23. Elizab. 1. Aiding of perswaders to Romish religion it is enacted and declared That all and euerie person and persons that shall wittingly bée Aidors or Maintainors of such persons as shall offend in perswading or reconciling to the Romish Religion or in being reconciled thereunto or in any of the same offences knowing the same or which shall conceale any of the saide offences and shall not within twentie daies at the furthest after such persons knowledge of such offence disclose the same to some Iustice of Peace or other higher officer shall be taken tried and iudged and shall suffer and forfeit as offendors in misprision of Treason S. Br. 17. Concealing of reconciliation offered 23 By the Statute made Anno 13. Elizab. 2. it was ordained St. 13. Eli. 2. That if any person or persons to whom anie absolution reconciliation bull writing or instrument obtained from the Bishop of Rome or any of his successors or from any other claiming authoritie from or by them shall be offered mooued or perswaded to be vsed put in vre or executed shall conceale the same offer motion or perswasion and not disclose and signifie the same by writing or otherwise within sixe wéekes then next following to some of the Quéenes priuie Councell or to the president or vicepresident established in the North or the Marches of Wales for the time being Then the same person or persons so concealing shall incurre the penaltie and forfeit of misprision of high Treason But no person or persons shall be troubled in or for misprision of high Treason for any offence made Treason by this Act other than such as by this Act before are declared to be in case of misprision of high Treason S. Br. 16. Recording an indictment not found 24 If a Iustice of Peace doe inroll a bill of indictment not found by the Countrey amongst other indictments which be found 2. R. 3. 10. This is a great misprision and fineable and he shall loose his office Drawing a sword to strike a Iustice 25 If one draw his sword to strike a Iustice assigned Mi. 22. Ed. 3 13. sitting in place of Iudgement this is misprision of Treason and the offender being indicted and found guiltie thereof shall haue iudgement to forfeit his landes and chattels to haue his right hand cut off to be perpetually imprisoned for that the Iustice assigned by the Kings Commission to execute iustice sitteth in the place and stead of the King and so the offender opposeth himselfe against the King and the office of iustice Striking a Iuror in a Iustices presence 26 If in the presence of a Iustice assigned M. 19. Ed. 3. Fitz. Iudgement 174. one doe strike a Iurour that is returned vpon an Enquest this is misprision of Treason and the offender being indicted thereof shall haue iudgement to loose his lands and goodes to the King to haue his right hand stricken off and to be committed to perpetuall prison
triall by battel in that case so doth it ratifie and confirme the euent and successe thereof to be iustifiable And the law depending vpon the iudgement of God who giueth victory according to the truth hath assigned either of theÌ„ to doe execution of iustice vpon the other as it hath assigned the Sherife to do execution of iustice vpon him that after verdict confession or outlawrie is condemned to die Homicide vpon necessitie 11 Homicide vpon necessitie as before is said is when one man killeth an other with griefe of mind and sorrow of heart and beeing enforced vnto it therby to deliuer him selfe or that which is his or some other persons that he is bound to defend from further petill which otherwise cannot be auoyded and this homicide is by law iustifiable As if one or diuers persons come to a mans house to burne his house Homicide in dâ—fence of his house from burning but he or they doe not burne it 26. As p. 23 if the owner of the house or any of his seruants doe shoote forth of the house Co. l. 5. 91. and kill the offendors or any of them this is homicide by necessitie in defence of his house and not felony Lex Alâ—re di And in like sort if one or more come to a mans house to rob him Homicide in defence of a man â—rom robbery and the owner or any of his seruants or company being with him in the house doe kill the offendors or any of them this is homicide by necessitie in defence of his goods and thereby iustifiable for a seruant may iustifie the killing of an other in defence of his masters person 21. H. 7. 39. or house if the offence can not be otherwise auoided And he may iustifie the killing of him who robbed and killed his Master 26. Ass p. 23 so that he doe it presently And if one doe attempt to robbe an other being out of his house and pursueth him to that end 26. As p. 32. the true man may kill the offendor and shall be discharged thereof without any forfeiture or suing of the Kings pardon And so shall he in the other former cases where anie doe attempt to burne or robbe a mans house for a mans house is his Castle out of which the Lawe will not compell him to flie 21. H. 7. 39. 12 Forasmuch as it was in question and doubt if any euill disposed person or persons doe attempt feloniously to robbe or murder any person or persons in or nigh any common high way cart way horse way or foote way or in their mansion messuages or dwelling places Or that feloniously do attempt to breake any dwelling house in the night time should happen being in their such felonious intent to be slaine by him or them whom the said euill doers should so attempt to robbe or murder or by any person or persons being in the dwelling house which the same euill doers shall attempt burglarily to breake by night if the saide person so happening in such cases to slay any person so attempting to commit such murder or burglarie should for the death of such euill disposed person forfeit and loose his goods and cattells for the same as any other person should doe that by chaunce medley should happen to kill any other person in his or their defence for the declaration of which ambiguitie and doubt by a Statute made Anno 24. St. 24. H. 8. 5 H. 8. it was enacted That if any person or persons shall be indicted or appealed for the death of any such euill disposed person or persons attempting to murder robbe No forfeiture for homicide vpon necessitie or burglarily to breake mansion houses as is aforesaide that the person or persons so indicted or appealed thereof and of the same by verdict so found and tried shall not forfeit or loose any lands tenements goods or cattells for the death of any such euill disposed person in such manner slaine but shall be thereof and for the same fully acquited and discharged in like maner as the same person or persons should be if he or they were lawfully acquited of the death of the said euill disposed person or persons 13 But if one man doe come in the day time to an other mans house Killing another in his owne defence in his owne house and doth make an assault vpon him in his owne house Fi. Cor. 305 and doth fight with him if the owner of the house doe slay the assailant in his owne defence the owner of the house shall forfeit his goods and be driuen to sue for the Kings pardon except that it be prooued and found that the assailant came also to robbe the other in his house 14 Homicide in a mans owne defence ought to be so great Necessitie ineuitable is requisite in homicide in his owne defence and vpon such necessitie that it must be estéemed to be ineuitable or otherwise it will not excuse for héere the killer of the man hath not to doe with a felon as in some of the former cases but with a lawfull and true man And it is not materiall whether the person that did kill or the person which was slaine did beginne the fray but the whole matter will consist vpon the ineuitable necessity without the which the killing is by no meanes excusable The definition of homicide in his owne defence And therefore the true definition of Homicide in his owne defence is when the assailant doth make a fray Fi. Cor. 284 286. 287. 297. or offer force to the defendant and doth strike him the defendant doth flée so far as he can for sauing of his life so that he is come to a straite beyond the which he cannot flie and the Assailant doth continue his assault whereupon the defendant doth strike the assailant and doth kill him this is homicide in his owne defence For if the defendant could haue auoyded the assailant and did not but when the assailant did strike him 43. Ass p. 31 he did strike him againe and killed him this is felonie in the defendant And though the defendant doth giue to the assailant diuers wounds yet that is not materiall if he flie to a straite before he doth giue him the mortall wound for the Law doth allowe that iustifiable which a man doth in defence of his owne person And yet in the case aforesaid if the defendant vpon malice prepenced doth strike another and theÌ„ flie to a wall or straite and the other doth pursue and strike him Fi. Cor. 387 and the defendant who fled doth kill the pursuer this is murder and not homicide in his owne defence for the malice prepenced was the ground and beginner of this homicide and not necessitie ineuitable Where in homicide in his owne defence goods shall be forfeit and where not 15 One man did strike another to the ground 44. Ass p. 17 and then
goods of another the whole offence shal be imputed to the husband it shal be adiudged no felony in the wife so if the wife doe take the goods of her husband the law wil not construe them to be stolne Fit cor 455 Bro. cor 242 nor charge her with felony therefore A woman taking her husbands goods for at the time of the solemnization of their mariage in the face of the Church her husband endowed her with all his wordly goods so gaue her a kind of interest in them And if the wife doe take her husbands goods and giue them to another this is not felony in him to whō she did giue them but if a man do take away another mans wife and the husbands goods against the husbands will this is felony S. Felony by stat 31. That it is felony in the wife to send any mony victual c. to her husband being assembled with others in rebellious manner contrary to the stat of An. 1. M. 12. Fi. N. B. 202 Bracton 35. H. 6. 11 13 If an infant aboue the age of xij In what case an infant may commit felony yeares doe take any goods of another mans aboue the value of xij d. with intent to steale them it is felony in him and some do affirme that if an infant of any age do take the goods of another and that the Iustices before whom he is arraigned doe thinke that hee did it with a felonious intent and had discretion to vnderstand what he did and the offence and the perill thereof that then it is felony in him And yet Inas king of the West Saxons ordained Lex 7. That a child of tenne yeares of age should bee condemned for Felony An Ideot or Lunaticke cannot cōmit Felony But an Ideot or Lunaticke cannot commit Felony by the stealing of the goods of another Co. li. 4. 124 for that neither of them doth know what he doth Burning of a house or barne Felony 14 Burning of a house willingly and feloniously done St. 3. B. 3. 15. is Felonie by the common Law For the statute of West 1. hath ordained That they which be taken for the burning of a house feloniously done be not repleuisable 11. H. 7. 1 And if one do burne a barne feloniously in the night which is adioining to a dwelling house it is felony by the common law Felony in indictors to discouer their counsell 15 If an indictor which with others hath indicted other persons of Felony do therin discouer the kings counsell contrary to his oath 27. Ass p. 63 Fit cor 272 in publishing to others that he and his companions haue indicted such and such persons this discouery is felony S. Treason 9. Rescuing of a prisoner felony 16 If an offendor be arrested or imprisoned for felony or attainted of felony 1. H. 7. 6 and a stranger will take him out of the possession of him that did arrest him or kéepe him in prison or will take a felon attainted and condemned to die out of the possession of the Shirife or his Officers whereby he escapeth this rescous is felony as well in him that made the rescous as in him that is rescued And if a stranger do rescue one that is indicted of felony he may be indicted and arraigned therof presently before the principall felony be tried 1. E. 3. 17. if he be found guilty he shal be perpetually imprisoned or otherwise punished at the K. pleasure but shall not be hanged because the principall felon is not tried S. Breaking of Prison 5. 10 Wilfull escape is felony 17 When a man doth arrest another for felony or any other crime after let him go at liberty whither he will 9. H. 4. 1 this letting him at liberty is a wilfull escape and if the arrest of him that escaped was for felony it shall be adiudged felony in him that did let him escape and if it were for treason then it shall be adiudged treason and if but for trespas it shal be adiudged trespas Goods stolne from him that hath the custody of them 18 If a man do deliuer cloth to a tailor to make him a garment Kel fol. 70. a felon doth steale that cloth out of the possession of the taylor the offendor may be indited for the stealing of that cloth of the goods of the taylor for the taylor had possession of the cloth and property also against all others sauing against him that deliuered it vnto him Goods stolne from a felon 19 If a Felon do steale another mans horse beast or other goods 13. Ed. 4. 3. 4. H. 7. 5 another Felon doth steale the same frō him the owner of the same horse beast or other goods may haue an appeale against the first or second Felon at his own choice for the property of the goods did alwaies remain in him for no felon can by the Law clayme property in any stolne goods 22. Ass p. 91 20 Larceny cannot be committed by taking of sauage beasts found in their wildnesse as Déere Pigeons Hawks Of what things Larcenie may be committed of what not nor by taking of doues found out of a douecoat nor by taking of fish in a riuer for such taking is not the stealing of the goods of another séeing that they be no mans goods neither can any person claime propertie in them neither can felonie bee committed in the taking of Apes Hounds Thrushes Squirels or such domesticall things kept only for pleasure and that but of some speciall persons and profitable to none Neither is the taking of Pheasants Partridges or Conies being fowles and things of warrein felony 18. Ed. 4. 8. But it is felonie if a man do take out of another mans douecoat yong pigeons which can neither go nor flie for that the propertie of them is alwayes in him who is owner of the douecoat And likewise it is felonie to take yong Goshawks or yong Herons bréeding in a parke or seueral ground which can neither go nor flie out of their nests Or to take fish out of a pond or trunk or to take Swannes Peacocks Turkies Cayons Géese or Ducks Or to take a Stag 18. H. 8. 2 Hind Bucke or Doe which is marked and domesticall and made tame by the owners diligence St. 3. E. 1. 20. And by the stat of West 1. it is felonie to take a tame beast or other thing in a parke by maner of robberie And it is felonie to kill shéepe and take their skinnes or to pull wooll from shéeps backs So that in all the cases aforesaid the thing so taken or stolne do excéed the value of twelue pence 12. Ass p. 32 18. H. 8. 2 Fit cor 256 21 The taking away of another mans goods to make it felonie Felony must be of personall goods not of things reall must be of personall things for if it
the house fearing that they will enter his house and rob him doth cast out vnto them mony or plate which the felons do take and then depart this is robbery for it is in construction of the law taken from the person of a man and for feare 9. E. 4. 26. 29 If one lye in the high way to rob passengers Robbery in will but not in déed and draweth his sword against a man that trauelleth the same way and commaundeth him to deliuer his purse whereupon the same party encountreth him is too strong for him and apprehendeth him or leuieth Huy and Cry and the offendor is thereby taken yet this is no Robberie nor Felony for there was no act done though there was an intent and will to robbe Quia voluntas non reputabitur pro facto 30 Burglary is What is Burglary when one or more persons do in the time of peace breake a house a Church a Wall a Tower or Gatehouse in the night with a felonious intent to robbe kill a man or commit some other Felonie for the which Burglarie the offendor shal be hanged Fit cor 264 22. Ass p. 95 though he take nothing away But that breaking of the house must bee to commit some Felonie For if the offendor be indicted for the breaking of a house to beat some person that is but Trespas 13. H. 4. 8 but if it be to kill another then it is Felony And if a man bée indicted for the breaking of a Close to kill or robbe another it is not Burglarie 1. M. Dy. 99. 31 If a man doe breake a house and doe not enter into it Breaking a house but not entring then it is no Burglarie for a man was indicted Quod burglaritèr fregit ecclesiam in nocte intrauit ad depraedandum bona parochianorum in eadem existentur sed nihil abstulit and this was adiudged Burglary for that the party indicted did enter 32 Burglary cannot be committed in the day but in the night No Burglary in the day for all the indictments of Burglary be Noctantèr fregit St. 39. El. 15. for though by the statute of 39. Eliz. the benefit of Clergie is taken away from any person conuicted for the felonious taking away in the day time of any money or goods of the value of fiue shillings or vpwards in any dwelling house or out-house although no person shal be in the same at the time of the said felony committed and so that offenceis made as penall as Burglary by the losse of the benefite of Clergie yet is it not Burglary for it may be committed in the day time the penaltie of loosing of his Clergy is not inflicted vnlesse the money or goods taken away be of the value of fiue shillings or vpwards Breaking a dwelling house where no person is 33 If a man hath a mansion house Co. li. 4. 40. and he and his family doth vpon some cause goe forth of the house and in the meane time one doth come and breake the house in the night to commit felony this is Burglary For although the owner nor any of his family were in the house yet it is his mansion house for the words of an appeale or indictment of Burglarie be Domum mansionalem ipsius A. B. fregit And in like sort if a man haue two houses and doth inhabite sometime in one of them and some other time in another and hath a familie or seruants in them both and in the night when the seruants be out of the house felons doe breake the house this is Burglarie for that the house is broken ⧠Felonies by Statute ANd now hauing expressed which bee felonies by the common Law it resteth that I declare which be felonies by Statute with the reasons and causes why the same statutes were made so farre as I may be warranted by the same statutes And as in Treasons I began with those Treasons which did concerne the K. and his chiefe magistrates of iustice So in reporting of such lawes and statutes as haue béene made for the supply of some defects at the common Law I will begin with a statute which indeuoreth to restraine such as practise or confederat to destroy the king or his chiefe officers attending on his person or estate 1 For as much as by quarrels made to such as haue béene in great authority office and of counsell with the kings of this Realme hath ensued the destruction of the kings and thereby the vndoing of this Realme so as it hath appeared euidently when compassing of the death of such as were of the kings true subiects was had the destruction of the prince was imagined therby and for the most part it hath growne and béene occasion by enuie and mallice of the kings owne houshold seruants And for that by the lawes of this land if actuall déeds were not had there was no remedy for such false compassings imaginations and confederacies had against any lord or any of the kings Councell or any of the kings great Officers in his houshold or Steward Treasurer Controller and so great inconueniences did ensue because such vngodly demeanor was not straitly punished before that an actuall déed was done for the remedy whereof by a statute made An. 3. H. 7. 14. Conspiring to destroy the king or any lord c. it was ordained St. 3. H. 7. 14. That the Steward Treasurer and Controller of the kings house for the time being or one of them shall haue full authority and power to enquire by xij sad men and discréet persons of the Checke Roll of the kings honourable houshold if any seruant admitted to be his seruant sworne and his name put into the Checke Roll of houshold whatsoeuer he be seruing in any maner office or roome reputed had and taken vnder the estate of a lord make any confederacies compassings conspiracies or imaginations with any person or persons to destroy or murder the king or any lord of this realme or any other person sworne to the kings Councell Steward Treasurer Controller of the kings house that if it be found afore the said steward for the time being by the said xij men that any such of the kings seruants as is abouesaid hath confedered compassed conspired or imagined as abouesaid that he so found by the inquiry be put thereupon to answere And the Steward Treasurer and Controller or two of them haue power to determine the same matter according to the law And if he be put in triall that then it be tried by other xij sad men of the same houshold Challenge And that such misdoers haue no challenge but for mallice And if such misdoers be found guilty by confession or otherwise that the said offence be iudged felony and they to haue iudgement and execution as felons attainted ought to haue by the common law 2 For that vnlawfull and forcible violence and also detestable aduowtrie were committed in
the rauishment of women Rauishment of a woman therefore by the stat of West 2. St. 13. E. 1. 33 it was enacted That if any man from henceforth rauish any woman maried maid or other woman where she doth not consent neither before nor after he shall haue iudgement of life of member and likewise where a man rauisheth a woman married lady damsell or other with force although she consent afterward he shal haue such iudgement as before is said if he be attainted at the K. suit for the K. shall haue the suit Abusing a woman vnder x. yeres of age 3 By a stat made An. 18. El. it was ordained St. 18. El. 6 That if any person shall vnlawfully carnally know abuse any woman child vnder the age of x. yeares euery such vnlawfull carnall knowledge shal be felony the offendor thereof being duly conuicted shall suffer as a felon without allowance of clergy The forf for consenting to a rape 4 By a statute made An. 6. R. 2. 6. it was ordained St. 6. R. 2. 6. That wheresoeuer and whensoeuer ladies daughters and other women be rauished and after such rape do consent to such rauishers that as wel the rauishers as they that be rauished euery of them be froÌ„ henceforth disabled by the same déed vnabled to haue or challenge heritage dower or ioint feoffemeÌ„t after the death of their husbands and auncestors and that incontinently in this case the next of the blood of those rauishers or of them that be rauished to whom such heritage dower or ioint feoffemeÌ„t ought to reuert remaine or fall after the death of the rauisher or of her that is so rauished shall haue title incontinently that is to say after the rape to enter vpon the rauisher or her that is rauished and their assignes and land tenants in the same heritage dower or ioynt feoffement and the same to hold in a state of heritage and that the husbands of such women if they haue husbands or if they haue no husbands in life that then the fathers or other next of their bloud haue from henceforth the suit to pursue and may sue against the same offendors and rauishors in this behalfe And to haue them thereof conuict of life and of member although the same women after such rape do consent to the said rauishers And further it is accorded that the def in this case shall not be receiued to wage battell but that the truth of the matter be thereof tried by inquisition of the countrey sauing alwayes to our soueraign lord the K. and to other lords of the said realme al their escheats of the said rauishers if peraduenture they be thereof conuict A woman rauished conâ—eiued with child By the opinion of Britton Britton if a woman at the time of the supposed rape doe conceiue with child by the rauisher this is no rape because a woman cannot conceiue with child if she doe not consent It is a good plea in an appeale of Rape to say that before the rauishment supposed Bracton he kept and vsed the plaintife as a Concubine Or to plead A Concubine that though he lay with her yet he did not carnally know her for that is the force of the declaration in an appeale of Rape T. 9. E. 4. 26 If a man shal be charged with a Rape by the way of indictmeÌ„t or otherwise he ought to be charged expressely by this word Rapuit and not by any other words This word Rapuit necessary in an indictment notwithstanding they doe amount to as much as this word Rapuit doth as carnaliter cognouit or such like S. Appeales 81. 85. St. 3. H. 7. 2 5 By a statute made Anno 3. H. 7. it is ordained Taking a woman against her will That if any person or persons shall take any maid widdow or wife which hath any lands or goods or is heire apparant to her auncestor against her will vnlawfully such taking procuring and abbetting to the same and also receiuing wittingly the same woman so taken against her will and knowing the same shal be felony and such misdoers takers and procurers to the same and receiuers knowing the offence in forme aforesaid shal be reputed and iudged as principal felons But this act doth not extend to any person taking any woman onely clayming her as his ward or bondwoman St. 39. El. 9. And by a statute made An. 39. El. it was enacted That all and euery such person persons as shall be conuicted or attainted for any offence made felony by the said act of 3. H. 7. or which shal be indicted or arraigned of or for any such offence and stand mute or make no direct answer or challenge peremptorily aboue the number of twenty shal in euery such case loose his and their benefit of clergy No Clergy allowed and shall suffer paines of death without clergy any former law c. notwithstanding Prouided alwaies That this act shall not extend to take away the benefit of Clergy but onely from such person and persons as hereafter shal be principals or procurers or accessaries before such offence committed St. 8. El. 3. 6 By a statute made AnnÌ„ 8. El. it was enacted Transporting of shéepe That no person or persons shall bring deliuer send receiue or take or procure to bee brought deliuered sent or receiued into any shippe or bottome any Rammes Shéepe or Lambes or any other kind of Sheepe being aliue to be conueyed out of any of the Quéenes dominions vpon paine that euery such person his aidors abbettors procurors and comforters shall for his first offence forfeit all his goods for euer to the Quéene and Informer that will sue for them in any Court of Record wherein no W. E. P. c. And further euery such offendor shall suffer imprisonment one whole yeare without baile or mainprise and at the yeares end shall in some market Towne in the fulnesse of the Market on the Market day haue his left hand cut off and that to be nailed vpon the openest place of such Market The second offence felony And euery person eftsoones offending against this statute shal be iudged a felon and shal suffer death as in cases of felony But this act shall not extend to any corruption of blood or be preiudiciall to any women claiming dower by or from any such offendor And the Iustices of Oyer Determiner Iust of Gaole deliuery and I. of P. in euery Countie and Shire within this Realme of England and Wales and other the Qu. Dominions shall haue full power and authoritie by vertue of this Act to enquire of euery offendor and offendors contrary to the forme and effect of this act and to heare and determine euery offence and offences committed done contrary to the forme and effect of the same according to the course of the laws of this Realme 7 For as much as
Sorcery whereby any person shall be killed destroyed wasted consumed pyned or lamed in his or her body Lex Athelstani 6. or any part thereof then euery such offendor or offendors their aydors abbettors and counsellors being of any the said offences duely and lawfully conuicted and attainted shall suffer paines of death as a felon or felons and shall loose the priuiledge and benefite of Clergie and Sanctuarie If any person or persons shall take vpon him or them by witchcraft Finding of treasure inchantment charme or sorcerie to tell or declare in what place any treasure of gold or siluer should or might be found or had in the earth or other secret places Or where goods or things lost or stollen should be found or become Declaring where goods lost should be found Prouoking to loue Destroying of any person or cattell Or to the intent to prouoke any person to vnlawfull loue Or whereby any cattell or goods of any person shal be destroyed wasted or impaired or to hurt or destroy any person in his or her bodie although the same be not effected and done Then all and euery such person and persons so offending and beeing thereof lawfully conuicted shall for the said offence suffer imprisonment by the space of one whole yeare without baile or mainprise and once in euery quarter of the said yeare shall in some market towne vpon the market day or at such time as any Faire shal be kept there stand openly vpon the Pillorie by the space of sixe houres and there shall openly confesse his or her error or offence If any person or persons being once conuicted of the same offences as is aforesaid doe eftsoones perpetrate and commit the like offence then euery such offendor being of any the said offences the second time lawfully and duly conuicted and attainted as is aforesaid shall suffer paines of death as a felon or felons and shall loose the benefite and priuiledge of Clergie and Sanctuarie sauing to the wife of such person as shall offend in any thing contrarie to this Act her title of Dower and also to the heire and successor of euery such person his and their title of inheritance succession and other rights as though no such attainder of the auncestor or predecessor had béene made Prouided alwayes That if the offendor in any the cases aforesaid shall happen to bee a Péere of the Realme then his triall therein to bee had by his Péeres as it is vsed in cases of Felony or Treason and not otherwise Hunting with Visors 30 By a Statute made Anno 1. H. 7. St. 1. H. 7. 7 it was ordained That at euery such time as any information shall be made of any vnlawfull hunting by night or with painted faces in Forrest Parke or Warren to any of the Kings Councell or to any Iustice of Peace of the Countie where such hunting shall be of any person suspected thereof It shall bee lawfull to any of the same Councell or Iustice of Peace to whom such information shall bee made to make a Warrant to the Shirife or to any Constable Baylife or other Officer of the same County to arrest and take the same person to haue him before the maker of the same Warrant or any other of the Kings councell or Iustice of Peace of the same Countie And the Counsellor or Iustice before whom such person shall bee brought shall haue power to examine him of the said hunting and of the doers thereof and if he conceale the offence or any offendor it is felony and if he confesse the truth and all that he shall be examined of and knoweth in that behalfe then the offence of hunting by him done shall be against the King but trespas fineable to be assessed at the next generall Sessions by the Iustices there And if any Rescous Rescous or disobedience be made to any person hauing authority to doe execution or iustice by any such warrant by any person which should be arrested so that execution of the same warrant be not had then the same rescous and disobedience shal be felony and the same felony shall be enquired of and determined as other felonies béene Twelue or aboue assembled together to change any law 31 By a Statute made Anno 1. Ma. 1. Eliz. it was ordained St. 1. M. 12 St. 1. El. 16 That if any persons to the number of twelue or aboue being assembled together shall intend goe about practise or put in vre with force of armes vnlawfully and of their owne authority to alter or change any lawes made or established for Religion by authoritie of Parliament which stand in force or any other Lawes or Statutes of this Realme or any of them the same number being commaunded or required by the Shirife of the Shire or by any Iustice of Peace of the same Shire or by the Mayor Shirife Iustices of Peace or Baylifes of any Citie Borough or Towne Corporate where any such assemblies shall be vnlawfully had or made by proclamation in the Quéenes name to retire and repaire to their owne houses and habitations or places from whence they came And they or any of them notwithstanding such proclamation shall remaine and make their abode or continue together by the space of one whole houre after such commaundement or request made by proclamation or after that shall willingly in forcible and riotous manner attempt to doe or put in vre any things aboue specified then as well euery such abode or continuing together as euerie such act or offence that after such commaundement or request by proclamation had or made shall bée attempted to bée done practised or put in vre by any persons being of the number aforesaid shall be adiudged Felonie in all and singular those persons that so shall make their abode and continue together or shall attempt or commit any such act And the offendors therein shall be adiudged Felons and shall suffer onely execution of death as in case of Felony If any persons to the sayd number of twelue or aboue shall intend Practising to destroy parks ponds conduits goe about practise or put in vre in manner and forme aforesayd to ouerthrow cut breake cast downe or digge vp the pales hedges ditches or other inclosure of any Parkes or Parke or other ground inclosed or the bankes of any Fish Pond or Poole or any Conduits for water Conduit heads or Conduit pipes hauing course for water to the intent that the same or any of them from henceforth should remaine open not inclosed or voyd Or vnlawfully to haue common or way in the sayd Parkes or Parke or other grounds or ground inclosed or in any of them or to destroy in manner and forme aforesayd the Déere in any Parkes or Parke or any Warreins or Warrein of Conies or any Doue-houses or any Fish in any Fish ponds or Poole or to pull or cut downe any Houses Barnes Mills or Bayes or to burne any stackes of corne or
graine or to abate or diminish the Rents or yearely value of any Mannors Lands or Tenements or the price of any victuals corne or graine or any other thing vsuall for the sustenance of men and béeing required and commaunded by any Iustice of Peace or by the Sherife of the Countie or by the Maior Bailife or Bailifs or other head Officers of any Citie or Towne Corporat where such assembly shall bee had by Proclamation to bée made in the Quéenes name to retire or returne in peaceable manner to their places and houses from whence they came and they or any of them notwithstanding such Proclamation shall remaine or make their abode or continue together by the space of one whole houre after such commaundement or request made by Proclamation or after shall in that forcible manner doe or put in vre any of these things last before mentioned then as well euerie such abode or continuing together as euerie such act that after such commaundement or request by Proclamation had or made shall bée done practised or put in vre by any persons béeing aboue the number of twelue shall bee adiudged Felonie and the offendors therein shall be adiudged Felons and shall suffer onely execution of death as in case of Felonie If any person or persons vnlawfully and without authoritie Raising of vnlawful assemblies by some act or words by ringing of any Bell or Bells sounding of any Trumpet Drumme Horne or other instrument whatsoeuer or by firing of any Beacon or by malitious speaking or vttering of any words or making of any outcrye or by setting vp or casting of any bills or bill or writing whatsoeuer or by any other déed or act shall raise or cause to bée raysed or assembled any persons to the number of twelue or aboue to the intent that the same persons should doe or put in vre any of the acts or things abouesaid and that the persons to the number of twelue or aboue so raysed and assembled after request or commaundement had or giuen in forme aforesayd shall make their abode or continue together as is aforesayd or vnlawfully and in forcible manner perpetrate doe commit or put in vre any of the acts or things abouesayd then all and singular persons by whose speaking déed act or any other the meanes aboue specified any persons to the number of twelue shall bée raysed or assembled for the doing committing or putting in vre any of the acts or things aboue mentioned shall bée adiudged for his so speaking or doing a Felon and shall suffer execution of death as in case of Felonie Reléeuing them which be assembled If any wife or seruant of any of the same persons or any other person whatsoeuer shall willingly and without compulsion bring send deliuer or conuey any Money Harneyes Artillerie Weapons Meat Bread Drinke or other Victuall to any person or persons so being assembled as is aforesayd during such time as hée or they shall bee so assembled together in forcible manner as is aforesaid then euerie wise seruant or other person so bringing or conueying c. any of the foresayd things to the same persons so béeing assembled together in forcible manner or to any of them and not departing to their houses or dwelling places vpon request or commaundement made vnto them as is aforesaid shal be adiudged a felon and shall suffer execution of death as in case of felonie Vnlawful assembly by xl and more If any persons to the number of fortie or more shall assemble together in forcible manner vnlawfully and of their owne authoritie to the intent to execute doe or put in vre any of the things aboue specified or to do other felonious or rebellious act or acts and so shall continue together by the space of thrée houres after Proclamation shall bée made at or nigh the place where they shall bée so assembled or in some Market Towne thereunto next adioyning and after notice thereof to them giuen then euerie person so willingly assembled in forcible maner and so continuing together by the space of thrée houres after such Proclamation made and notice thereof giuen shal be adiudged a felon S. Riots c. 32. c. 32 By the Statute made Anno 39. Eliz. it was enacted St. 39. El. 17 That all idle and wandring Souldiers or Mariners Wandring souldiers and mariners or idle persons which now are or hereafter shall bée wandring as Souldiers or Mariners shall settle themselues in some seruice labour or other lawfull course of life without wandring or otherwise repaire to the places where they were borne or to their dwelling places if they haue any and there remaine betaking themselues to some lawfull trade or course of life vpon payne that all persons offending contrarie to this Act to bée reputed as Felons and to suffer as in case of Felonie without any benefit of Cleargie to bee allowed And euerie idle and wandring Souldier or Mariner which comming from his Captaine from the Seas or from beyond the Seas shall not haue a Testimoniall vnder the hand of some one Iustice of Peace of or néere the place where hee landed setting downe therein the place and time where and when hée landed and the place of his dwelling or birth vnto which he is to passe as aforesaid and a conuenient time therein limited for his passage or hauing such testimoniall shall wilfully excéed the time therein limited aboue fouretéene dayes And also as well euerie such idle and wandring Souldier or Mariner as euerie other idle person wandring as a Souldier or Mariner which shall at any time hereafter forge or counterfeit any such Testimoniall Forging a Testimoniall or haue with him or them any such Testimoniall forged or counterfeited as aforesayd knowing the same to bée counterfeited or forged in all these cases euerie such act or acts to bée Felonie and the offendors to suffer as aforesayd without any benefit of Clergie It shall and may bée lawfull for the Iustices of Assises Iustices of Gaole deliuerie and Iustices of Peace of euerie Countie and for all Iustices of Peace in Townes Corporat hauing authoritie to heare and determine Felonies to heare and determine all such offences in their generall Sessions and to execute the offendors which shall bée conuicted before them as in cases of Felonie is accustomed Except some honest person Retaining an offendor into seruice valued at the last Subsidie next before that time to tenne pounds in goods or fortie shillings in lands or else some honest Freeholder as by the sayd Iustices shall bee allowed will bee contented before such Iustices as such person shall bee arraigned of Felonie to take him or them into his seruice for one whole yeare then next following and before the sayd Iustices will bee bound in Recognisaunce of tenne pounds to bee leuied of his lands goods tenements and cattels to the vse of the King if hée kéepe not the sayd person or persons for one whole yeare and bring him
to the next Sessions for the Peace and Gaole deliuerie next ensuing after the sayd yeare And if any such person retained depart within the yeare Departing without licēce without the licence of him that so retained him then to be indicted tried and iudged as a felon and not to haue the benefit of his Clergie 33 By a Statute made Anno 31. Elizab. St. 31. El. 4. it was established Imbeciling the K. Armor c. That if any person or persons hauing at any time hereafter the charge or custodie of any Armour Ordnance Munition Shot Powder or Habiliments of Warre of the Quéenes her heires or successors or of a Victuals prouided for the victualing of any Souldiers Gunners Mariners or Pioners shall for any lucre or gaine or wittingly aduisedly and of purpose to hinder or impeach her Maiesties seruice imbecile purloyne or conuey away any the same Armour Ordnance Munition Shot or Powder Habiliments of Warre or Victuals to the value of twentie shillings at one or seuerall times then euerie such offence shall bée adiudged Felonie and the offendor and offendors therein to be tried procéeded on and suffer as in case of Felonie The suit within a yere after the offence But none shall bée impeached for any offence against this Statute vnlesse the same impeachment bée prosecuted or begun within a yeare next after the offence done And this Act nor any attainder or attainders of any person or persons for any offence made felonie by this Act shall in any wise extend or bée interpreted to make the offendor or offendors to forfeit any lands tenements or hereditaments any longer than during his or their life or liues or to make any corruption of blood to any the heire or heires of any such offendor or offendors No corruptiō of blood or forf of dower or to make the wife of any such offendor to loose or forfeit her dower or title of dower of or in any lands tenements or hereditaments or her action or interest to the same Proofe in discharge of the offendor any thing in this Act c. notwithstanding And such person or persons as shall be impeached for any offence made felonie by this Statute shall by vertue of this Act bee receiued and admitted to make any lawfull proofe that hée can by lawfull witnesse or otherwise for his discharge and defence in that behalfe any law c. notwithstanding Cutting downe of Powdike 34 By a Statute made Anno 22. H. 8. and reuiued Anno 2. 3. St. 22. H. 8. Ph. Mar. it was ordained That euerie peruerse and malitious cutting downe and breaking vp of any part or parts of the dike called new Powdike in Marshland in the Countie of Norffolke and the broken dike otherwise called Oldfield dike by Marshland in the isle of Ely in the Countie of Cambridge or of any other banke béeing parcell of the Rinde and vttermost part of the causey of Marshland aforesaid made for the defence and saluation of the sayd countrey of Marshland at euerie time and times from henceforth committed and done otherwise than in working of the sayd bankes or dykes for the fortifying repayring and amending of the same shall bee taken reputed and adiudged Felonie And the offendors and doers of the same and euerie of them shall bée adiudged and reputed felons And the Iustices of Peace of the sayd Counties of Norffolke and Cambridge within the sayd isle at euerie of their Sessions within the same isle and Counties to be kept shall haue power to cause inquirie to bée made of euerie such offence so at any time in forme aforesayd hereafter to bée done and committed and to award like Proces against euerie of the sayd offendors with like iudgement and execution of the same if they or any of them bée found guiltie by verdict or otherwise as the sayd Iustices haue vsed to do vpon other felonies being felonie by the common law Taking the othe for the Kings title 35 By a Statute made Anno 3. Iac. 4. it was enacted St. 3. Iac. 4. That euerie subiect of this Realme that after the tenth day of Iune next comming shall goe or passe out of this Realme to serue any forreine Prince State or Potentate or shall after the sayd tenth day of Iune passe ouer the Seas and there shall voluntarily serue any such forreine Prince State or Potentate not hauing before his or their going or passing taken the othe viz. That our Soueraigne Lord King Iames is lawfull and rightfull King of this Realme c. before the officer thereunto appointed shall be a felon And if any Gentleman or person of high degrée or any person or persons which hath borne or shall beare any office or place of Captaine Lieutenant or any other place charge or office in Campe Armie or Companie of Souldiers or Conductor of Souldiers shall after go or passe voluntarily out of this Realme to serue any such forrein Prince State or Potentat before that he and they shal become bound with two such suerties as shall be allowed of by the officers by this Act limited to take the said bond vnto the K. his heires or successors in the summe of xx.l. of currant English money at the least bound not to be reconciled nor to make conspiracie with condition to the effect following he shall be a felon viz. That if the within bounden c. shal not at any time thē after be recōciled to the pope or sea of Rome nor shal enter into or consent vnto any practise plot or conspiracie whatsoeuer against the Kings Maiestie his heires and successors or any of his or their estate and estates realms and dominions but shall within cōuenient time after knowledge therof had reueale disclose to the K. Maiestie his heires and successors or some of the Lords of his or their priuie Counsell all such practises plots and conspiracies then the said Obligation to be void St. 43. El. 13 36 By the stat made Anno 43. El. it was ordained Forcible carrying any person out of Cumberland c. That whosoeuer shall at any time hereafter without lawfull authoritie take away any of the K. subiects against his or their will or wils and carrie them out of the counties of Cumberland Northumberland Westmerland and the Bishopricke of Durham or to any other place within any of the said Counties or detaine force or imprison him or them as prisoners or against his or their wills to ransome them or to make a prey or spoyle of his or their person or goods vpon deadly fewd or otherwise Or whosoeuer shal be priuie consenting aiding or assisting to any such taking detaining or carrying away of any such person or persons as aforesaid Or whosoeuer shall take receiue or carrie to the vse of himselfe or wittingly to the vse of any other any money corne cattell or other consideration commonly called Blacke mayle for the protecting or defending of him or
attainted by Outlawrie to whom he is appealed or indicted as accessorie without hauing regard to the residue 41 To haue Processe awarded against the Enquest for the triall of the accessorie it is requisite that the attainder of the principall be in the same sute The attainder must be in the same sute in the which he and the accessorie be sued for if he be attainted in another sute that shall not enforce the accessorie to procéede with his Enquest vntill the principall which is sued with him doth appéere or be attainted by processe of outlawrie c. As in appeale of homicide against the principall and accessorie 7. H. 4. 36 and the principall before that time is attainted of the death of the same man vpon an indictment at the Kings sute And the accessory shall pleade for his owne discharge the acquitall of the principall in an other sute so that it be an acquitall for that offence for the which he is charged as accessorie 7. H. 4. 27 42 If the principall be attainted of the death of a man and then dieth The principall attainted and dieth and the Iustices before whom the accessorie is sued haue the record of the same attainder before them then they may procéede against the accessorie otherwise not for it doth by the Record appéere vnto them that hée which was appealed of the fact is by Lawe attainted of felonie according to the foresaid Statute of Westminster 1. though he was not executed therefore The principall standeth mute 43 And though the Lawe be Fit Cor. 58 that an Enquest shall not procéede against the accessorie to trie him vntill the principall doe appeare or be attainted by outlawrie yet if the principall doe appeare and will say nothing but stand mute the accessorie shall be arraigned Sed quaere for the principall is not attainted of felonie Error in the Attainder of the principall 44 If the Attainder of the principall be erronious 2. R. 3. 22. yet the accessorie shall be arraigned for the accessory shall take no aduantage of any errour committed in the attainder of the principall An absured accessorie returneth 45 If one do abiure as accessory and after doth returne againe Fi. Cor. 124 the principall not being attainted the accessorie shall be hanged for that he hath confessed the felonie before the Coroner and did returne without the Kings pardon or licence The accessory tried vpon his owne request 46 If the accessory of his owne desire wil wage battel before the principal be attainted and be subdued therein Fit Cor. 12 or will desire to haue an Enquest to try him before the principall be attainted and be found guiltie therefore In both these Cases he shall be hanged though by the Lawe he was not compellable to either of the said trialles vntill the principall had béene attainted for hée hath aduentured his life in hope to gaine his libertie 47 If the principall be found not guilty The principall found not guiltie by verdict Bracton the accessorie shall be discharged thereby for where there is no déeâ—e there can no force ayde or commaundement hurt in that the intended iniury tooke no effect So that the acquitall of the principall is in Lawe the acquitall of the accessorie The principall dieth in prison before attainder 48 If the principall can not be tried as if he die in prison before he be attainted of the felonie the accessorie shall be thereby discharged for there can none be found accessorie to a felonie Co. l. 4. 43 where there is none attainted to commit the same felonie But otherwise it is if the principall be attainted of the felonie and dieth there the accessorie shall be arraigned and hanged if he be found guiltie The principall attainted of an other felonie 49 If the principall be attainted of another felonie and hanged Fi. Cor. 378. before he is attainted of this felonie whereof he and the accessorie be indicted the accessorie to this felonie shall be discharged thereby And the same Lawe is if hee be attainted of the first felonie though he be not hanged because in that case after attainder he shall not answer to other felonies but onely to robberie and treason The principall slew the paâ—tie in his owne defence 50 If it be found by verdict that the principall slew him Fi. Cor. 116 of whose death he is arraigned in his owne defence the accessory shal be therby discharged And yet the principall shall be enforced to purchase his pardon But this pardon prooueth not that he is guilty in other maner than in his owne defence Notwithstanding in an other pardon it is otherwise for if a principall pleade his pardon to a felony generally without any special matter found which should cause the pardon 2. Ed. 3. 27 Fi. Cor. 260 3. Ass p. 14 42. Ass p. 16 and is by that discharged yet that will not discharge the Accessorie but he shall be hanged if he be found guiltie of the felonie for by that pardon the felony is confessed of the which felonie he praieth to be discharged by the Kings fauour and not by the benefit of lawe as he doth in the other case 3. H. 7. 12 10. H. 4. 5 13. Ed. 4. 3 Bro. Cor. 184 51 And in the like case and vpon the same reason The principall hath his clergie if the principall and accessorie be arraigned of felonie and both be found guilty and the principall doth pray and hath the benefit of his clergie yet the accessorie shal be hanged for by the praying of his clergie the felonie is confessed and the principall in this case is not saued by his innocencie but by a priuiledge in Lawe which the accessorie being no clarke cannot take the benefit of But it is otherwise if there be principall and accessorie and the principall is pardoned or hath his Clergie before iudgement Co. l. 4. 43 the accessorie shall not be arraigned for where there is no fact there is no force and where there is no principall The principall is pardoned or hath his clergie before iudgemeÌ„t there can be no accessorie and no man can be accompted principall before it be so prooued and adiudged by the Lawe and that must be by a iudgement vpon a verdict confession or outlawrie and it is not sufficient that indéed there be a principall vntil that appéereth by a iudgemeÌ„t in Law And the acceptance of pardon or the praying of his clergy is an argumeÌ„t but no iudgement in law that he is guiltie But if the principal after attainder be pardoned or hath his clergie alowed the accessory shal be arraigned and hanged if he be found guiltie for it doth appeare iudicially that he was principall 41. As p. 24 52 The acquitall of the principall is the acquitall of the accessorie as is asaide if it be not in an appeale where the accessorie is to recouer
Notice must be giuen of the robberie shal haue or maintaine any action or take any benefite by vertue of the saide two mentioned Statutes or either of them except the saide person or persons so robbed shall with as much conuenient spéede as may be giue notice and intelligence of the same felonie or robberie so committed vnto some of the inhabitants of some Towne Village or Hamlet neare vnto the place where any such robberie shall be committed Nor shall bring or haue any action vpon or by vertue of any the statutes aforesaide except hée or they shall first within twentie dayes next before such action to be brought be examined vpon his or their corporall Othe to be taken before some one Iustice of the Peace of the Countie where the robberie was committed inhabiting within the said Hundred where the robberie was committed The party robbed examined â— bound to prosecute the offenders or neare vnto the same whether hée or they doe knowe the parties that committed the said robberie or any of them And if vpon such examination it be confessed that he or they doe know the parties that committed the saide robberie or anie of them then he or they so confessing shall before the saide action be commenced or brought enter into sufficient bond by Recognisance before the saide Iustice before whome the saide examination is had effectually to prosecute the same person and persons so knowen to haue committed the saide robbery by indictment or otherwise according to the due course of the Lawes of this Realme 15 Because the inhabitants of the Hundred of Benherst in the countie of Berke consisting onely vpon fiue small villages and three hamlets and hauing in it two great road waies of three miles in length at the least through the Thicket haue béene ouercharged by seuerall Braunches of the said Statute of Anno 27. Eli. 13. In reformation thereof by a Statute made anÌ„ 39. Elizab. St. 39. E. 2â— it was enacted That the inhabitants of the Hundred of Benherst alias Beinersh within the Countie of Berke shall and may to their owne proper vse A remedy for the inhabitaÌ„ts of Benherst in Barkshire in the name of the Clerke of the Peace of the said Countie of Berke recouer haue and leuie all such summes of money costs and dammages as hereafter shall be recouered or leuied of or against them by the foresaide Statutes or any of them against the inhabitants and resiants of euery or any such Hundred with the franchises within the precincts thereof wherein negligence fault or defect of such pursute and fresh sute as by the said Statute of 27. Elizab. is appointed to be made shall happen to be after notice giuen or huy and crie brought to the saide inhabitants or resiants or any of them of or vpon any robberies which shall be at any time héereafter done within the saide Hundred of Beinersh And this present Act shal giue as full power and authoritie in all respects to the inhabitants of the saide Hundred of Benherst in the name of the Clerke of the Peace of the saide Countie for recouerie hauing and leuying of all the saide money costs and dammages as aforesaide as the aforesaide Statute of 27. Elizab. gaue or intended to giue for the recouerie of a moitie or one halfe thereof Prouided alwaies that no such remedie or recouerie shall be had In what cases onely the recouerie shall be had by this Statute for all or the whole summe or summes of money and dammages aforesaide but onely in these two Cases viz. The one where no such notice or intelligence as by the said Statute of 27. Elizab. was appointed to be giuen of euery or any Robberie shall be giuen to the inhabitants of the saide hundred of Benherst alias Beinersh The other where the inhabitants of the same Hundred after such notice of any Robberie to them or some of them giuen or after huy and crie for the same to them brought shall make or cause to be made fresh sute and pursute after the offenders with horsemen and footmen according to the saide Statute of 27. Elizab. and where neuerthelesse the offenders or any or one of them shall not be apprehended within fortie daies after the Robberie committed 16 Two ioynt owners of a sumine of mony P. 24. El. Di. 370. which were robbed by felons vnknowen at A. in the Hundred of B. in the countie of C. brought their action against the inhabitants of the said Hundred of B. and declared that wheras huy and crie was leuied by them and notice there giuen and the felons were not appreheÌ„ded nor descried nor amends made within the six months according to the statute of Winchester whereunto the defendants viz. the inhabitants of the saide Hundred of B. pleaded in barre of the action that immediately vpon the huy and crie leuied they made fresh sute from the said Towne of A. where the robbery was committed thorow their other townes vnto the towne of D. which is next adioyning to the said Hundred and there huy and crie was giuen to the inhabitants of the saide Hundred â—â—rsute wil not serue â—â—thout apprehensioâ— of thâ—â—â—lonâ— or descrying theÌ„ But this maner of pursute was adiudged no excuse according to the meaning of the said statute of Winchester without apprehending or answering of the robbeâ—s or descrying of their names that they might be indicted and outlawed And in this case the plaintifes may ioyne in action because they were ioynt owners of the money But if the summes of money had béene seuerall and they had seuerall properties in them they would not haue ioyned in Action Arresting of him â—hat is pu sued by huy and crie 17 If a man be driuing of cattell and be pursued by huy and crie 29. Ed. 3. 39. the Shirifes Bailiffe or any other may arrest him and the cattell supposed to be stolen and commit them to the Towne where they be apprehended to answer to the King according to the Lawe though the man arrested be not of euill name suspicious nor a stranger in those partes nor indited For the Lawe doth giue that credite to huy and crie that euerie man is a sufficient Bailiffe and officer to apprehend him that is pursued by huy and crie and taken with the thing supposed to be stollen And therefore if one man doe leuie huy and crie vpon an other without cause both the one partie and the other shall be attached to answer it as disturbers of the Peace Appeales WHen a murder manslaughter rape burglarie robberie or other felonie is committed and that the offendor be he principall or accessorie is apprehended by huy and crie or by any other meanes and so by imprisonment or mainprise brought to his answer Or otherwise if he flée and escape when he is so discouered and knowen that Processe may be awarded against him by name to take him and bring him into the Kings court of his answer Then either the
the appeale be fresh and the signe of truth apparant by effusion of blood or an open outcrie leuied But if it be without any manifest token or outcrie two pledges shall suffice Within what time an appeale shal be commenced 33 The before mentioned Statute of Gloucester hath ordained St. 6. Ed. 1. 9 That an appeale shall not be abated for default of fresh sute where a man doth sue within a yéere and a day after the déede done These words of the Statute be generall not making mention more of an appeale of death than of an appeale of any other felonie But yet conferring them with the other words in the statute they may be intended specialy to extend to an appeale of death and to none other appeale for if a man that is robbed doth make fresh sute 7. H. 4 44. and doe his endeuour to apprehend the felon and vse all his diligence to find him although he doe not commence his appeale two or thrée yeares after the robberie committed yet he may then well pursue it And so in appeale of robberie fresh sute shall be decided by the discretion of the Iustices H. 22. Ed. 4 39. But in an appeale of death it is a good plea for the Defendant to pleade that he of whose death this appeale is pursued died aboue a yeare and a day before the said appeale commenced 34 The words of the foresaid Statute of Gloucester be St. 6. Ed. 1. 9 That a man shall pursue his Appeale within a yeare and day after the déed done From what time the yeare shal haue relation touching an appeale And therefore if one man doe strike another vpon one day and he dieth of the same stroake certaine daies after Co. l. 4. 42 the Appeale shal be commenced within the yeare and day after the death and not within the yeare and day after the stroake giuen for there was no felonie committed vntill the man was dead But yet if one mā doe giue to another a mortall wound in Februarie and the king doth in April next giue pardon to the offendor of all felonies before that time committed Plo. com f. 401 and the partie stricken doth die of the same wound in May following How the K. pardon shal haue relation this pardon shall discharge the offendor because the wound giuen by the offendor was the cause of the felonie the which wound was the offence towards the King and that the king hath pardoned and so thereby the death of the partie and all other things depending vpon the same offence be pardoned 35 Where the words of the Statute of Gloucester be The yere shall haue relation to that offēce That a man shall pursue his Appeale within a year and a day after the deed done St. 6. E. 1. 9. Those words viz. the déed done shal be intended of the felonie whereupon the appeale is commenced for if one be accessorie to another a yeare after the homicide or murder committed 26. Ass p. 52 an appeale shal be pursued against him and yet it is not within the yeare and day after the homicide or murder committed S. Br. 52. St. 3. E. 1. 13 36 It appeareth by Britton and also by the Statute of Westminster 1. that an appeale of Rape ought to be commenced within fourtie daies after the fact done Within what time an appeal of rape shal be commenced But then Rape was but a trespasse which after by the Statute of Westminster 2. was made felonie St. 13. E. 1. 34. In which Statute of Westminster 2. there is no time limited within the which a woman shal be compellable to pursue her Appeale of Rape And therefore it séemeth she is at libertie to bring it when she will so that it be within a reasonable time 18. Ed. 3. 32 37 An appeale ought to be brought in the Countie where the felonie was committed as if it be murder or homicide In what countie an appeale shal be brought where the same murder or homicide was done But if a man be striken in one county and then goeth into another countie and there dieth of the same wound by the common law an appeale may be commenced either in the countie where the stroake was giuen A man strickē in one countie dieth in another or in the countie where the partie stricken did after die and the trial thereof shal be by the Iurors of both the counties 3. H. 7. 12. 4. H. 7. 18. viz. as well of the countie where he was stricken as of the countie where he died And so it was at the plaintifes pleasure to bring his appeale in which of those two coūties he would But since by the Statutes of Anno 2. 3. E. 6. St. 2. 3. E. 6. 24. it is ordained That where any person shal be feloniously stricken or poisoned in one countie and die of the same stroake or poysoning in another countie then an indictment thereof found by Iurors of the countie where the death shall happen whether it be found before the Coroner vpon the sight of such dead bodie or before the Iustices of peace or other Iustices or Commissioners which shall haue authoritie to enquire of such offences shal be as good in law as if the stroake or poysoning had béene committed in the same countie where the partie shall die or where such inditement shal be found And such party to whom appeale of murder shal be giuen by the law may commence take and sue Appeale of murder in the same countie where the partie so feloniously stricken or poysoned shall die as well against the principal and principals as against euery accessorie to the same offences in whatsoeuer countie or place the accessorie shal be guiltie to the same And the Iustices before whom any such appeale shall be commenced sued and taken within the yeare and day after such murder manslaughter committed shall procéede against euery such accessorie in the same countie where such appeale shal be so taken in like manner and forme as if the same offence of accessorie had beene committed in the same countie where such appeale shal be so taken as well by the triall of the Iurors of the countie where such appeale shal be taken vpon the plea of not guiltie pleaded by such offendor Accessories in other offences sauing murder as otherwise But note that no Appeale is giuen by this Statute Stamford nor remedie prouided against accessories in a forreine countie of other felonies sauing for murder or manslaughter but the same is left to the common law In what coūtie an appeale of Rape shall be brought 38 An appeale of Rape ought to be brought in the countie where the Rauishment was done And therefore if a man doe take a woman against her will in one countie and then carrie her into another countie and there doe rauish her the appeale shal be onely commenced in the
countie where the rauishment was committed 3. H. 7. 12. And though shee doe declare of the taking of her in another countie yet it shal be tried onely in the countie where the appeale is brought for the declaring of taking of her in another countie was but surplusage and néeded not to haue béene inserted which doth not cause her count to abate And in this case the woman appellant shall recouer nothing but the defendants death for the felonie which she shall obtaine in respect of his rauishment of her in the countie wherunto he forcibly carried her wherein only the felonie was committed Appeale of Robberie 39 By the same reason if a man doe take another by force in one countie 3. H. 7. 12. and then carrie him into another countie and there robbe him or kill him an appeale of felonie shal be commenced onely in the countie where the robberie or murder was done for the taking and carrying him away out of the first countie was but trespasse and there was no felonie committed vntill the robberie or murder was committed Threatning in one county to bring money into another 40 If one man doe threaten another in one countie that he will kill him if he doe not bring him a summe of money into another countie such a day 44. E. 3. 14 4. H. 4. 3. In this case if he that is threatened doe in respect of that menace carrie and pay the said summe of money to him that threatened him according to his promise in the said other countie this is robberie though the partie néeded not to haue paid the said money according to his promise for that his said promise was by menace and not voluntarie nor vpon cause And there is reason that the appeale of robberie shal be commenced in the countie where the money was paid and not in the countie where the menace was made for the effect and successe of the matter maketh it felonie which is the paiment of the money and not the first cause which was the threatening Goods robbed caried into diuers coūties 41 If a felon commit a robberie in one countie 7. H. 7. 44 4. H. 7. 5. and then carrie the goods stolen into diuers other counties hee that is robbed may haue his appeale of felonie in which of those Counties he will for the felon committeth felonie in euerie of the Counties Co. li. 7. 2. 26. As p. 32. whither he carrieth any of the goods And in which of those Counties the partie robbed doth commence his Appeale of Felony there it shal be tried for the propertie of those goods was alwayes in the first and right owner of them But he that is robbed may commence his Appeale of Robberie onely in that Countie where hee was robbed for there is no robberie done but in that Countie onely But if a man being in one Countie doe procure another man to commit a robberie in another Countie 29. H 8. Dyer 40 which he doth accordingly in this case the partie robbed shall haue his Appeale of Robberie against the said procurer as accessorie to this felonie in the Countie where the procurement was and not where the robberie was committed for there was his felonie committed where he did persuade and procure the robberie to be done 42 He that may pursue an Appeale is at his choyce whether he will haue it by writ Britton or by bill If he pursue it by bill Before Whōe an appeale shal be broght then he must find to the Sherife in the full Countie two sufficient pledges being of the Countie where the felonie was committed and distrainable within the sayd Countie that hee shall prosecute his Appeale according to the law of the Realme and he shal be thereunto receiued And then the Coroner shall enter his Appeale and the names of his pledges 22. As p. 97. and after the Baily of the place where the felonie was committed shall be commaunded that he shall bring the bodies of those that be appealed to the next Countie Court to answer to the plaintife And if the Baily doe answer at the second Countie Court that he cannot find them then it shall bee ordained that they which be principall Appellees of the fact shall bée solemnly commaunded to yéeld to the Kings peace and to appeare and stand to the answer of such a felonie whereof they be appealed And so they shall be demanded from Countie to Countie vntill they do appeare or bee Outlawed And yet because the Statute of Magna Charta hath ordayned That no Sherife Constable St. 9. H. 3. 17 Escheator Coroner or other Bailife of the Kings shall hold plea of the Crowne It is agréed for law that vpon an Appeale commenced before the Sherife and the Coroners although they may award proces against the Appellées vntil the Exigent yet they cannot award the Exigent against the Appellée if he do not appear neither if he do appear they can cause him to answer but onely they may commit him to prison and that by force of the sayd statute of Magna Charta 43 When an appeale is commenced before the Sherife and the Coroners in the countie it may be remooued into the Kings bench by a Certiorari Remoouing an appeale out of the countie which must be awarded out of the Chauncerie or out of the Kings bench and is to be directed to the Sherife and the Coroners which prooueth that an appeale is begunne and of Record as well before the Sherife as before the Coroners according to the Statute of West St. 3. E. 1. 10 1. which hath ordained That the Coroners shall lawfully attach and represent the pleas of the Crowne and that the Sherife shall haue counter-rolles with the Coroners as well of appeals as of Enquests of Attachments or other things that doe belong vnto this office And therefore a Certiorari to remooue an appeale directed to the sherife onely is voyd 4. H. 6. 15 and an appeale of murder may be commenced as well before the Sherife as before the Coroners as it is prooued by these words of the Statute of 3. H. 7. St. 3. H. 7. 1 viz. The wife or heire of the person slaine or murdered as case shal require may commence their appeale in proper person at any time within the yeare after the felonie done before the Shirife and Coroners of the Countie where the said felonie and murder was done or before the King in his Bench or Iustices of Gaole deliuerie 44 An appeale by Bill may be commenced before Iustices of Gaole deliuerie An appeale before Iustices of Gaole deliuerie but then the Appellée at the time of the Appeale begun against him 13. H. 4. 10. 9. H. 4. 2. must be prisoner in the same Gaole whereof those Iustices are to make deliuerie or else such an appeale is not to be receiued Or otherwise one of them at the least against whom and others the
supposed is and was conuersant within the countie whereof the indictment or appeale maketh mention but the like proces shal be made against such indicted or appealed person as hath béene vsed 62 And because after the making of the sayd Statute of Anno 8. H. 6. some intending to defraud the sayd Statute did sue to remooue such appeales and indictments out of the hands of the Iustices or Commissioners aforesayd into the Kings bench and elsewhere by Certiorari or otherwise vnknowne to the partie so indicted and therupon sued the proces vsed at the common law before the making of the said Statute in the Kings Bench and elsewhere after the remoouing therof to the great impouerishment of diuers the kings subiects Therefore by the Statute made Anno 10. H. 6. St. 10. H. 6. 6 it was enacted Proces vpon an indictment or appeale remoued into the K. bench That if any such indictments taken before any Iustices of peace or any other hauing power to take such indictments or appeales or other Iustices or Commissioners in any county franchise or libertie of England shal be remoued into the Kings Bench or elsewhere by Certiorari or otherwise then after such remoouing before any Exigent awarded vpoÌ„ any such indictment or appeal in form aforesaid taken immediatly after the first writ of Capias vpon euery such indictment or appeale awarded and returned another writ of Capias shall bee awarded directed to the Sherife of the countie wherof he that is indicted or appealed is or was supposed to be conuersant by the same indictment or appeale returnable in the K. Bench at a certaine day contayning the space of thrée moneths from the date of the said last writ of Capias according to the maner and forme that the I. of peace and others ought to haue done before such remouing And if any Exigent be awarded vpon any such indictment or appeale after such remouing against the forme aforesaid or any outlawrie thereupon pronounced as wel the same Exigent as the outlawrie and euery of them shal be void In the Appeale he must be supposed to be of a forrein County 63 The foresaid stat of 8. H. 6. doth not take place St. 8. H. 5. 10. but where by the Appeal or by the Indictment it is precisely supposed that the defendant was dwelling in a forrein county for if he be supposed to be dwelling there by an Alià s dictê° it is out of the compasse of the stat 1. E. 4. 1. As in an appeal or indictment in the county of Middlesex against A.B. in comitatu tuo yeoman alias dictum A.B. de C. in comitatu Sussex yeoman Because that which is supposed by the Alià s dictê° is not trauersable nor materiall And likewise it is in an appeale or indictment against I. of S. in comitatu H. nuper de L. in comitatu K. nuper de R. in comÌ„ T. An appellée dwelling in no place certaine 64 If a man be appealed to be dwelling in no place certaine the day of the Appeale commenced but in this maner Fitz. Proces 192. viz. nuper de S. in comitatÌ„ L. and nuper de B. in comitÌ„ T. then proces shal be awarded into all the counties whereof he is so supposed to be of late dwelling Proces into a County Palantine 65 The foresaid stat of 8. H. 6. hath ordained That after the first Capias St. 8. H. 6. 10 another Capias shal be awarded to the Sherife of the county whereof he which is so indicted is or was supposed to be dwelling by the same indictment And therefore if an appeale or indictment be exhibited against one in the countie of M. naming him of D. in the county of Chester or of some other place which is a countie Palantine In this case no proces can be awarded vpon this Stat. which may be directed to the Sherife according to the words of the Statute But proces shal be awarded vpon this statute to the prince or his lieutenant 19. H. 6. 2 31. H. 6. 11. for it is in like mischiefe and the statute is generall in all the Realme which doth bind as well those which be of a Countie Palantine as others But if they of the Countie Palantine will not serue and returne the writ directed to them vpon this statute then without further delay the Exigent shall be awarded otherwise the party should be infinitly delaied Proces against principal accessory 66 The foresaid Proces specified in the before rehearsed stat of 8. H. 6. shal extend as well to accessories as to principals sauing that the Exigent as to the accessories shall be staied vntill the principals be outlawed And that by the Statute of West 1. the words whereof be these St. 3. E. 1. 14 Because men haue vsed in some counties to outlaw such persons as be appealed of commandement force aide or escape within the same terme that they do outlaw him which is appealed of the fact it is ordained that none shal be outlawed for an appeale of commandement force ayd or receit vntill he that is appealed of the déed be attainted so that one law shal be thereof through the whole Realme But the appellant shall not let to attach his appeale at the next countie against them as well as against the appellées of the déed But the Exigent against the Accessorie shal stay vntill the appellée of the déed be attainted by outlawrie or otherwise And Britton Britton doth affirme That as soone as the principals be outlawed the Exigent shal be awarded against the accessories St. 3. E. 1. 14 67 The before rehearsed statute of West 1. séemeth onely to extend to Appeales commenced by bill The stat of W. 1. exteÌ„deth onely to Appeals commenced by bil for in an Appeale commenced by writ it appeareth not vntill the declaration made thereupon that there bée any accessories in the Appeale but for any thing contained in the writ all doe appeare to be principals 43. Ed. 3. 17. and for that cause the Exigent is awarded against them all at one time And therefore the plaintife must be aduised how he doth pray the Exigent and against whom for if he do pray the Exigent against them all he is therby concluded after to count against any of them as accessories for the law intendeth that he must take knowledge which were accessories and which not And therefore in that case he should haue staid the demaunding of the Exigent against them vntill the principals had béene attainted And that is the difference betwéene the principals and the accessories as touching the time of the awarding of the Exigent 68 If an Appeale be brought against diuers and one doth appeare plead In Appeale one doth appeare and another makes default yet proces shall be continued against the residue But if hee which appeareth doth plead in abatement of the Appeale or matter in barre which proueth that the Appeale
plead that the plaintife is outlawed 17. Ass p. 26 11. Ass p. 27 18. E. 3. 35 Fi. Cor. 3 or is attainted of Treason or Felony or otherwise is disabled to maintaine an appeale as if a woman doe bring an appeale of the death of her husband and the defendant doth plead that she and her said husband were neuer accoupled in lawfull marriage or that she hath married another husband Or that the appeale was not cōmenced within the yeare day after the offence committed Or that the appellant hath an elder brother liuing to whom the appeale is giuen Fit cor 384 387. not to the plaintife And all those matters which shal be a barre to the plaintife to bring the appeale shall also be a barre to the K. to take any aduātage against the appellée vpō the same appeal for in all these cases it may appeare that the appeale was cōmenced without cause grounded vpon false insufficient matter And the king shall be in no better condition than the appellant for the defendant is arraigned vpon the declaration of the appellant and yet it is otherwise where the Appeale was at the first grounded vpon sufficient and true matter But in all the cases aforesaid though the king can take no aduantage of the Appeale against the defendant yet he may compel him to answer to an indictment of the same felonie for that by these pleas the defendant is not discharged of the felonie though he be discharged of the Appeale S. Approuers 15. 17. 18. 19. No appeale of Treason 97 If an act which was murder felony or other offence by the cōmon law be after made treason by stat then one doth offend in the same no Appeal wil lye against him therefore for that no Appeale will lye of High or Petit Treason And therefore whereas wilfull poysoning was wilfull murder by the common law and after by the stat of 22. H. 8. 9. the same was made high treason and ordained that the offendor therein should be boyled to death which stat was sithence repealed by the stat of 1. Ed. 6. 12. 1. M. yet during the said stat of 22. H. 8. in force the sonne and heire of a man poysoned brought an appeale against a woman for poysoning her husband and because the offence was then high Treason M. 33. H. 8. Dyer 50. and no appeale will lye of Treason the appeale was adiudged not maintanable And yet by the ancient lawes of this realme as Bracton affirmeth the accusor might haue pursued an appeale of high Treason against the defendant or party accused Bracton de coron̄ c. 3 and the defendant might haue thereunto pleaded not guilty and waged battell with the accusor But that Law is sithence altered ⧠Indictments What an Indictment is 1 AN Indictment of Treason Felony Trespas or other offence is an inquisition taken and made by twelue men at the least thereunto sworne whereby they doe find and present that such a person of such a name and sirname dwelling in such a place of such a County and of such a degrée hath committed such a Treason Murther Rape Burglarie Robberie Felony Trespas or other offence at such a place vpon such a day and in such a manner against the Kings peace his Crowne and Dignitie and contrary to the Lawes of this realme and so it is an accusation by the Iury of the offendor and an information of the Court from whence they receiue their charge of his offence and of all such necessary circumstances thereof and in such certaintie that thereupon the same Court may procéed to the triall or arraignement of the party accused if he be present or otherwise may award Proces against him to appeare and to make answere thereunto if he be absent And because this Indictment and accusation doth sometime concerne the life or member of man sometime his liberty sometime his fame and credite sometime his Lands and Tenements and some other time his Goods Cattels Therefore the Law hath a speciall regard that the procéedings therein may be effected with all sinceritie and vpright dealing and doth carry a vigilant and watchfull eye not onely vpon the Iurors which are returned and sworne in those Enquests that they may be men of integritie sufficiencie and indifferencie but also vpon Shirifes and Baylifes of Liberties who haue authoritie to returne the same Iurors for she hath prouided by seuerall Statutes That they shall take no Indictments by Commissions procured at their owne sute but in their Turnes That they shall hold their Turnes St. 28. E. 3. 9 St. 31. E. 3. 14 St. 13. E. 1. 13 St. 1. E. 3. 16 and take Indictments but in conuenient and vsuall times That they shall take Indictments by twelue men at the least and then by Roll indented That they shal take their Indictments by men of good name credit and sufficient of estate St. 1. R. 3. 4 St. 1. E. 4 3. That they shall bring their Indictments and Presentments found and made in their Turnes to the Iustices of Peace of the same Countie that they may award Proces against those that be indicted and set fines vpon them That Iurors impanelled to make inquiries St. 11. H. 4. 9 shall be lawfully returned by shirifes or baylifes of Franchises without the denomination of any other person That Panels returned by the Shirife to make inquiries St. 3. H. 8. 12 St. 3. H. 7. 1 may be reformed by the Iustices and that one Enquest may be impanelled and charged to inquire of concealements of offences made by another Enquest So that the Law hath prouided that Indictments may be found by men of worth and vpon iust causes And as touching Commissions because in times past Shirifes of diuers Counties by vertue of Commissions generall Writs graunted vnto them at their owne sute for their priuat gaine did take diuers Enquests to indict people at their owne pleasures Commissions to shirifes to take indictments and then tooke fines and ransomes of them to their owne vses and after set at liberty the parties and neuer brought the same persons so indicted before the Kings Iustices to be deliuered there according to the forme of Law It was therefore by a Statute made Anno 28. Ed. 3. St. 28. E. 3. 9 ordained That all such Commissions Writs should be from thenceforth repealed and that none such should be at any time after graunted By force of which Statute the Shirife is restrained to make any inquirie by Writ or Commission The shirife may inquire of Felonies But yet by vertue of his office he may at this day make inquirie in his Turne of Felonies obseruing such orders as by the statutes hereafter limitted be expressed St. 9. H. 3. 36 2 Whereas by the statute of Magna Charta it was ordayned That no Shirife or his Baylife shall hold his Turne by Hundreds but twice in the yeare in
a statute made Anno 1. Ed. 4. it was ordained That vpon all Indictments and Presentments which shall bée taken before any of the Shirifes of Counties for the time béeing their Vndershirifes Clerkes Baylifes or Ministers at their Turnes or Law-daies they nor any of them shall haue power or authority to arrest attach or put in prison or to leuy any fines or amerciaments of any person or persons so indicted or presented by reason or colour of any such Indictment or Presentment taken before them or any of them or to leuy or take of any such person or persons so indicted or presented any fine or ransome But the said Shirifes vndershirifes Baylifes or Ministers shall bring present and deliuer all such Indictments and Presentments taken before them or any of them in their Turnes or Law-daies to the Iustices of the Peace Indictments taken in the shirifes Turnt shal be deliuered to the Iu. of peace at their next Session of the Peace which shal be holden in the County or Counties where such indictments and presentments shal be taken And if any of the said Shirifes Vndershirifes Clerkes Baylifes or Ministers doe not bring deliuer or present all such indictments or presentments so taken before them and euery of them in their Turnes or Law-daies as is aforesaid to such Sessions of the peace before the said Iustices then the said Shirifes Vndershirifes Clerkes Baylifes and their Ministers and euery of them which shall faile of the bringing deliuering or presenting of such Indictments or Presentments shal forfeit to the king forty pounds so often as they or any of them shall doe the contrarie And the said Iustices of peace shal haue power and authority to award proces vpon such Indictments and Presentments as the Law doth require Proces vpon Indictments awarded by I. of peace and in such like manner as if the said Indictments and Presentments had bin taken before the said Iustices of Peace in the same County or Counties and also to arraigne and deliuer all person and persons so indicted and presented before the said Shirifes Vndershirife their Clerkes Baylifes or Ministers or any of them in their Turnes or Lawdaies and to set such fine vpon euery person or persons indicted or presented of Trespas as it shall séeme good to their discretions And the Estreats of the same fines and amerciaments shall be inrolled and by Indenture deliuered to the said Shirifes Vndershirifs Clerks or Ministers or to some of them to the vse and profit of him which was shirife of the County at the time of the taking of such indictments or presentments And if any of the said Shirifes Vndershirifes Clerkes Bailifes or ministers shall cause to be arrested attached or put in prison or shall cause to be raised or taken any fine or ransome or leuy any amerciament of any person or persons so indicted or presented by reason or colour of any such indictment or presentment before him taken at his foresaid Turne or Law-day before they haue proces from the said Iustices of Peace or Estreats deliuered out of the said indictments or presentments so brought deliuered or presented vnto them then the shirifes which doe so shall forfeit an hundred pounds wherof the one moitie shal be imployed towards the expences of the kings house and the other to the party or parties that shal be endaÌ„maged And he or they shal haue an action of Debt at the common law and like proces as is vsed in an action of Debt at the common law wherein the defendants shal not be essoined wage their law Indictments in London nor haue any protection But this Ordinance shall not extend or be preiudiciall to the shirifes of the city of London touching indictments or presentments to be taken before them in the said city Neither shall this ordinance extend or be preiudiciall to any person or persons that haue graunt of any fines or other amerciaments by any letters patents of the king or of any of his progenitors or predecessors bearing date before the x. day of December next after the beginning of this Parliament being An. Dom. 1461. B This statute doth giue authority to Iustices of peace to award proces vpon all indictments taken in the shirifes Turne when they be brought and deliuered vnto them But yet it is alwaies intended That those Indictments shal be lawfull The shirife inquiring of things not inâ—uirable in 〈◊〉 Turne and containe matter whereof the Shirife hath iurisdiction in his Turne and power to make inquirie For if the Shirife in his Turne will make inquiry of the statute of Liueries 4. E. 4. 31. 8. E. 4. 5. or indict one who did feloniously rauish a woman or such other matters which be not inquirable in the shirifes Turne although he wil bring the indictments before the Iu. of peace and deliuer them according to the foresaid stat of 1. Ed. 4. yet they ought not to award proces vpon them for they were taken coram non iudice and so void 7 And for that Enquests were sometimes taken without being duly returned by the shirife of such persons as were outlawed before Iustices of Record and of some such as were fled to sanctuary for Felony or Treason to haue refuge by whom sometimes not only offendors were indicted but also seueral of the kings liege people not guilty by the conspiracie abbetment and false practise of others for their owne speciall aduantage and priuat gaine for the auoiding whereof there was a statute made Anno 11. H. 4. which doth enact St. 11. H. 4. 9 That no indictment shal be made by any such persons but by enquests of the kings liege people as it hath bin vsed in the time of the kings progenitors duly returned by shirifes or bailifes of Franchises without any maner of denomination before made to the said shirife or bailifes of Franchises by any person of the names of those who shal be impanelled by him Iurors in indictments shal be returned by the shirife without denomination vnlesse it be by the officers of the said shirifes or bailifes of Franchises knowne or sworne thereunto and other ministers to whom it appertaineth by the law of England to make the same And if any indictment be made in any point to the contrary the same shal be void reuoked and of no force According to this statute some haue béen discharged of their Indictments B. because certaine of the Indictors were before that outlawed of Felony This statute of Anno 11. H. 4. is altered by the next statute of Anno 3. H. 8. for so much onely as doth concerne denomination to be made by the Iustices 11. H. 4. 40. St. 3. H. 8. 12. for the reformation of Panels returned before them by the Shirifes when the said Iustices will haue the same Panels reformed But for all the residue it continueth in force 8 The whole authority of returning of Enquests to make Indictments without the denomination of
indicted and tried in the County where he doth commit the offence whereof he is so indicted yet for the preseruation of mans life and condignely to punish such persons as vnlawfully and wilfully murther slay or destroy men and to preuent the practise of those Théeues and Robbers that doe steale or robbe in one Countie and conuey their spoyle or part thereof to some of their adherents knowing thereof in another Countie St. 2. 3. Ed. 6. 24. by a Statute made Anno 2. 3. Edw. 6. it was enacted That where any person or persons shall be feloniously stricken or poysoned in one County A man strickeÌ„ or poysoned in one county dieth in another and dye of the same stroake or poysoning in another County that then an Indictment found by Iurors of the County where the death shall happen whether it shall be found before the Coroner vpon the sight of any such dead body or before the Iustices of Peace or any other Iustices or Commissioners which shall haue authoritie to enquire of such offences shall bee as good and effectuall in Law as if the stroake or poysoning had béene done or committed in the same Countie where the party shall dye or where such Indictment shall bée so found And by the same Statute it was further ordayned That where any Murther or Felony shall bée committed and done in one County and another person or moe shall bée accessarie or accessaries in any manner wise to any such Murther or Felony in any other County Indictment of an accessary in one county to an offeÌ„ce done in another that then an Indictment found or taken against such accessarie or accessaries vpon the circumstance of such matter before the Iustices of Peace or other Iustices or Commissioners to inquire of felonies in the County where such offences of accessarie or accessaries in any manner of wise shall bée committed or done shall bée as good and effectuall in the Law as if the principall offence had béen committed or done within the same County where the same Indictment against such accessary shal be found 6. H. 7. 10 7. H. 7. 8 Before which Statute made the manner was B to carry the body of the offendor to the County where the first offence was committed and there to indict and try him A man was indicted in the County of Middlesex for that hee in the same County procured another man to kill a third man in the Countie of Essex Fi. Cor. 33 by force whereof hée did kill him accordingly This was a good and sufficient Indictment for hée was indicted in the county where he committed his offence Kel fol. 67. viz. the procurement And if a man being in one county doth procure another to kill a third person in another couÌ„ty whereby he doth kill him accordingly in this case a Iury of the county where the murther was committed may indict this procuror as accessory for that this murther was begun by his procurement Insidiatores viarum depopulatores agrorum 15 By the Statute of Anno 4. H. 4. it was ordained St. 4. H. 4. 2. That the words Insidiatorum viarum Depopulatores agrorum shall not be from henceforth vsed or put in Indictments Arraignements Appeales nor other impeachments Nor that by force of any such word or terme any of the kings people shall be arraigned appealed impeached nor grieued before any secular Iudge But the Iustices may take and receiue before them Indictments Arraignements and Appeales of Felony containing in them the effect of the said words and termes if any shal be hereafter indicted arraigned or appealed before them of any such Felonies And if in time to come any Clerkes shall be indicted arraigned or appealed and their indiments arraignements or appeales doe purport the effect of the said wordes or other wordes of the like effect notwithstanding they shall enioy the priuiledge of their Clergie Words not necessarie in Indictments 16 By a Statute made Anno 37. H. 8. the words vi armis viz. St. 37. H. 8. 8 cum baculis cultellis arcubus sagittis or such other like before time commonly vsed and comprised in all Indictments and inquisitions of Treason Murther Felony Trespas and other offences shall not of necessitie bée put or comprised in any Inquisition or Indictment Nor the party being indicted of any offence shall take aduantage by Writ of Error Plea or otherwise to auoid any such Inquisition or Indictment for that the said wordes or any of them shall not bée put in the said Inquisition or Indictment But the said Inquisitions or Indictments lacking the foresaid words or any of them shall bée taken to all intents as good and effectuall in Law as if the said words were in them No more shall be in an indictment then is true 17 By these two last Statutes it doth appeare St. 4. H. 4. 2. St. 37. H. 8. 8 that the Realms was offended because Indictments were stuffed with more words then the offence required and that of purpose to aggrauate the offence more then it was grieuous in it selfe For the circumstances of euery offence doe augment or diminish it according to the qualities thereof And therefore it is requisite that there shall be no further circumstance put in Indictments more then the fact sauing that which is true least Periurie should ensue and Iustice bée subuerted thereby for such words be not words of forme but as materiall and necessarie as Proditorié or Felonicè which ought to be put in euery Indictment of Treason or Felony or otherwise the Indictment is not good for they doe expresse the intent wherewith the fact was committed Felonice omitted in an indictment of felony which maketh the offence to bee knowne As one was indicted That he tooke his father being sicke Fi. Indict 3. carried him against his will from towne to towne in a great frost wherof he died and for that this word Felonicè was not in the indictment it was adiudged void And if one be indicted of murther or manslaughter 1. M. Di. 99. there must be of necessitie in the indictment a stroke supposed viz. tali die anno felonicè ex malitia praecogitata interfecit murdrauit c. without saying percussit And if a man be indicted of Piracy Piracie in an indictment there ought to be in the indictment not only this word felonicè Stamf. 114. but also this word piraticè 18. E. 3. 32. Fitz. Cor. 122. 13. Ass p. 6 18 In an action of trespas brought for the taking away of a mans wife Where a verdict shal be an indictment and the goods of the husband the def pleaded not guiltie and was found by verdict guiltie in this case the same verdict shall serue as an indictment for the K. and the def shal be thereupon arraigned of felony And in like sort â—n an action of trespas brought for the taking
be passed And if the same Felons Murderers and Accessories or any of them so arraigned be acquited or the principall of the sayd felonie or any of them be attainted the wife or next heire to him so slaine as case shall require may take their Appeale of the same death and murder within the yeare and day after the same felonie and murder done against the said person so arraigned and acquit and all other their accessories or against the accessories of the sayd principall or any of them so attainted or against the sayd principall so attainted if they be then liuing and the benefit of the Clergie thereof before not had And the appellant shall haue such aduantages as if the sayd acquitall and attainder had not béene the acquitall or attainder notwithstanding The wife or heire of the person so slaine or murdered as case shall require may commence their Appeale in proper person at any time within the yeare after the felonie done before the Sherif and Coroners of the Countie where the sayd felony and murder was done or before the King in his Bench or Iustices of gaole deliuerie And though that by force of the sayd statute of 3. H. 7. at another time acquited is no plea in an Appeale of death at this day Another time acquit no plea in Appeale but in Indictment yet in an indictment of death it is a good plea to plead that he was at another time acquited in an Appeale brought of the same parties death S. Appeales 93. 48 And so it appeareth that the before rehearsed enormities that were at the common law and some others touching the indicting and arraigning of murderers and manquellers be remedied by the foresaid statute of 3. H. 7. but in other Appeales the rules of the common law doe continue in force For if a man be indicted of robberie and hee that was robbed hath an Appeale depending of the same robberie No indictmēt of robbery vntil the Appeal be tryed against the partie indicted in which Appeale he hath procéeded so farre that the Iust may perceiue that it is of the same robbery they ought to surcease to try the Appellée vpon the indictment 31. H. 6. 11 vntill the plaintife hath made his declaration For in an Appeale by writ the robbery cannot be certainly known vntil he hath made his declaration though it be otherwise in an Appeale commenced by bill 49 Though at another time conuicted or attainted of the same felony Another time conuict of the same felonie was and is a good plea for him that is the second time or more often indicted and arraigned againe vpon the same felony yet by the common law if one had béen indicted and arraigned of felonie and deliuered to the Ordinarie as a Clerke conuict and before he had made his purgation of the same felony he had broken the Ordinaries prison and escaped he might haue bin another time arraigned vpon the same indictment And it was no plea for him to plead Fitz. Cor. 232. that hee was another time conuict of the same felony and deliuered to the Ordinarie or that he was a Clerke and could not answer without his Ordinarie because hée remained vnpurged of the felonie and did loose the benefit of his Clergie by the breaking of prison And yet at that time if hee had not broken the Ordinaries prison but departed by his licence then at another time conuict shold haue bin a good plea for him vpon his second arraignmēt But now sithence by the stat of an 18. El. St. 18. El. 6. euery person which shal be admitted to haue the benefit of his clergie shal not therupō be deliuered to the Ordinarie as hath bin accustomed but after such clergie allowed and burning in the hand shal forthwith be enlarged and deliuered out of prison by the Iust before whō such clergy shal be granted Therefore at this day if one bee conuicted of felonie and hath the benefit of his Clergie Co. li. 4. 40. 45. and is burned in the hand if after in any case he shall be indicted and arraigned of the same felonie it shal be a good plea for him to plead that hée was another time conuict of the same felonie because the life of a man shall not be twice put in ieopardie for one offence yea though he shall breake the prison and depart from thence within that time after his conuiction which the Iustices shall thinke conuenient to detaine him in prison for his further correction for now he is not in prison for felonie but for correction 50 It is a good plea for him that is arraigned of felonie to plead that he is attainted of felonie Another time attainted of felonie and to demand iudgement if during this attainder he shal be put to answer to that felony whereof he is attainted or to any other felonie for if he should be put to answer no more could be recouered of him than is recouered 28. E. 3. 90 neither can he forf more than he hath forfeited hauing forfeited life lands goods and all that he hath and therefore it should bee to no purpose to trouble him any more But it is otherwise where it is to any end or purpose to put him to answer and plead againe to a new indictment as in some speciall cases it may be done As a man attainted of felony hath also committed treason at the time of the felonie committed in this case he shal answer to the treason for the K. aduantage 1. H. 6. 5. notwithstanding his attainder of felony before because if he be attainted of treason the king shall haue the escheat of his lands of whomsoeuer they be holden but if the treason were committed after the felony or at the least after the attainder of felony then it were otherwise for then the title which was vested in the chiefe Lord of whom his lands were holden 4. E. 4. 11. cannot be deuested by a matter accrued ex post facto And also where diuers men haue seuerall Appeals of robbery against one man though he be attainted at the suit of one of them yet to the intent that euerie of them may recouer his goods which were robbed and taken from him vpon his fresh suit hée shal be againe arraigned at euery of their suits And it is no plea for him in this case to plead that he was another time attainted of felony 51 In all cases where the defendant would discharge himselfe by pleading that he was attainted of another felony thē this whereof he is now arraigned The K. pard◠obiected against another time attainted it may be replied for the party or the king that after the same attainder the K. did pardon him that felony whereof he saith he was attainted and his attainder thereof 6. H. 4. 6. whereby he was restored to the law and so he ought to answer to all other felonies notwithstanding they were committed before this
there shall be assigned good lawfull men in euery Countie to keepe the peace and at the said assignements mention shal be made that such as shal be indited or taken by the said wardens shal not be let to mainprise by the Sherifs nor by any other if they be not mainpernable by the law Nor that such persons indited shal be deliuered Bailement of offendors by sherifes and others but according to the course of the common law And the Iustices assigned to deliuer the gaoles shall haue power to deliuer the Gaoles of those that be indited before the gardeins of the peace And the same gardeins shall send before the said Iust their inditements And the same Iustices shall haue power to enquire of Sherifes Gaolers and others in whose custodie such persons indited shal be if they deliuered or let to mainprise any so indited which be not mainpernable to punish the same Sherifes Gaolers and others if they haue done any thing contrarie to this Statute This statute of 4. E. 3. doth make no mention that the Iustices of Gaole deliuerie shall punish sherifs and others according to the foresaid statute of West as the other statute of 27. E. 1. doth but ordaineth generally that they shal be punished without determining in what maner And yet it is to be intended that they shal be punished according to the forme of the said Stat. of West 1. And moreouer the said Iustices of Gaole deliuerie may punish them by the common law 25. E. 3. 39. for a negligent escape Where mainprise is a negligent escape for it is a negligent escape to let one to maineprise who by law is not mainpernable And one Iustice did in that case set a fine vpon the Sherife for the like Bailement a hundred shillings 16 In all cases where a statute doth ordaine that an offendors bodie shal be imprisoned at the Kings pleasure Imprisonmēt at the Kings pleasure the prisoner cannot be deliuered or let to maineprise vntil the King hath signified his pleasure of him As if one be imprisoned for going or riding armed contrary to the Statute of Northampton made Anno 2. E. 3. 3. 24. Ed. 3. 42. 17 There is a difference betwéene bailement in felonie and bailement in a personall action The differēce betwéene bailement in felonie and in a personall action for in felonie the bailement shall containe a certaine summe of money to be forfeited if the prisoner doe not appeare at a day prefixed And in a personall action it is but fineable 21. H. 7. 20. And the bailement in felonie is Ad standum rectum de latrocinio praedicto secundum legem consuetudinem regni nostri Angliae as it doth appeare by the writs of Manucaptione in the register which doe imply as much as they that haue him to baile shall not onely cause him to appeare but also to answer 18 If one doe find mainprise in Court it is presently matter of Record Mainprise is matter of Record 8. Ed. 4. 5. though it be not entered into the Roll vntil the next Terme Confession of the Offence WHen a prisoner is appealed or indited of treason or felonie and brought to the barre to be arraigned thereof and his inditement is read vnto him he is asked by the Court what he will say vnto it Then either hée doth confesse the offence and the inditement to bée true or he estrangeth himselfe from the offence and pleadeth Not guiltie An offendour pleadeth one of thrée pleas or else hée doth answer indirectly and so in effect he standeth mute and maketh no answer Of the which later two I will intreate héereafter 2 And therefore beginning with the prisoners Confession of the offence vpon his arraignement That confession may be made in two sorts Confession in two sorts and to two seuerall ends whereof the one is he may confesse the offence whereof he is indited openly in the Court before the Iudge and that he hath committed that act whereof he is indited and arraigned and submit himselfe to the censure and iudgement of the Lawe Which Confession of the offence by the prisoner himselfe in person is the most assured answer and best satisfaction that can be deliuered to the Iudge to condemne the offendour and to all the hearers to giue approbation thereof So that the said Confession do procéede fréely and of his owne good will without menace Confession must be trée and without menace threats rigor or other extreamities For if the Iudge doe perceiue that the offendors confession doth growe vpon either of those extreamities he ought not to record the confession but to cause the prisoner pleade to the offence not guiltie As a woman was indited for the felonious stealing of bread to the value of two shillings 27. As p. 40 and being arraigned thereof she confessed the felonie and saide that she did it by the commaundement of her husband and the Iudges for pitie would not record her confession but caused her to pleade not guiltie to the felonie whereupon a Iurie being charged it was found that she did steale the bread by the compulsion of her husband against her will by which meanes she was discharged And in like sort if the Iudges doe perceiue that the offendour doth confesse the offence in mistaking of the Lawe they may shew him that fauour as not to record his confession but cause him to pleade to the inditement not guiltie As a man being indited of the death of another man pleaded that he and one B. hauing a quarrell 22. As p. 71 and fighting each with the other the party of whose death he was indited came betwéene them to part the fray and he against his will by misfortune gaue him a blowe whereof hée died For though by the Lawe this was felonie in him being fighting and intending to hurt or kill B. yet he did mistake the Lawe therein and did not take it to be so for that his quarrell was not towardes him which he slue but to B. who had no hurt And further this confession of the Offence is not so penall to the prisoner though he doth it fréely and without menace or other extreamitie that he is thereby presently attainted or condemned of that felonie but in many cases he may be saued from death the most bitter rigour of the Lawe by the benefit of his cleargie or by the Kings pardon He that confesseth doth become an Approuer 3 The other kinde of confession of felonie that is made by a prisoner at his arraignement openly in court before the Iudge is when the prisoner doth confesse the inditement to be true and that he hath committed the offence whereof he is indited and then doth become an approuer viz. an accuser of others who haue committed the same offence whereof he is indicted or other offences with him and then doth request the Iudge to haue a Coroner assigned vnto him to whome hée
iudgement shall be giuen that the approuer shall be hanged And in like sort it is Fi. Cor. 456 if an approuer doe appeale seuerall persons in seuerall counties and processes be awarded against them vntill some of them be attainted and some of them depend in processe not attainted and the Iustices be informed by credible persons of the same countie wherein they were appealed that there be no such men to their knowledge in rerum natura the approuer shall be hanged An approuer did appeale two men in London and proces was awarded against them and it was returned that there were no such men dwelling in the city of London and the approuer agréeing to the same returne Fi. Cor. 460 saide that they were dwelling within the city of Lincolne and he was not thereunto receiued but was adiudged to be hanged So that if there be any falshood or lying in the approuer be it before his approuement or after and that the court do perceiue it they will take his appealing from him and adiudge him to be hanged And if they do otherwise Approuement after pleading not guiltie it is more of fauour than of right 12. Ed. 4. 10 for of fauour the court may allow the prisoner to waiue his plea of Not guiltie and to confesse the felonie and to become an approuer 21. H. 6. 35 And if an approuer doe appeale one who by his owne confession is out of the Realme he shall be hanged for the appellée cannot be attainted at his sute for though he should be outlawed yet he may reuerse it at his returne for that cause 6 When a prisoner vpon his arraignement doth confesse the felonie An Approuers othe and praieth a Coroner which is assigned vnto him by the court he must be sworn in the same court before his departing to appeale of all felonies and treasons which he doth knowe and the court shall appoint him a number of daies wherein to make his appeale in the which daies and in euery of them hée ought to appeale for if thrée dayes be appointed and in two of them he doth appeale 12. Ed. 4. 10. 26. As p. 19. Fit Cor. 439 and the third day he will affirme to the Coroner that he can say no more and the Coroner doth report the same to the court iudgement shall be giuen that he shall be hanged 7 An approuer shall haue wages of the King euery day that is assigned him by the court to approue in viz. a penny a day And some do affirme An Approuers wages that he shall haue no wages Fi. Cor. 439 vntill he hath made his proofe by vanquishing some appellée in battell or by conuicting him by verdict and then he shall haue wages of the King for euery day 8 When a Coroner is assigned to an approuer An Approuer set at liberty the approuer must he let out of prison to the intent that hee may approue or appeale of his owne frée will being at liberty without any dures for if it be by dures when he commeth againe before the Iustices hée may rehearse his appeale and disauow it for that cause which shal be tried by the examination of the Coroner vpon his othe Fi. Cor. 118 169. 255. And if the Coroner do say that the same appeale was not by dures the appeale shall stand and the approuer shall be hanged And when the approuer hath made his appeale before the Coroner he shall come againe before the Iustices and rehearse his appeale before them for they will not reade his appeale vnto him and if hée doe faile in the rehearsall of his appeale 26. As p. 19 in anie word otherwise than the Coroner hath recorded it he shall be hanged as if in his rehearsall he doe say that there was a blacke horse stollen where it it was recorded by the Coroner a redde Horse An Approuers appeale must be certaine For the Approuer must declare the thing certainely with all the circumstaunces thereof without any varying or alteration Bracton and he must know the person whom he hath appealed when hée is brought into question for if he know him not it is to be presumed that they were neuer companions Processe against the appellees 9 After an Approuer hath made his appeale before the Coroner if the appellees be dwelling in the Countie where the appeale is made the Coroner hath authoritie to award processe against them vntill the Exigent and to direct his processe to the Shirife to serue But so he cannot doe 29. Ed. 3. 42 if the appellées be dwelling in another countie for then he must not award processe against them but referre it to the iustices before whom he is to record the same appeale And they may award processe as the Iustices of the Kings bench and Iustices in Eire may do who may award processe by the common law and Iustices of Gaole Deliuerie by the statute De Appellatis made Anno 28. Ed. 1. which hath ordained St. 28. Ed. 1. That whosoeuer shal be appealed by any Approuers remaining in the Gaoles which the Iustices of Gaole deliuerie shall deliuer in what places soeuer of the Realme the persons appealed shall remaine immediatly the Shirife of that countie where such persons appealed be conuersant or may be found shall be commaunded by the Kings Writs vnder the testimonie of the same Iustices that he shall apprehend those persons appealed and conuey them to the Gaole where the approuers by whose appeale they be apprehended be imprisoned And the Shirife or Gaoler of that prison shall receiue them and there they shall answer before the same Iustices And if they put themselues vpon the country the Iustices shall send by a iudiciall Writ to the Shirife of the Countie where the felonie was committed that hée shall returne an Enquest before them at the place where the approuers do remaine at a certaine day Pleas for the Appellee against the Approuer 10 It is a good exception for the appellée in his owne defence to alleage against the approuer that the approuer is a person attainted of treason 11. As p. 27. Fi. Cor. 387 443 21. Ed. 3. 17 or felonie and to shew how viz. either by verdict outlawrie or abiuration or in any other manner for such a person is out of the Lawe and so disabled to appeale or accuse others And the same lawe is if the approuer be a clerke conuict for hee commeth now too late to confesse a felonie 17. Ed. 3. 13. when hée hath pleaded not guilty thereunto before which was found false at his owne sute and therefore it cannot be intended that the thing hée saith now is true And although hée had his clergie vpon confession of the felonie An Approuer conuict of felonie yet hée shall not now become an approuer for that he saide nothing at that time when hee ought to haue approued and therefore the Lawe cannot intend that hée hath
shal take an oath which is his abiuration The oath of abiuration in this manner viz. Heare you this Master Coroner Bracton Britton That I A.B. am a théefe of two beasts or a killer of a man and a felon of the kings of England and because I haue committed many offences and thefts in this Realme I doe abiure the Kingdome of our Soueraigne Lord King Iames And I must make haste towards the port of S. which thou hast giuen mee And I must not goe out of the high waie and if I doe then I yéeld to bee taken as a théefe and felon of our Soueraigne Lord the Kings at the port I will diligently séeke passage and will not tarrie there but one flowing and ebbing if I may haue passage And if I cannot haue passage in this time I will go euery day vp to the knées into the sea assaying to passe ouer And if I cannot do it within fourtie daies together I will returne to the Church as a thiefe and felon of our soueraigne Lord the King So helpe me God c. And notwithstaÌ„ding the words of the said oath the offendor not the Coroner ought to make the election of the port whither he will goe where he will make his passage and he must make his abiuration at the dore of the Church-yard Fi. Cor. 407 Britton 11 He that doth abiure the Realme must haue vpon him but his coate The attire of an abiured person his shirt and his bréeches and his head shal be vncouered he must carrie a crosse in his hand which as Polidore saith is a token that his life is saued by religion and whatsoeuer he hath beside is forfeited to the King and neither the Coroner nor any of his seruants shall take any thing of the offendors for their fée St. 9. E. 2. 10 12 By the Statute of Lincolne made anÌ„ 9. E. 2. The vsing of persons abiured They they that abiure the Realme so long as they be in the high way shal be in the Kings peace and bée troubled of no man And whilest they be in the Church their kéepers shall not tarie in the Church-yard except necessitie or perill of escape doe require it and so long as they be in the Church they shall not be compelled to depart but may haue those things which be necessarie for their liuelihood and may go forth to discharge nature 7. H. 7. 7. Fi. Cor. 14 But if an abiured person be molested in the high way and drawne out of the way and imprisoned yet that will not excuse him when he is againe at libertie if he doe not within conuenient time after his libertie returne to the way leading him to the port or place whereunto vpon his abiuraration he made choice to goe But if he doe goe out of the high way vpon ignorance or to ease nature that shall not hurt him so that he doe returne to the high way in conuenient time or doe his good will to returne 13 After abiuration if the offendor doe any thing contrarie to his oath After abiuration broken death viz. contrary to his abiuration he shal be put to execution vnlesse he be a Clerke and in that case shal be saued from death by his Clergie because the Prelates and Clergie did complaine in Parliament that though a Clerke ought not to be iudged by a temporall Iudge nor any thing may be done against him that concerneth life or member neuerthelesse temporall Iudges caused Clerks flying vnto the Church and confessing their offences to abiure the Realme and for that cause admitted their abiurations although hereupon they cannot bée their Iudges and that so power was wrongfully giuen to Laie persons in the punishment of such Clerks And if such should chance after to returne into the Realme the said Prelates and Clergie desired such remedie to bee prouided therein that the immunitie or priuiledge of the Church may be preserued vnbroken St. 9. E. 2. 15 Vpon which request by a Stat. made anÌ„ 9. E. 2. intituled Articuli cleri it was enacted That a Clerke flying to the Church for felonie to obtaine the priuiledge of the Church shall not be compelled to abiure the realme but yéelding himselfe to the law of the realme shall enioy the priuiledge of the Church according to the laudible custome of the Realme heretofore vsed Which said Statute being but a rehersall restoring and confirmation of the common law is thought not to be repealed by the words of the foresaid stat of 1. Iac. â—â— 1. Iac. 25. And so it appeareth by this stat that if he which doth flie to a Church will say that hée is a Clerke A Clerke need not abiure he shall not be compelled to abiure and if he doe abiure of his own good will and thereby doth lose his lands yet to saue him from execution hee shall haue his Clergie S. St. 28. H. 8. 1. Clergie 5. Where no felonie no abiuration for felonie 14 A maried wife béeing desirous to bee deliuered from her husband Fi. Cor. 425 did flie to a Church and acknowledged a felonie where she neuer had committed any felonie and desired to abiure and her husband vnderstanding of it came to her and then shée fled out of the Church and escaped and towne or person were amerced for this escape for there could no felon escape where no felonie was committed Neither can there be any abiuration where no felonie is committed And therefore an offendor cannot abiure for petit larcenie Br. Cor. 182 The abiured pleadeth that he is not the same person 15 He that doth abiure and is taken againe and arraigned Fi. Cor. 124 may plead that he is not the same person which did abiure and then that shal be tried by the Coroner who tooke his abiuration Or hee may plead the Kings pardon The Kings pardon granted to him of the felonie and abiuration 9. E. 4. 28. for if the pardon make no mention of the abiuration it is not good S. Pardon 7. A Recusant vsing conuenticles shall abiure the realm 16 By the statute of anÌ„ 35. El. it was ordained St. 35. El. 1 that if any person or persons aboue the age of sixtéene yeares which shall offend against the said Acte in persuading others to impugne the Quéenes Ecclesiasticall lawes shall not within thrée moneths after they shall be conuicted for their said offence conforme themselues to the obedience of the Lawes and Statutes of this Realme in comming to Church to heare diuine Seruice and in making such publike confession and submission as in the said Act is expressed béeing thereunto required by the Bishop of the Dioces or any Iustice of the Peace in the same countie where the said person shall happen to be or by the minister or Curat of the Parish In euery such case euery such offendor béeing thereunto warned or required by any such Iustice of
1. H. 5. 10 Fit Chall ' 105. 38. Ass p. 22 doe challenge any of the Polles hee must shewe the cause vpon his Challenge which must be presently tried for that it is in a plea of the crowne wherein the king is a party 6 A man outlawed of Felonie An Outlaw of Felony shall haue his challenges vpon an Issue taken for the auoidance of the Felony Fi. Chall ' 153. 165. For though hée cannot challenge a worse man then himselfe béeing outlawed for Felony yet séeing it is in Issue to trie whether hee bee an Outlaw or not and by this tryall if it bée found for him to defeat the same Outlawry that opinion of him ought to bee holden in suspence vntill the said issue shall be tried against him 21. H. 6. 30. 14. H. 4. 19. 7 It is a good Challenge vpon cause to say that one of the Iurors is an Alien or a Villaine or an Outlaw A Iuror an alien villaine or outlaw for then hée is not Liber legalis homo For though an Alien borne hath dwelt in this Realme from his childhood and be sworne in a Léet or other Court to the Kings obedience yet he is not the Kings liege man for the Steward of a Léet nor any other can make an Alien Legalis homo but onely the King ⧠Euidence 1 WHen a prisoner is indicted of Treason or Felony hath pleaded not guilty is therupon arraigned and finished his challenges then euidence is to be giuen against him to proue him guilty which euery person shall bée admitted to doe for the king And because the euidence of those that tooke the said offendor with the manner did first accuse him or brought him before the Iustices of Peace to be examined of the supposed offence hath béene alwaies adiudged most pregnant and effectuall Therefore by a statute made Anno 1. 2. Ph. Ma. St. 1. 2. P. M. 13. it was ordayned That two Iustices of Peace at the least Euidence against an offeÌ„dor let to batle wherof one of them to be of the Quorum when any prisoner is brought before them for any manslaughter or felony before any bailement or mainprise shall take the examination of the said prisoner and information of them that bring him of the fact and circumstances thereof and the same or as much thereof as shal be materiall to proue the felony shall put in writing before they make the same bailement which said examination together with the said bailement the said Iustices shall certifie at the next generall Gaole deliuerie to bée holden within their Commission and that euery Coroner vpon any inquisition before him found whereby any person or persons shall bée indicted for murther or manslaughter or as accessorie or accessories to the same before the murther or manslaughter committed shall put in writing the effect of the euidence giuen to the Iury before him béeing materiall And as well the said Iustices as the said Coroner shall haue authority by this act to bind all such by Recognisance or Obligation as doe declare any thing materiall to proue the said murther or manslaughter offences or felonies or to bée accessories or accessories to the same as is aforesaid to appeare at the next generall Gaole deliuerie to bée holden within the County City or Towne corporat where the tryall thereof shall bée then and there to giue euidence against the party so indicted at the time of his triall and shall certifie as well the same euidence as such bond and bonds in writing as hée shall take together with the Inquisition or Indictment before him taken and found or before the time of his sayd tryall thereof to bée had or made And likewise the said Iustices shall certifie all and euery such bond taken before them in like manner as is before said of baylements and examination And in case any Iustice of peace or Quorum or Coroner shall offend in any thing contrary to the true intent and meaning of this act then the Iustices of Gaole deliuery of the Shire City Towne or Place where such offences shal happen to be committed vpon due proofe thereof by examination before them shall for euery such offence set such fine on euery such Iustice of Peace and Coroner as the same Iustices of Gaole deliuery shall thinke méet and shall estreat the same as other Fines and Amerciaments assessed before Iustices of Gaole deliuery ought to bee S. Mainprise 13. 2 Because the foresaid statute of 1. 2. Ph. Ma. 13. doth not extend to any such prisoners as shall be brought before any Iustice of Peace for Manslaughter or Felony and by such Iustice shall be committed to ward for the suspition of such Manslaughter or Felony and not bayled in which case the examination of such prisoner and of such as shall bring him is as necessary or rather more then where such prisoner shall be let to bayle For the reformation whereof St. 1. 2. P. M. 10. by a statute made Anno 2. 3. Ph. Ma. it was enacted That such Iusticâ—s or Iustice before whom any person shall bée brought Euidence against an offendor coÌ„mitted to prison for Manslaughter or Felony or for suspition thereof before he or they shall commit or send such prisoner to ward shall take the examination of such prisoner and information of those that bring him of the fact and circumstances thereof and the same or as much thereof as shall be materiall to prooue the Felony shall put in writing within two dayes after the said examination and the same shall certifie in such manner and forme and at such time as they should and ought to doe if such prisoner so committed or sent to ward had béene bayled or let to mainprise vpon such paine as in the said former act is limitted and appointed for not taking or not certifying such examinations as in the said former act is expressed And the said Iustices shall haue authority by this act to bind all such by Recognisance or Obligation as doe declare any thing materiall to proue the said Manslaughter or Felony against such prisoner as shall bee so committed to ward to appeare at the next generall Gaole deliuery to be holden within the County City or Towne corporat where the triall of the said Manslaughter or Felony shall be then and there to giue Euidence against the party And the said Iustices shall certifie the sayd bands taken before them in like manner as they should and ought to certifie the bands mentioned in the said former act vpon the paine as in the said former act is mentioned for not certifying such bands as by the said former act is limitted and appointed to be certified 3 And for that men should be the readier and more willing to giue Euidence against Robbers and other Felons Restitution vpon attainder by euideÌ„ce by a statute made Anno 21. H. 8. St. 21. H. 8. 11 it
in any dwelling house or houses or to do or commit any robberie in or néere any highway in the Realme of England or in any other the Quéenes Dominions or to commit or doe any robberie in any place within the Marches of England against Scotland or wilfully to burne any dwelling house or any part therof or any barne then hauing corne or graine in the same then euery such offendor and offendors and euery of them being outlawed of the same or being thereof arraigned and found guiltie by the order of the law or being otherwise lawfully attainted or conuicted of the same offence or being arraigned thereof do stand mute of malice or froward mind or doe challenge peremptorily aboue the number of xx persons or will not answer directly to such offence shall not haue the benefit of his or their clergy Euery Lord and Péere of the realme hauing place and voyce in Parliament vpon euery indictment for any of the offences aforesaid shall bee tryed by his Péeres A man was indicted of the robberie of another in his mansion house P. 2. Eliz. Dyer 183. he being in his house and put in feare And another was indicted for that he did feloniously before the sayd robberie procure and counsell the principall to commit the sayd robberie in which indictment of the accessorie this word malitiously was omitted Malitiously omitted in the indictment for the default of which word this accessorie had his clergie for this word malitiously shall haue relation to all the aforesaid offences of Petit treason murder robberie and burning of houses 30 By the before specified Statute of Anno 1. Ed. 6. St. 1. E. 6. 12 Where a Lord of the Parliament shal haue the benefit of his Clergie among other things it is enacted That in all and euerie case and cases where any of the kings subiects shall and may vpon his praier haue the priuiledge of Clergie as a Clerke conuict that may make purgation in all those cases and euerie of them and also in all and euerie case and cases of felonie wherein the priuiledge or benefit of Clergie is restrained excepted or taken away by this Statute wilfull murder and poysoning of malice prepenced only excepted the Lord and Lords of the Parliament S Br. 24. and Péere and Péers of the Realme hauing place and voice in Parliament shall by vertue of this Act of common grace vpon his or their requests and prayer alledging that he is a Lord or Péere of this Realme claiming the benefit of this Act though he cannot read without burning in the hand losse of inheritance or corruption of his bloud be adiudged déemed taken and vsed for the first time onely to all constructions intents and purposes as a Clerke conuict which may make purgation without any further or other benefit of Clergie to any such Lord or Péer from thenceforth at any time after for any cause to be allowed adiudged or admitted Any law custome statute or other thing to the contrarie notwithstanding By this Statute a Lord of the Parliament shall haue the priuiledge of his Clergie where a common person shall not viz. for the breaking of a house by day or night or for robbing of any in the highway and in all other cases excepted in the sayd statute of Anno 1. Ed. 6. sauing in wilfull murder and poysoning But in all other cases wherein Clergie is taken away by any statute made sithence the sayd statute of Anno 1. Ed. 6. he is in the same degrée that a common and inferiour person is But the Court will not giue him the benefit of this statute if he doth not require it If a Lord of the Parliament doth confesse his offence vpon his arraignment or doth abiure or is outlawed for felony it séemeth that in these cases he may haue the benefit of this statute viz. his Clergie for that by the Statute of 18. Elizab. 6. hée nor any other need to make his purgation but shall bée forthwith deliuered out of prison by the Iustices sed quaere 31 In all the foresaid cases of wilfull murder breaking of houses The indictment must beē according to the statute robbing in or néere the highway buggerie stabbing and such like where a man is put out of his Clergie by statute it is necessarie that in the indictment mention should he made of the offence in such manner as the same offence is expressed in the statute P. 9. Eliz. Dyer 261. or otherwise the offendor shall haue his Clergie for if the indictment be onely murdrauit without adding ex malitia praecogitata the partie meant to be indicted of wilfull murder shall haue his Clergie and so of all the residue for his attainder or conuiction is vpon the matter contained in the appeale or indictment and if in the appeale or indictment no matter is contained which doth put him out of his Clergie then it cannot be sayd that hée is attaint or conuict of any matter contained in the Statute which should cause him to loose the benefit thereof And the Iudge is to haue speciall regard and consideration when those words be put into the indictment that they which do giue euidence do proue the same words well and substantially The words of the indictment to be proued as well as the principall fact and if they doe not the Iudge is to admonish the Iurie thereof viz. that there is no proofe of those words by the euidence and that therefore they are not bound to find them if they doe not know them of their owne knowledge Or otherwise for default of good examination the life and lands of any man may be lost by the malice of another which will put false words in an indictment that cannot be proued by euidence When Clergy shal be demanded 32 By the auntient law of the Realme if a Clerke of any order or dignitie had béene taken for the death of a man or other felonie or offence and imprisoned and the Ordinarie had demaunded him Bracton the temporall Iudge ought to haue deliuered him presently to the Ordinarie his Officiall or to some other by his warrant without inquiring of him viz. before his indictment Not to the intent that the Ordinarie should set him at libertie but kéepe him in prison vntill the offendor were purged of his cryme For it was then holden for law that the King could not kéepe him in prison whom hée could not iudge neither could hée disgrade any of his Clergie because hée could not admit any to his Clergie But because the Statute of Westminst 1. St. W. 3. E. 1 doth ordaine That they which bée indicted of Felonie in the Kings Court by the solemne othe of lawfull witnesses shall bée deliuered to the Ordinarie vpon his request according to the priuiledge of holy Church but yet in no manner without due purgation Fitz. Cor. 233. 386. 417. M. 40. E. 3 42. Therefore they that came after this Statute chaunged
euidence against him they vsed to bring forth the prisoner and to arraigne him of the principall fact and if hée pleaded or saide that hée was not guiltie thereunto then an Enquest of Clerkes was charged And if by the saide Enquest of Clerkes he was found not guilty of the same offence then he was set at libertie and if hée were found guiltie he was disgraded There be two sorts of Clerkes whereof the one is a Clerke conuict and the other is a Clerke attainted A Clerke conuict A Clerke conuict is hée who praieth his Clergie before Iudgement be giuen against him of death and hath his Clergie allowed vnto him such a Clerke before the Statute of 18. Elizab. might haue made his purgation sauing in certaine especiall cases As a common thiefe could not make his purgation Fi. Cor. 247 notwithstanding that hée were but a Clerke conuict for it is better for the common wealth to haue such an incorrigible person continually to remaine in prison than to goe at libertie to doe more hurt Fi. Cor. 417 And likewise a Monke that was a Clerke conuict should haue béene deliuered to his Abbot to haue remained in the Abbey continually without making his purgation Fi. Cor. 109 147. And also in an appeale if the Defendant had béene conuict by verdict and had enioyed his Clergie as a Clerke conuict he should not haue made his purgation for if hée had made his purgation then the Plaintife in the appeale should haue recouered his goodes without cause for that by the purgation it doth appeare that hée was not guiltie of the felonie A Clerke attainted Clerke attainted is he who praieth his Clergie after Iudgement of felonie giuen of him Such a Clerke could not haue made his purgation for that when he was condemned of felony by iudgement hée could not contrarie to that Iudgement be purged thereof that iudgement remaining in force and therefore there was none other remedy for him but to purchase the Kings pardon or else hée must haue remained in prison during his life And whether this Iudgement of death did follow either vpon Confession before the Coroner Clergie after Confession vpon abiuration or before the Iustices vpon his arraignement or vpon triall by verdict of twelue men if this iudgement were once giuen hée should not after make his purgation And though after his confession of the felony and before Iudgement giuen against him thereupon he doth pray his Clergie he shall haue it and might haue made his purgation for that the confession being before a secular Iudge who is not his Iudge is voide And for that cause the statute of Articuli Cleri cap. 16. doth ground St. 9. E. 2. 16 That an approuer Approuer shall haue the benefit of his Clergie and yet he hath confessed his offence before a secular Iudge And it is not to be interpreted that the benefit of this Statute is to be extended onely to saue the approuers life and not to set him at libertie by making his purgation for then hée should haue but part of the benefit of Clergie and not the whole which is contrary to the saide Statute of Articuli Cleri If an approuer had waiued his appeale holden him to his Clergie he should haue made his purgation Fi. Cor. 128 because the Temporall court doth dismisse him as a man in whom it hath no iurisdiction which waiuer of the appeale did not waiue the confession that hée had made before 27. H. 6. 7 13. E. 4. 3 Fi. Cor. 56 247 And though an approuer in some Cases should not haue made his purgation yet that was in such cases onely where he did not pray his Clergie vntill Iudgement was giuen against him of felonie If one that shall abiure the Realme for felony had come againe into the Realme without the Kings licence whereupon he was taken and brought to the Barre and that it was demaunded of him whie hée should not be put to death and he had demaunded his Clergie and that was allowed yet he should not haue béene deliuered to the Ordinarie but sent to prison againe Fi. Cor. 155 vntill hée had obtained the Kings pardon For Clergie would haue serued him for the felonie but not to excuse the contempt which he made by comming againe into the Realme without the Kings licence But it had béene otherwise if he had prayed his Clergie at the time when he fled to the Church By the entrie into the Roule of the Court which made mention of the prisoners deliuerie to the Ordinarie In whom rested the making of purgation it appeareth that the making or not making of purgation did rest much in the Temporall Court and not in the Ordinarie for if he were not to make his purgation then the entrie was Quod talis commissus est Ordinaria absque purgatione facienda and if hée were to make his purgation then the wordes Absque purgatione facienda were omitted and in all cases where the Temporall court had determined that purgation did not lie as in the case of Clerke attaint or such like if the Ordinarie had admitted the prisoner to haue made purgation and thereby set him at libertie Escape for suffering purgation he should haue bin charged with an escape for the authority whereby he was committed to prison was temporall and he receiued him from the temporall court or otherwise the Ordinary could not haue retained him in prison And therefore the temporall court had somewhat to doe with setting him at libertie out of prison If one had béene conuicted of diuerse felonies and had béene admitted to his Clergie in that case hée ought to haue made purgation for them all But the force of the foresaide Lawes Fi. Cor. 232 touching committing of clerkes to the Ordinary and making of purgation is alterd by the before mentioned statute of Anno 18. Eliz. St. 18. El. 6 whereby it was enacted That euerie person and persons which shall be admitted and allowed to haue the benefit or priuiledge of his or their Clergie shall not thereupon be deliuered to the Ordinarie as hath béene accustomed but after such Clergie allowed and burning in the hand St. 4. H. 7. 13 according to the statute in that behalfe prouided shall forthwith be enlarged deliuered out of prison by the Iustices before whom such Clergie shall be graunted that cause notwithstanding Clergie allowed without deliuery to the Ordinarie Prouided neuerthelesse that the Iustices before whom any such allowance of Clergie shal be had shall and may for the further correction of such persons to whom Clergie shall be allowed detaine and kéepe them in prison for such conuenient time as the same Iustices in their discretions shall thinke conuenient so as the same doe not excéede one yeeres imprisonment Any lawe or vsage heretofore had to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding ⧠The Kings Pardon THe Kings Pardon is a barre to an Indictment
of treason or felonie which graunting of Pardon is one of the most ancient and honourable prerogatiues that is annexed to the Imperiall Crowne of this Realme being an authoritie in a sort to reuiue a dead man and to continue him in life whom the Lawe adiudged to die And it is only granted vpon a good hope that the king hath of the amendment of the life of that subiect who hath offended his lawes and whose crime his owne conscience doth assure him that he may pardon notwithstanding his othe taken at his coronation which othe is that he will to the vttermost of his power cause equall and right iustice to be done in all iudgements and discretion in mercy and truth for as Bracton Bracton saith The King at his coronation The Kings oath at his coronation by an oathe taken in the name of Iesus Christ the sonne of God ought to promise his subiects thrée things The first that he will commaund and doe his whole indeuour during his raigne that true peace may be performed to the Church of God and all his people The second that he will by all meanes restraine euery kind of rapine and oppression The third that in all Iudgements he will commaund iustice and mercie to be obserued that by his mercifull dealing with others the God of mercie may take commiseration vpon him and that by his iustice all his people may enioy peace 2 Because authoritie to remitt and pardon Treasons Murders Manslaughters and other felonies with diuers others of the most ancient prerogatiues and authorities of Iustice appertaining to the imperiall Crowne of this Realme were seuered and taken from the saide Crowne by sundrie gifts of the Kings of this Realme to the great diminution and detriment of the royall estate of the same and to the hindrance and delay of iustifie For reformation whereof by a statute made Anno 27. H. 8. St. 27. H. 8. 25. it was enacted That no person or persons of what estate or degree soeuer they be shall haue anie power or authoritie to pardon or remit any treasons None but the king shal pardon treasons felonies c. murders manslaughters or felonies whatsoeuer they be nor any accessories to any treasons murders manslaughters or felonies or any outlawries for any such offences aforesaid committed done or diuulged by or against any person or persons in any parts of this Realme or Wales or the Marches of the same But that the King his heires and successors kings of this Realme shall haue the whole and sole power and authoritie thereof vnited and knit to the imperiall crowne of this realme as of good right and equitie it appertaineth any graunts vsages Acts of parliament or any other thing to the contrary notwithstanding 3 But because the Kings of this Realme haue not had that circumspection in graunting of pardons which Bracton doth thinke fit and haue béene many times deceiued in their grants by false suggestions and for that offendors in times past were greatly encouraged and lesse feared to offend in respect that pardons of manslaughters robberies felonies and other trespasses against the Peace were so easily graunted For the redresse whereof by a statute made Anno 2. Ed. 3. St. 2. Ed. 3. 2 it was ordained In which cases onely the K. may grant pardon of felonie c. That no such charters should be graunted but where the King may doe it by his oathe that is to say in case where a man doth kill an other in his owne defence or by misfortune which laide Statute was after rehearsed and confirmed by an other Statute made Anno 4. Ed. 3. St. 4. E. 3. 13 And also by another Statute made Anno 14. Ed. 3. St. 14. Ed. 3. 10. the effect of the same was rehearsed and confirmed and it was moreouer ordained That if any charter of pardon were from thenceforth graunted contrarie to the purport of the said Statutes that then the same should be accompted as voide 4 And though there be wordes large enough in the foresaide Statutes to make frustrate all those charters of pardon which be graunted against the forme of the same Statutes Non obstante in a pardon yet by putting into the Charters of pardon these wordes viz. Non obstante aliquo statuto actu ordinatione in contrarium edito the force of those Statutes be cleane taken away and not onely of those but also of all other in which this clause of Non obstante is inserted for it is a dispensation of the Statute and commonly put in euerie Letters patents But because the Kings of this Realme were oft times deceiued in granting of charters of pardon by the false and vntrue suggestion of others Therefore to auoide those abuses by a Statute made Anno 27. Ed. 3. St. 27. E. 3. 2 it was accorded That in euery charter of pardon of felonie The suggestion comprised in the pardon which shall be graunted at the suggestion of any person the suggestion and the name of him that maketh it shall be comprised in the same charter And if after the suggestion be found vntrue the Charter shall be disallowed and accounted nothing worth And the Iustices before whom such Charters shall be alleaged shall enquire of the same suggestions and if they finde them vntrue they shall disallow the Charters and procéede further as the Lawe requireth 5 Because the Commons did complaine in Parliament of the outrages mischiefes and dammages which did come to the Realme by treasons murders rauishments of women commonly done committed and the rather for that charters of pardon were too easily granted thereof and did desire the King that such charters of pardon might no more be granted in those Cases Whereunto the K. did answer that he would yéeld to their petition sauing the prerogatiue and regal authority which his progenitors before that time had And to the intent that the King would be certainely informed before of what offences he did graunt pardon Therefore by a Statute made Anno 13. R. 2. St. 13. R. 1. 1 Stat. 2. the King did graunt with the assent of the Parliament That no Charter of pardon shall be allowed before any Iustice for murder The offences shall be specified in the pardon for the death of a man slaine by awaite assault or malice prepensed treason or rape of a woman vnlesse the same murder death of a man slaine by awaite assault or malice prepensed treason or rape of a woman be specified in the same Charter And if a Charter of the death of a man be alleadged before any Iustice in which Charter it is not specified that hée of whose death any such is arraigned was murdered or slaine by awaite assault or malice prepensed the same Iustices shall enquire by a good Enquest of the visne where the dead was slaine if hée were murdered or slaine by awaite assault or malice prepensed And if they shall find that he was murdered or
not any release of the appellants made vnto him or any such other matter in discharge of the appeale for he shall come time enough to shew that when the appellant doth appeare vpon the Scire facias And the appellée may haue a Scire facias against the appellant though in the Charter there be not this clause viz. ita quod stet rectus in curia Fi. Char. 17 19 An appeale was brought against a principall and accessorie Non-sute doth not aide an appellee that is outlawed the principall was pursued to an Outlawrie whereupon an Exigent was awarded against the Accessorie returnable at a certaine day at which day the Plaintife was Non-suit in his Appeale and then the Principall came with a Charter of Pardon and prayed allowance thereof for that the plaintife was Non-suite which would not bée graunted by the Court for that the non-suit did not ayde him seeing the appeale was determined before against him by the Outlawrie 20 A man beeing arraigned of felonie pleaded not guiltie 8. Ed. 4. 29 and beeing demanded how he would be tried he shewed forth the Kings protection The Kings protection and said that the same was a sufficient discharge for him and would make none other answere whereupon the Iustices agreed that he should be put to his penance viz. to his paine for t dure And yet at another time Fi. Cor. 239 one béeing found guiltie of felonie shewed the Kings Charter which did not containe any pardon but onely that the King had retained him to goe with him into Gascoigne that was allowed and the Iustices did surcease to procéed any further against him Pardon of a felonie before it was committed 21 A. was indicted for that he did the 13. day of February Plo. com 401. anÌ„ 13. ReginÌ„ Eliz strike B. whereof the said B. died the 18. day of Iune then next following A. vpon his arraignmeÌ„t pleaded the generall pardon by Parliament by which all felonies offences misdemeanours c. in the act not excepted which might bée pardoned before and vntill the 14. day of February were pardoned released and discharged against the Quéene and auerred that neither hee nor the said offence were excepted in the said pardon and praied to be discharged And he was discharged by the said pardon for that the wound giuen by the prisoner was the cause of the felonie the giuing of which wound was an offence misdemeanour against the Crowne the which was pardoned by the Act of Parliament and by that meanes all acts ensuing vpon the same offence were pardoned ⧠Standing mute or answering indirectly AT some time he that is arraigned of felonie is so farre both from making confession of the felonie whereof he is indited and also of pleading not guiltie thereunto that hee will make no answer at all but stand mute of malice and euill will or otherwise plead such matter which is no answer to the felonie whereof hée is arraigned or such a peruerse plea which is no direct answer to the offence whereof he is indited Stand mute or not answering directly Or if he doe answer to the offence yet he will so conclude his plea that the same plea can haue no triall Fi. Cor. 233 283 359 4. Ed. 4. 11 Kel fol. 70. In all which cases he shall be put to his penance for contemning the law and refusing of the ordinarie triall deuised by the law that is to say he shall be put to paine grieuous and durable otherwise tearmed to paine fort dure and as it is commonly tearmed he shal be pressed to death Which paine is called grieuous for that it is so heauie and weightie that hée is not able to endure it and it is called durable because the offendor shall neuer haue ease or reliefe of it but shall die in it 2 The paine grieuous and durable was not at the common law but Felons refusing lawfull triall ordained by the Statute of Westminst 1. made anÌ„ 3. Ed. 1. St. 3. E. 1. 12 whereby it was enacted That notorious felons openly knowne of euill name who will not put themselues vpon enquests of felonies which men doe prosecute before the Iustices at the Kings suit shal be put in hard and strong prison as they which refuse to be tried by the law of the Realme But this is not to be intended of prisoners which be taken for light suspition By which Statute it doth appeare that none shal be adiudged to this paine if there be not euident or very probable matter to conuince him of the offence whereof he is arraigned or otherwise that he is a notable théefe or openly known to be of an euil name which the Iudge ought strictly to examine before hee procéed to iudgement against him â—â—nnance onâ—â— vpon an indictment and not vpon an appeale 3 The iudgement of pennance is only to be giuen when a prisoner is arraigned at the Kings suit and not where he is arraigned at the parties suit 21. Ed. 3. 18 for the words of the Statute be and will not put themselues vpon enquests of felonies which men do prosecute before the Iustices at the Kings suit and therefore in an appeale prosecuted at the suit of the party the iudgemeÌ„t of pennance viz. of paine grieuous durable shall not be giuen but another iudgement that is to say that the offendor shal be hanged And an offendor shal haue this iudgement of pennance at the K. suit 40. Ass p. 40 although that suit be begun before his due time viz. within the yeare after the offence committed where the king ought to haue taried vntill the yeres end for the interest of the party who was to pursue his appeale within the yeare Pennance for piracie 4 If a man be indicted and arraigned before Commissioners to heare and determine for Piracie and Robbery committed vpon the sea 7. El. Dyer 242. and he wil stand mute and not answere directly he shall haue iudgement of pennance viz. of painefort dure and that is by force of the statute of Anno 28. H. 8. St. 28. H. 8. 15. which hath ordained That all Treasons Felonies Robberies Murthers and confederacies committed vpon the Sea or in any other Hauen Riuer Créeke or place where the admirall hath or pretendeth to haue iurisdiction shal be inquired heard cried determined and iudged in such shires places in the realme as shal be limitted in the kings Commission or Commissions to be directed for the same in like forme as if any such offences had béene committed vpon the land And such Commissions shal be had vnder the great Seale directed to the Admirall or his Lieutenant and Deputy and to thrée or foure such other as shal be appointed by the Lord Chancelor as often as néed shal require to heare and determine such offences after the common course of the laws of this land vsed for Treasons Felonies Robberies Murthers and
Confederacies of the same committed vpon the land within this Realme And if any person happen to be indicted for any such offence done vpon the Seas or in any other place aboue limitted then such order proces iudgement and execution shall be vsed and made to and against euery such person so indicted as against Traytors Felons and Murderers for Treason Felony Robbery Murther or other such offences done vpon the land and such as shal be conuict of any such offeÌ„ce by verdict confession or proces shall suffer such paines of death losse of lands goods and cattels as if they had bin attainted and conuicted of any of the said offences done vpon the land No pennance for high Treason 5 The foresaid statute of West 1. maketh mention only of felons and felonies and therefore in high Treason whether it be by indictment 15. E. 4. 33 M. 3. 4. El. Dy. 205 300 or by any other meanes whatsoeuer the offendor shal not haue the said iudgement of pennance viz. of paine grieuous and durable but shall haue another iudgement that is to say as of a Traitor conuict No pennance for a man before attainted 6 If a man that is attainted of Felony be brought to the barre 8. H. 4. 2 26. As p. 19 and asked what cause he can shew why he should not be put to death and he will stand mute in this case he shal be hanged and not put to his penance for hee cannot put himselfe vpon an Enquest of felonie because he was attainted thereof before and so he is out of the case of the stat 7 If a man vpon his arraignement doth confesse the felony Standing mute after confession and before iudgement at another day he will stand mute by fraud and so it is found in this case he shal be hanged 14. E. 4. 7. and not put to his penance for his iudgement shall be giuen vpon his confession And so it is Demurring in law if he do demur in law vpon any point which is adiudged against him he shal be hanged for in both those cases he is out of the puruiew of the foresaid stat of West 1. And in like sort he shal be hanged and not put to his penance if he be indicted and arraigned for a murder or manslaughter committed within the Kings Palace or where hée doth abide according to the stat of Anno 33. H. 8. St. 33. H. 8. 12. if he do stand mute or will answer indirectly 8 In all cases where a man vpon his arraignement doth stand mute Inquirie of him that standeth mute before he shal be hanged put to his penance or otherwise suffer death it shal be inquired if he do stand mute by fraud or by the act of God for if it bee by the act of God 43. Ass p. 30 the Court ex officio ought to inquire if he be the same person and of all other pleas that he might haue pleaded if hée had not béene mute to haue staid execution M. 8. H. 4. 1. And this inquirie is but of office and shall be made by the Marshals seruants and others But if it be in case where an issue is ioyned by the consent of the parties and after when the Enquest doth come the prisoner doth stand mute there the Court shall charge the Enquest which appeareth therewith without putting any of the Marshals seruants vnto them and so change that which was a Iurie by the consent of the parties to an Enquest of office And their charge shall be to enquire of the time when he did speake and if he be mute of malice or in delay of his execution or by the act of God But this charge or inquirie ought not to be made or giuen where the prisoner did speak to the Court when he was at the bar and after the same day because he would not ioyne issue or challenge peremptorily aboue the number appointed to him by the law be adiudged to his penance for then it doth appear to the court that he doth it of malice 10. E. 4. 19 And the same law is if a prisoner after his confession or attainder hath continually remained in prison and is brought before the same Iustices before whom hée did confesse his felonie or was attainted to answer why execution should not be done of him and he will stand mute in this case there néedeth no inquirie to be made if he be the same person or not for that doth appeare to the Iustices by his continuall remaining in prison But it is otherwise if he goe at libertie after his attainder by abiuration outlawrie and such like 4. E. 4. 11. 14. Ed. 4. 7. 8. H. 4. 2. 9 The iudgement in the sayd penance The Iudgâ—ment in penance viz. in the said paine heauie and grieuous is That the prisoner shall be sent to the prison from whence hée came and put into a meane house stopped from light there shal be laid vpon the bare ground without any litter straw or other couering and without any garment about him sauing something to couer his priuie members and that he shall lie vpon his backe and his head shal be couered and his féet bare and that one of his armes shall be drawne with a cord to one side of the house and the other arme to the other side and that his legges shall be vsed in the same manner and that vpon his bodie shal be laid so much yron and stone as he can beare and more and that the first day after he shall haue thrée morcels of barlie bread without any drinke and the second day he shall drinke so much as he can thrée times of the water which is next the prison doore sauing running water The forfeiture without any bread and this shal be his diet vntil he die Fitz. Escheat 10. And he against whom this iudgement of penance shal be giuen shall forfeit to the king his goods but he shall forfeit no land Iudgement and Execution in Treasons Felonies c. HAuing written of Treasons Felonies shewed who be principals and who be accessories therein how the offendors therein are to be pursued by Appeales or inditements what pleas they may plead how they are to be tried that the truth of each persons innocency or guiltinesse may appeare I am now to treat of the iudgement execution which by the lawes statutes of this Realme must follow therupon As first Iudgement where the prisoner is acquit if he that is arraigned of treason or felonie be acquit thereof there is none other iudgement but that the Court doth discharge him paying his fées 2 The iudgement of a man attainted of high Treason is Iudgement in high treason of a man that he shall bée led backe againe to the place from whence he came and from thence be drawn vpon a hurdle to the place of execution and there be hanged by the necke
against the possessor of them to bring them into the same Court. And so the King shall haue the benefite of an action of trespasse Forfeiture of a trespasse which the partie attainted might haue had against the other for those goodes wrongfully taken or holden away But if he that was attainted were beaten or mayhemed by another the King shall not haue an action of trespasse of battery 29. As p. 63 30. Ed. 3. 4 appeale of mayheme or other remedy against that partie which did the foresaid iniurie to the person attainted for that the money to be recouered by the action of trespasse is reduced to no certaintie And if money be owing to a man by obligation or simple contract Forfeiture of a debt and after he to whome the money is payable is attainted of treason or felonie Fi. Cor. 343. that obligation and duetie shall be forfeited to the King And if one man or more be bound by obligation to two men or more for the paiment of a summe of money or any other dutie Ioynt debt forfeited and one of the Obligées is outlawed or attainted of treason or felonie the King shall haue the whole Obligation and the money or dutie arising or payable thereby 19. H. 6. 47. 28. H. 8. Dy. 30. and the King or he to whom the King will giue the same debt shall haue an action in his owne name to recouer it which action shall bée maintainable though there be variance betweene the action and the specialtie 50. As p. 5 28. Ed. 3. 92 And in like sort if a man be Receiuer to another of his money An account forfeited and hee to whom he is receiuer be attainted of Treason or Felonie after office found thereof the King may haue a Scire facias against the Receiuer to receiue this money and by that meanes the King shall haue the benefit of the action of account which the partie attainted might haue had Forfeitiâ—g of an interest And in some cases an offendor in treason or felonie shall forfeit an interest in lands whereof he himselfe neuer had or could haue possession but an authoritie to dispose As if hée that hath the reuersion of lands in fée simple whereof another hath the possession for the terme of yeares 14. El. Dy. 309 doth graunt and assure this land to others to the vse of himselfe for terme of his life and after his decease to the vse of the Executors and Assignes of the grauntor for the terme of twentie yeares next after the death of the grauntor the remainder ouer in taile and after the grantor is attainted of treason by Act of Parliament and all his lands tenements goods and cattels which he had to his owne proper vse were forfeited to the King and vested in his actuall possession without office and the grauntor died intestate without assignement of this lease In this case the King shall haue this terme of twentie yeares as forfeit to him for it was an interest in the grauntor and did and might well remaine in him in expectancie notwithstanding his estate for the terme of his life and if the grauntors executors should haue had this lease they must not haue enioyed it to their owne vse but as assets in their hands And though the King shall haue such goods The King shall not pay the attainted persons debts debts money due vpon accounts and interest in lands as were due to the partie attainted of treason Fi. Cor. 317 334. or felonie yet he shall not pay such debts as the said person attainted did owe. 11 As in the cases aforesaid and some others a person attainted may forfeit goods debts and rights whereof he hath no possession but onely an action or title so in some other cases hee may forfeit goods whereof he hath no propertie but onely a possession As if a man deliuer money out of a bagge Forfeiting of goods wherein the offendor hath no propertie or corne out of a sacke to another to kéepe and to restore againe when the owner will require it if the partie to whom the money or corne was deliuered be attainted of Treason or felonie the money or corne shal be forfeited to the King and the partie who deliuered the same hath no remedie to recouer it for the first owner who deliuered it cannot prooue that it was his money when it was out of a bagge or that it was his corne when it was out of a sacke for that one sort of money cannot be knowne from another nor one sort of corne from another Fi. Cor. 317 3â—3 But if the money were deliuered in a bagge or the corne in a sacke then the owner that deliuered it may come vnto the Iustices before whom the offendor is attainted and shewe the deliuerie of it and signifie that it was to be restored vpon his request whereof the Iustices shal enquire by an Enquest of office and if his suggestion be found to bée true hee shall haue his money or corne againe But if the money or other thing deliuered by the owner be conuerted to another commoditie then the law is otherwise as if a man deliuer money to another to buy wooll or some such other commoditie and to worke it lay it vp or to kéepe it in his house Fitz. Cor. 334. and the partie to whom the money is deliuered doth buy wooll or c. and bringeth it to his owne house and then is attainted of Treason or Felonie the King shall haue the wooll or c. as forfeit and the partie who deliuered the mony is without remedie to recouer his money or the wooll or c. for though hée might haue had an action of Account against the partie to whom hee deliuered his money if he had liued and remained vnattainted yet hée shall haue no action or remedie against the King Forf for default of pursuit 12 If a man doe steale goods at diuers times from seuerall men and he is attainted at the suit of one of them for the goods stolne from him 44. E. 3. 44. but is not attainted at the suit of the others by this attainder the felon shall forfeit to the King not onely his owne goods but also the goods stolne from those other at whose suit hée was not attainted though hee had no propertie but only a possession in those goods for a felon hath no propertie in goods stolne A felon hath no property in goods stolne but it doth alwayes remaine in the right owner which propertie in this case for default of pursuing the felon is forfeited to the King Forf of other mens goods his owne 13 In like sort if a man doe steale goods from another Fi. Cor. 318 and before his attainder hée doth kill himselfe hée shall forfeit to the King not onely his owne goods but also the goods which hée did steale from that other though hée had no propertie but
to him and so no other person is intituled to haue those goods the King shall haue them as confiscat according to the old text Quod non capit Christus capit fiscus And the appellant shal be thus punished by the losse of his goods for his negligence attenuating concealing of the robbers offence Confiscation by a false appeale 20 If a man bring an Appeale of Robberie against another which tooke the Appellants goods lawfully Fitz. Cor. 367. and not feloniously viz. found them in the high way it is so found by verdict in this case though the appellée hath no cause to detaine them against the appellant for that they were his owne goods yet the plaintife shall loose them for his false appeale and they shall bee confiscat to the King and also the appellant shall bée committed to prison for charging the defendant with robberie whom he did know came lawfully by the goods Co. li. 5. 110 and so for malitious séeking of a mans bloud without cause and the defendant shal be discharged 21 There is another kind of forfeiture of felons goods to the King which is called a waif A waife and that is when a felon vpon huy and cry or other pursuit after him or for feare to bee taken er otherwise to ease himselfe of carriage Co. li. 5. 109 doth without Huy and crye wayue cast away or goe from the goods that hée did steals and hath in his possession or some part thereof and doth flye away whereupon the Kings Officers or some other in the Kings right doth seise those goods Seising of a waife In this case the goods so seised be called a waife and the King shall retaine them to his proper vse if the owner of them doth not make fresh suit after the felon to attaint him for those goods And if the owner doe make fresh suit after the felon hée shall haue his goods againe notwithstanding the waiuing and seising of them And this forfeiture of goods by waife is a penaltie which the law imposeth vpon the owner of those goods for default of fresh suit against the felon and for omitting his duetie in pursuing and apprehending of the felon being a pernitious and corrupt member of the Commonwealth St. 21. H. 8. 11. And by the Statute of 21. H. 8. the Iustices before whom any felon or felons shal be found guiltie or otherwise attainted by reason of euidence giuen by the partie robbed or owner of any money goods or cattels robbed or by any other by his procurement haue power to award from time to time writs of Restitution for the said money goods or cattels as though any such Felon or Felons were attainted at the suit of the party in Appeale But if a felon doe steale goods Co. li. 5. 109 and carrie them into a Mannor and there leaue them or leaue them in his owne house or in the house of any other or in the custodie of any other or hide them in the ground or in any secret place and after doth flie these goods shall not be adiudged in law to be waiued nor shall bée forfeited for if the felon hath not the goods with him when he doth flie or doth waiue them for feare to be taken they shall not be accounted waiued or forfeited but the owner may take them againe without fresh suit for that there is no default in him 22 If a felon do steale goods and after doth waiue them The owner seiseth goods waiued the owner of them may reseise the same goods and carrie them away twentie yeres after the waiuing of them if in the meane time no Officer of the Kings nor of any Lord of a libertie 21. Ed. 4. 16. hath seised them before the owner But if any Officer of the Kings or of any Lord of a Franchise hath seised them before then the owner must sue an Appeale against the felon and so he may haue his goods againe if hée hath made fresh suit or else the owner must procure the felon to be indicted arraigned and found guiltie or otherwise to be attainted by euidence giuen by himselfe or by some other by his procurement and by that meanes obtaine a writ of Restitution to be awarded by the Iustices before whom the sayd felon shall be arraigned according to the foresaid statute of 21. H. 8. 11. And the like law is if a felon do steale goods and doth not waiue them nor any Huy and crie is made vpon him but one in the Kings right doth take the goods from the felon vpon suspition that he hath stolne them yet the owner vpon fresh suit shall haue restitution of them againe for it may be that the owner had not intelligence of the stealing of his goods a long time after they were stolne and then could not make fresh suit nor leuie huy and crie 23 There can be no waife but of goods stolne sauing in certaine cases for if one do take goods as a trespassor and doth goe from them No waife but of stoln goods no man can seise them as a waife P. 13. E. 4. 5 And therefore in an action of Trespas of goods taken away if the defendant do iustifie for a waife it is a good issue for the plaintife to ioine that the goods were not stolne And if a man do fly for a felonie and leaue his house goods yet those goods shall not be a waife for that they were not stolne And in some speciall case there may be a waife though there be no stealing Waif of goods not stolne as vpon a huy and cry leuied 29. E. 3. 29. a man that hath committed no felony doth leaue his owne goods and doth flie to a church those goods may be seised to the Kings vse for a waife No waife of goods stolne from an Alien 24 If the goods of an Alien which hath the Kings safe conduct both for bodie and goods be stolne from him and by the felon bée after wayued and refused yet those goods cannot bée claimed or seised by the Officers of the King or of any Lord of a Franchise for a waife for when the King hath graunted to the Alien safeconduct both in bodie and goods and this is a couenant betwéene the King and him then if a felon doe steale his goods and after waiue them it is no reason that the Alien should loose them and be put to sue against the felon but he must sue to the King vpon his couenant And therefore the K. cannot haue those goods as waife and by the same reason hee cannot graunt them to another neither can any haue them by prescription Forf of lands 25 As he that is attainted of Treason or Felonie shal loose his goods debts and rights Tenant for yeares so also shall be forfeit his leases for terme of yeares of lands the lands which he holdeth by extent of Statutes Recognisances or Iudgemēts his
not yéeld to be iustified and tried by the Law but will either kill himselfe or giue cause to other men to slay him Fi. Cor. 289 290 312. S. Br. 5. for resisting and not submitting his obedience to the Law then he shal forfeit his goods so that this offence be found and presented by twelue men before the Coroner or some Iustices after his death for in this case the default is in the offendor and not in the Law that he came not to lawfull triall of his offence for the law requireth no more but that the supposed offendor shal be safely kept sub custodia legis by imprisonment or maineprise vntill it be tried whether he be an offendor or not But though the person thus slaine shall for his disobedience forfeit his goods béeing not attainted either of treason or felonie yet in the like case he shall not forfeit his lands if hee bee slaine in arresting or after arrest or otherwise die before he be attainted St. 34. E. 3. 12. as it appeareth by the Stat. of an̄ 34. Ed. 3. 12. which hath established That for forfeitures of dead persons not attainted nor adiudged in their liues their heires or land-tenants shall not be impeached or challenged nor of any other forfeiture except the forfeitures in old time adiudged after the death of the persons by presentment in Eyre or in the Kings bench or of felons of themselues or others And yet some doe affirme if a man doe leuie warre or open rebellion against the King or is assistant to his enemies in the field and then is slaine in battell he shall forfeit his lands goods And others doe adde thereunto that the same his Treason and manner of death must also after his death be found by a Iurie super visum corporis Co. li. 4. 57 Pl. Com. 262. 263. before the chiefe Iustice of England being the soueraigne Coroner of the realm and he must returne it into the Kings Bench and make a Record therof and then that person shall forfeit his lands and goods And vpon those words of the sayd Statute of 34. Ed. 3. viz. Except the forfeitures in old time adiudged after the death of the persons by presentment in Eire or in the Kings Bench or c. some doe inferre that if a presentment in Eire or in the Kings Bench be made of such an open rebellion and battell thereupon foughten and of those that manifestly shewing themselues to bée open enemies or rebels to the King were slaine therein that by the words of the same Statute they shall forfeit their lands But if a man bée arrested for counterfeiting the K. great or priuie Seale for forging of his money or for a priuy conspiracie of the death of the King or c. and is slaine in resisting the said arrest or for a rescous attempted before or after the sayd arrest hee shall forfeit his goods but not his lands And if he bée arrested for any of the sayd offences and committed to prison for the same and after doth dye in prison before he bee attainted of any of the sayd offences he shall neither forfeit lands nor goods though he be taken with the manoure viz. found hand hauing and backe bearing for though it is a mischiefe that a man committing high Treason shall forfeit neither life lands or goods yet the law doth rather beare with that mischiefe than to suffer such an inconuenience that a man onely accused or but only a supposed offendor should bée attainted and forfeit his lands and goods where being preuented by death viz. by the hand of God hee cannot come to answer and defend himselfe and by that meanes cannot bée condemned by such lawfull tryall which is meant and specified in the before rehearsed Statute of Magna charta But for the auoiding of questiō and doubt in the case aforesaid they which haue béene knowne parties to such open and manifest rebellions St. 29. H. 6. 1 St. 12. El. 16 St. 29. El. 1 St. 35. El. 5. St. 3. Iac. 2. haue béen of late yeares attainted by Act of Parliament and their lands and goods giuen as forfeit to the King As it appeareth by the stat of Anno 29. H. 6. 13. El. 29. El. 35. El. 3. Iac. The forf of the yeare day and wast 31 There is another forfeiture besides the losse of life lands annuities Fi. Cor. 310 290. 327. and goods wherewith the law hath deuised to punish those that doe commit petit Treason or Felonie and be attainted thereof which is called in Latine the forfeiture of Diem annum vastum the forfeiture of the yeare day and wast which is executed vpon the houses and lands of the offendor that be holden of any other sauing of the king That is the felons houses and lands shall bée seised into the Kings hands where they shall remaine by the space of a yeare and day and then the houses shall be throwne downe to the ground the trées shall be pulled vp by the roots the medowes shal be ploughed vp and all things which the felon did build or plant shal be cast downe digged vp Fitz. Cor. 358. and supplanted Which punishment was ordained in despight of offendors and to shew to others how much the law doth detest murderers committers of burglarie robberie and other felonies and as much as may be to terrifie and discourage others to attempt or practise the like 32 It appeareth by Bracton that by the common law the King should haue had but onely the wast of a Felons lands viz. the benefit to pull downe his houses root vp his trées plough vp his medowes and such other commodities as he could haue raised by spoyling and wasting of the felons houses trées and lands and that then the land so wasted should haue béene presently deliuered to the Lord of the fée of whom the same lands were holden which wast and spoyle was then made without redemption And after by a composition made betwéene the King and the Lords it was agréed By what means the K. came by the yere day and wast That the King should haue the benefit of the felons lands a yeare and a day to redeeme the spoyle and wast which hée might make of the sayd felons lands And the K. graunt by the great Charter made Anno 9. H. 3. St. 9. H. 4. 3 22. tendeth to the same effect viz. Wee will not hold the lands of those that bée conuict of felonie but a yere and a day and then they shall bée deliuered to the Lords of the fées And so it séemeth that King Henrie the third and King Edward the first did hold themselues satisfied with the yeare and day of the felons lands without taking the wast thereof St. 17. E. 2. 16 But after Anno 17. Ed. 2. the Kings Prerogatiues royall béeing expressed or enacted by Parliament amongst others it is ordayned That the King shall haue all the goods of felons which be
the prisoner did flye for the Felony in this case the same prisoner shall forfeit those goods which hee had the day of the verdict giuen and not any goods which he had before And so it is if one be conuict by verdict 7. H. 4. 41. the goods shall be forfeited which the offendor had the day of the verdict giuen and not those which he had before And he that is outlawed of Treason or Felony shall forfeit those goods which he hath at the time of the Exigent awarded and not those which he had before and hath aliened But if a man doe commit a Treason or Felony and is arrested thereof and as he is in carrying to a Iustice of Peace to be examined or to the Gaole by the Constables or others doe breake away or in making of rescous or resistance is slaine by those which do so carry him because he will not yéeld and be iustified by the law Fi. Cor. 290 in this case those goods shal be forfeited which he had at the time of the felony committed And so it is if one commit a Felony and when the Shirife Coroner Constable or others do attempt to apprehend him he is slain because he doth resist and will not yeeld to be arrested the goods shal be forfeited which he hath at the time of the felony committed 44 It appeareth by the statute of 3. Ed. 1. St. 3. E. 1. intituled Officium Coronatoris Who shal seise and keepe Felons goods and when That if any person be found guilty before the Coroner of the death of another presently the Coroner shall goe to his house and inquire what cattell hee hath and what corne he hath in his graunge and what on the ground and if he be a Fréeman what land he hath and how much it is worth by the yeare and when they haue so inquired of all things they shall cause the land the corne and cattell to bée priced as if they should be forthwith sold and immediatly they shall be deliuered to the whole Towne to answere for the same before the Iustices And in like sort when it is found before the Coroner that one did flye for a Felony 22. Ass p. 96 the Shirife shall presently seize his lands into the Kings hands by word without Enquest and also shall seize all his goods into the Kings hands and shall appraise them by an Enquest as well of Villaines as of Freemen and the prices shalbée inrolled in the Coroners Roll and deliuered to the Towne to answere to the King for the same for by that which is found before the Coroner the goods bée forfeited without further inquiry 43. E. 3. 24 And so may another Officer of the Kings seize the goods of a Felon before attainder and if the Felon doth find surety the Officer must leaue them in his custody But whether hée doth find surety or not the Officer ought not to carry them away but must leaue them in the custodie of the Felons neighbours For if one bée indicted of Felony his goods shall not be remoued forth of his house vntill he be attainted 7. H. 4. â—1 but shal be kept by his neighbours all the time of his imprisonment and the Felon shal be maintained with them And according thereunto there is a writ in the Register Registrum viz. Quod tenementa bona taliter capta videantur imbreuiantur saluo custodiantur per balliuum ipsius capti qui securitatem Regiinueniet ei respondendi si c. saluis inde ipfi capto familiae suae necessarijs quamdiu fuerit in prisona By which writ it doth appeare and also by the assertions of Bracton and Britton that one which is indicted or imprisoned for Felony shall not bée put out of the possession of his goods vntill he be conuict of Felony but he must haue reasonable maintenance of his goods for him and his family vntill he bée conuict and then that which doth remaine shal be the kings And yet the felon must not disorderly sell or wast his goods and so this difference is to be obserued in seising of a Felons goods viz. where the goods be forfeited before the felony tried and where they be not forfeited vntill the felony tried For if they be forfeited before the felony tried they shal be presently seised vpon the forfeiture of them though there be no conuiction of felony as in the foresaid cases where one is found guilty before the Coroner of the death of another or where it is found before the Coroner that one did flie for a felony But if they be not forfeited vntill the felony tried then they shall not be seised vntill the Felon be conuicted The goods of a prisoner shal not be seised vntill he be attainted 45 And because that diuers persons were often arrested and imprisoned for suspition of Felony sometime of malice and sometime of light suspition and were kept in prison without baile or mainprise and for that sometime shirifes escheators baylifes of Liberties and others did seise and take away the goods of some persons arrested or imprisoned for Felony before the same person was conuict or attainted of the same Felony contrary to the common law Therefore partly to confirme the common law and partly to giue to the party grieued a more ample recompence for his wrong receiued then the coÌ„mon law before did viz. to giue him the double value of his goods so takeÌ„ or seised where the common law gaue him the single value and partly to giue him a speedy remedy to recouer the same there was a stat made AnnÌ„ 1. R. 3. St. 1. R. 3. 3 by the which it is ordained That no Shirife Vndershirife Escheator Baylife of Franchise or other person shall take or seise the goods of any person arrested or imprisoned before the same person or persons so arrested or imprisoned be conuict or attainted of such felony according to the law of England or otherwise that the same goods be in some manner lawfully forfeited vpon paine to loose the double value of the goods so taken to him or them which be endamaged therby by action of Debt in this behalfe to be pursued by like proces iudgement execution as is commonly vsed in other actions of Debt pursued at the common law wherin no wager of law essoine or protection shall be allowed This stat of 1. R. 3. exteÌ„deth only to those that be arrested or imprisoned for notwithstanding this statute the shirife may seise the goods of them which be at liberty and indicted of felony at the second Capias by force of the stat of 25. E. 3. St. 2â— E. 3. 14 as it appeareth Appeales 59. 46 The custody of the goods of those which be conuict of Felony Who shal haue the custody of felons goods forfeited or which be Fugitiues after they be forfeited doth belong to the Towne where the same goods be or where the
Felon both dwell and therefore vpon a fugam fecit presented before the Coroner 22. As p. 96. the goods ought to be seised by the Shirife and praysed by an Enquest and the appraisement must bée inrolled in the Coroners Roll and the goods shal be deliuered to the towne to answere to the king for them Fi. Cor. 366 and though the goods be not deliuered to the towne yet if the goods were in the Felons possession at the time of his conuiction or flying the towne shall answere for them And some do affirme that the shirife and the Dozeners may seize Felons goods into the kings hands and the shirife shall deliuer those goods to the towne to answere to the king at the comming of the Iustices in Eyre But if neither the Shirife nor the Dozeners doe seize the same goods yet the towne shall answere to the king for them at the comming of the Iustices in Eyre For as soone as a fugam fecit is found before the Coroner Fi. Forf 32 the towne shal be presently charged with the goods of him that did flye away And though it be presented before the Iustices that a Felon was deliuered to the shirife with the manoure and with all his goods yet the towne shal be charged with the said Felons goods though the same was found and presented with intent to ease or discharge the same town And in like sort notwithstanding it doth appeare by the Coroners Roll Fi. Cor. 300 that the goods of a Felon were deliuered to one man of the town yet the king shall leuy those goods of the whole towne But when the shirife doth come to leuy those goods of the town by the shirifes consent they may be leuied of him only who had them in custody Fit Co. 181 One that was indicted of Felony appeared at the Exigent and pleaded and was acquit and his goods being forfeited because he did not come in before the Exigent awarded were praised by the Enquest which acquitted him at forty shillings and the same Enquest found what towne was charged with them which said presentment of the Enquest was inrolled and it was adiudged that the same towne may seize the same Felons goods in what place soeuer they can find them And because the towne where the Felons goods be shall answere for them therefore they which doe take into their possession any of the same Felons goods and other goods which do belong vnto the king as Deodands and such like are to be amerced by the Iustices in Eyre if the same goods be not deliuered vnto them by the towne which hath the charge of them for that the same towne hath the custody of them But by a Statute made Anno 31. Ed. 3. St. 31. E. 3. 3 the towne shal be eased of this charge if they can shew what other person hath detained those goods and that they could neuer haue possession of them the words of which statute be If any man or towne be charged in the Exchequer by the Estreats of the Iustices of the goods of Fugitiues and Felons and he will alledge in discharge of himselfe another that is chargeable he shal be heard and right shal be done And therfore if it be found by office before the Escheator that the goods of a man attainted of Felony be in the custody of such a person in this case a Scire facias shal be awarded vpon the same office against the said person to shew if he hath any thing to say why he should not answer those goods But if it be found by the Enquest which did attaint the Felon before Iustices of Gaole deliuery Iustices of Oier and Determiner or Iustices of Peace that any person doth detaine the goods of a Felon attainted the said Iustices cannot award proces thereupon against the party that doth detaine the same goods but they must send their Estreats into the Exchequer and the officers of the exchequer will award proces against the same party to leuy the same goods And yet if he that is presented to detaine the same goods do find himselfe grieued therewith he cannot haue a Trauerse in the Exchequer to that which is found by the Iury because the court of Exchequer hath not the record before thē neither can he trauerse the same before the Iustices of Gaole deliuerie Iustices of Oyer and Determiner or Iustices of peace for that they cannot award a Supersedeas to the Barons of the Exchequer to surcease their Proces But his onely remedie in this case is to procure a Certiorari to remooue the Record into the Kings Bench and there to tender his trauerse and auerrement and to haue a Supersedeas from thence to the Barons of the Exchequer to surcease their Proces And the same law is if the like thing be found by an Enquest in the Kings Bench after they haue deliuered their Records thereof into the Exchequer And a man which was indicted for the taking of goods of one that was attainted of Treason was put to the answer thereof So that sithence the sayd statute of 31. Edw. 3. others haue béene charged with felons goods as well as townes But the Sherife was alwayes charged with the profits of felons fugitiues lands Fi. Cor. 39◠according to the extent thereof The Sherife charged with felons lands and not any towne And so he was charged with goods cōfiscat as where vpō an indictment of felonie Fitz. Cor. 355. 368. the manoure is brought into the Court and the partie indicted doth disclaime therein by this disclaimer the King shall haue the manoure and the Sherife shall be charged therewith And the same manoure shall be praysed by the Enquest that doth trye the felonie and if it be found by the same Iurie that it was impaired by the Constable or any other who had the same in kéeping the Sherife shal be commaunded to leuie so much in value as it was impaired by the said Constable or other And in some cases the Sherife shall be charged with a felons goods Fitz. Cor. 290. 308. and not the towne where the felon did dwel or where his goods remained but that must be by agréement betwéene the said Sherife and the towne To whom the forf of lands for high treason shal accrue 47 In High treason the King shall haue the forfeiture of the offendors lands of whom soeuer they be holden and that by the common law for the offence committed is not to any subiect but to the Soueraigne gouernour himselfe his Crowne and Realme which is an offence of so high a nature that it cannot be recompenced with all that the offendor hath and then it should bée lesse counteruailed if any other should bée partaker with the King therin And the meane Lords shall receiue no losse thereby for they had nothing in the land but a Seigniorie out of it And if they hold ouer of the King by the like seruices then haue they lost
that all men may kill him without punishment and specially if he defend himselfe or flie away in such sort that he may be hardly apprehended But if he doe not flie or defend himselfe then he that killeth a man so taken shal answere for him as for any other man for that life and death be in the kings hands vnlesse there be a custome to the contrary as in the Counties of Hereford and Glocester And he shal forfeit the benefit of Law for he which being outlawed will be so bold as to returne without the kings licence shall die without law or further examination in iudgement And he cannot appeale others for he hath lost the benefit of law and carieth with him his iudgement vpon his head he can haue no defence so long as the Outlary standeth in force It is vpright iustice that he shal perish without law and iudgement who refuseth to liue according to the law And he shall forfeit his right and possession of all things that he hath gotten or may get And all bonds obligations homages fealties oathes and other contracts made with him be dissolued which can neuer be reuiued but vpon a new contract though he be restored And he shal forfeit all his tenements and hereditaments from him and his heires and euery action that was due to him before his Outlary though he be after restored by the kings pardon And Outlary of felony and euery other iudgement of felony doth dissolue all the gifts sales of land that he made sithence the time of the felony committed The outlawes goods shal be the kings for he cannot be outlawed in any other place but in the kings Court as in the Country Court or in the Hustings of London ⧠Corruption of Blood 1 BY attainder of Treason or Felony commeth corruption of Blood that is to say that the offendors children cannot be heires to him that is attainted nor to any other auncestor Corruption of blood salued by Parliament only And if the offendor were a Nobleman or a Gentleman before by this attainder he is become ignoble and not onely he himselfe but also all his children hauing respect to the Nobilitie which they had by their birth And this corruption of Blood is so grieuous that it cannot bee salued otherwise then by authoritie of Parliament But if the King will pardon the offendor it will cleanse the corruption of blood of those children which be borne after the pardon and they which be borne after the pardon may inherite the land which their auncestor purchased at the time of the pardon or after but so cannot they which were borne before the pardon And also he that is attainted of Treason or Felony shall not bee heire to his father but his disabilitie shall hinder others to be heire so that during his life the land shall rather escheat to the lord of the fée 27. Ed. 3. 77. Fi. Petit. 20 then discend to another But if he that is attainted doe die without issue of his body during the life of his auncestor then his younger brother sister or cousin shall inherite for if the eldest sonne be hanged Fi. Discēt 6. 26. As p. 2. or doth abiure the Realme for Felony during the fathers life it is no impediment but that the youngest sonne may inherite 29. As p. 11 13. H. 4. 8. Fit Discent 17. And if he which is attainted of Treason or Felony in the life time of his auncestor doe purchase the Kings pardon before the death of his auncestor yet he shall not be heire to his said auncestor but the land shall rather escheat to the lord of the fée But if the eldest sonne be a Clerke conuict in the life of his father and after his father dieth in this case he shall inherite his fathers land because he was not attainted of Felony for by the common Law hée should haue inherited after hée had made his purgation And now by the Statute of Anno 18. Eliz. hée shall bee forthwith enlarged after burning in the hand Fi. Cor. 382 St. 18. Eli. 6. and deliuered out of prison and not committed to the Ordinary to make his purgation and so he is in case as if he had made his purgation Where corruption of blood shall preiudice tenant by the courtesie 2 If a man that hath land in the right of his wife haue issue 13. H. 7. 17 and doth commit Felony for the which he is attainted and the king doth pardon him in this case if his wife doe die before him he shall not be tenant by the courtesie for the corruption of blood of that issue But it is otherwise if he hath issue after the pardon for then he shall be tenant by the courtesie although the issue which he had before the pardon be not inheritable The eldest sonne attainted of felony during his fathers life 3 If a man seised of lands hath issue two sonnes 32. H. 8. Dyer 48. and the eldest is attainted of Felony in the life of his father and is executed for the felony or otherwise dieth during the life of his father and after the father dieth seised of the land the land shal discend to the youngest sonne as heire to his father if the eldest sonne hath no issue then liuing But if the eldest sonne that was attainted hath any issue in life which should haue inherited but for the attainder the land shall escheat to the lord and not discend to the younger brother for that the blood of the eldest brother is corrupted Where an attainder but n◠corruption of blood 4 S. Forfeiture 27 That the attainder of Treason or Felony in certaine cases shal not extend to make any corruption of blood the disinheritance of any heire forfeiture of any dower nor to preiudice the right or title of any person other then of the offendor or offendors during his or their naturall liues only ⧠Restitution of stolne goods 1 HAuing written of Robberies and other Felonies and declared how Felons are to be prosecuted by Arrest Appeale Indictment Arraignment Tryall and Iudgement and what they shall forfeit I meane now to shew how true men whose goods were robbed stoln or feloniously taken from them by such Felons shall be restored to their goods againe As it is necessary for the Commonwealth that Felons should be punished least the impunity of some should incourage them and also allure others to commit the like offences so is it fit that they chiefely whose goods were taken from them and therby haue tasted the smart and receiued the losse by the Felons and are more likely to know who they be and where they be then others are should doe their vttermost endeauor to procure those Felons to be apprehended brought to their answers and to haue them punished according to their demerits that is to say he that was robbed What is fresh suit or whose goods were stolne from him ought presently after the
guiltie thereunto if the Coroner doth record that he did at another time confesse it before him And if an Approuer Approuer to prolong his life doe appeale others where there be none such and that bee testified by the Coroner the Approuer shall be hanged 25. Ed. 3. 24. without further enquirie of the approuement Who ought to appeare vpon the Coroners inquisition 12 By the Statute of Marlbridge made Anno 52. H. 3. St. 52. H. 3. 24. it was ordayned That vpon an inquisition to be taken by a Coroner of the death of a man euerie one of the age of twelue yeares ought to appeare except they haue a reasonable excuse of their absence The Coroner may take appeals 13 And though the foresayd Statute of Officium Coronatoris doe make mention but of certaine Appeales as â—n Appeale of Rape Mayhem c. yet the Coroner with the Sherife hath authoritie to take Appeales of Robberie and other Felonies and also to take the Appeale of an Approuer in this sort and manner following viz. he may take an Appeale of Robberie or other felonie committed in the same countie where he is Coroner and not elsewhere But he may take the Appeale of an Approuer of an offence committed in any countie of England and the reason of this difference is because by the approuement the Approuer is attainted of Felonie but so is not the offendor in the other case and therefore if in the former case he should receiue such an Appeale of Robberie Fitz. Cor. 437. or other Felonie it could not be tryed by a Iury of the countie where he is Coroner for that the felonie was committed in a forrein countie And yet in the foresaid case of approuement in another countie the Coroner cannot award Proces thereupon but he must enter it into his roll and send it to the Iustices of Gaole deliuerie Fitz. Cor. 462. who shall award Proces vnto the Sherife of that forreine countie to apprehend him which is so appealed And as the Coroner may take the Appeale of an Approuer in another countie so vpon the same reason he may take the abiuration of one which hath confessed a felonie committed by him in another countie Fitz. Cor. 416. 14 If the Coroner shall find any person drowned in a daungerous pond or pit he must commaund the towne where the same pond or pit is to stop it vp Stopping vp a place of danger and enter the same his commandement into his Roll And if after it bée found before the Iustices in Eire that the same pond or c. is not stopped vp the whole towne where it is shal be amerced 15 Though there be diuers Coroners in a Countie Where the presence of all the Coroners is requisit and where but of some one of them yet it is not requisit to haue more than one to enquire vpon the sight of a dead bodie And in like sort one is sufficient to giue iudgement vpon an Outlawrie 14. H. 4. 35 39. H. 6. 41. and in Redisseisin it is sufficient to haue two Coroners But where Proces is to bee awarded to the Coroners in default of the Sherife there all the Coroners within the Countie ought to serue or otherwise it is not good for they execute that office as ministers and not as Iudges as they doe in other cases And by the statute of Anno 23. H. 6. St. 23. H. 6. 11. euery of the Coroners shall bée present in his proper person at the assessing of the wages of the Knights of the same Shire for the Parliament with the Sherife Vndersherife Baylifes and others that will be present to assesse the wages of the sayd Knights after the deliuerance of the Kings writ De solutione feodi Militum Parliamenti and proclamation thereof made vpon paine of forfeiture of euery of them making default xl sÌ„ to the King St. 1. 2. P. M. 13. 16 By the Statute made Anno 1. 2. P. M. it is ordained The Coroner must record the euidence and bind the parties to giue it That euery Coroner vpon any inquisition before him found whereby any person shall bée indicted for murder or maÌ„slaughter or as accessory to the same before the murder or manslaughter committed shall put in writing the effect of the euidence giuen to the Iurie before him being materiall And he hath authoritie to bind all such by Recognisance or Obligation as doe declare any thing materiall to prooue the sayd murder or manslaughter or to be accessorie to the same to appeare at the next generall gaole deliuerie to be holden within the countie citie or towne corporat where the tryall thereof shall be then and there to giue euidence against the partie so indicted at the time of his tryall and shall certifie as well the same euidence as such bond in writing which he shall take together with the Inquisition or Indictment before him taken and found at or before his sayd tryall to be made And if any Coroner shall offend in any thing to the contrarie then the Iustices of gaole deliuerie for the Shire Citie Towne or place where such offence shal be committed vpon due proofe thereof by examination before them shall for euerie such offence set such fine on such Coroner as they shall thinke méet Inquirie of a man slaine within the K. house verge 17 Forasmuch as heretofore many felonies that haue béene committed within the Verge haue béene vnpunished because the Coroners of the county haue not béene authorized to inquire of felonies done within the Verge but onely the Coroner of the Kings house which neuer continueth in one place by reason whereof there can be no triall made in due manner nor the selons put in Exigent nor outlawed nor nothing presented in the Eire which hath beene great damage to the King and to the hindrance of his peace For the redresse whereof by a Statute made Anno 28. Ed. 1. St. 28. E. 1. 3 intituled Articuli super chartas it was ordained That if the death of a man where the Coroners Office is to make view and Enquest doth chaunce in any countie where the Kings house is and within the Verge the Coroner of the same countie shal be commanded with the Coroner of the Kings house to execute his office and to inroll it And that thing which cannot be determined before the Steward shall bee committed to the common law so that Exigents Outlawries and Presentments shal be thereupon made to the Iustices in their circuits by the Coroner of the countie as well as of other felonies done out of the Verge Neuerthelesse they shal not omit by reason hereof to make attachmeÌ„ts freshly vpon the felonies done Which foresaid statute for so much thereof as doth touch or concerne the K. house onely is in part altered by the statute of Anno 33. H. 8. St. 33. H. 8. 12. whereby it is ordayned Inquirie if a
man be slaine within the K. house verge That all Inquisitions vpon the view of persons slaine within any of the Kings Palaces or houses or any other house at such time as he shall bee abiding in his royall person viz. within Edifices Courts places gardens orchards or houses within the Porters ward of any of the house or houses aboue rehearsed or within any gardens priuie walkes orchards tylt-yards wood-yards tenice playes cocke fights bowling allyes neere adioyning to any of the houses aboue rehearsed and being part of the same or within two hundred foot of the standard of any outward gate or gates of any of the houses aboue rehearsed commonly vsed for passage out or from any of the house or houses aboue specified shal be taken by the Coroner of the houshold of the King or his heires without adioyning of any other Coroner of any Shire by the othes of twelue or more of the Yeomen officers of the Kings c. houshold returned by the two Clerkes Comptrollers the Clerkes of the Checke Clerks Marshall or one of them for the time being of the foresayd houshold to whom the sayd Coroner shall direct his Precept which Coroner c. shall be assigned by the L. Steward for the time being And the said Coroner shall from time to time for euer without delay certifie vnder his Scale and the Seals of such persons as shal be so sworne before him all such Inquisitions Indictments and Offices vpon the view of all dead bodies which shall bee slaine within any of the K. Palaces or houses or other house aforesaid before the sayd L. Steward and in his absence before the Treasurer Comptroller and Steward of the Marshalsey or before two of them whereof the said Steward of the Marshalsey to be one And such Inquisitions and Offices so certified shal be taken as good to all intents as any Inquisition taken vpon the view of the bodie of any person being dead by any Coroner of any countie of this Realme hath béene or shal be adiudged St. 28. E. 1. 3 18 Whereas the foresaid stat of 28. E. 1. hath ordained One man Coroner of the K. house and of the county That if the death of a man doth chance in any county where the K. house is and within the Verge the Coroner of the same countie shal be commanded with the Coroner of the K. house to execute his office and to inroll it But if a murder or manslaughter be found within the countie of M. within the Verge by an Inquisition taken before one which is then both one of the Coroners of the county of M. and also Coroner of the K. house Co. li. 4. 46. and then there one is indicted of the same murder or manslaughter this is a good indictment for the intent and meaning of the said stat of 28. Ed. 1. is performed though not by two persons yet by one man hauing two offices and also the mischiefe recited in the said Act is auoyded for though the Court doth remoue yet the Coroner of the county may procéed ⧠Who shall be Iudge of Treason and Felonie 1HAuing written at large of Treasons and Felonies and shewed what sorts and how many of either of them there be and which of those were deliuered vs by the common law and which ordained by statute And declared who be principals and who be accessories in the said crimes how the offendors therein vpon a pricke and guilt of conscience doe ofttimes breake prison and indeuor to escape and how by Huy and cry and other means they be apprehended and brought to be tryed by the iustice of the law how they be accused by Appeals or Indictments in what sort they shal be restained and kept sub custodia legis in prison or by mainprise or bail vntil they haue answered their said offences And also hauing expressed what pleas the partie accused hath to plead for himselfe or other helps to defend himselfe by whom and what means those pleas shal be examined and what fauours bee affoorded him in the tryall therof and what iudgement execution forfeitures the law doth inflict vpon those that in contempt of her do commit the said capitall and most grieuous offence And further hauing dilated how a true man being vpon malice and falsly charged with felony by an Appeale or Indictment shall in some satisfaction of his discredit and losses recouer damages against the appellant his abettors or the conspirators And hauing laid open the authority duty of the Coroner who is a most antient officer of trust in this Realm a speciall preseruer of the peace of the King and the kingdome I am now lastly to write who shall bee Iudge in the foresaid Treasons and Felonies and shal inflict punishment vpon euerie transgressor of the said lawes according to his desert Wherein is to be considered that the dead letter of the common or statute law cannot be that Iudge to inquire of felons examine them commit them to prison indict them arraigne them allow them their lawfull triall examine their causes and yéeld them iustice according to their seueral demerits by acquital or condemnation but it must be Lex loquēs viz. That Iudge must be a man of learning and vprightnesse which by his mouth will speake and attribute to euery person that which the wisdome and integritie of his heart doth conceiue to be iust lawfull and due vnto them And though that Iudge ought so to be countenanced and protected by the regall authoritie that he shall not néed to feare the face of any man for doing of iustice and shall be enabled to crush and suppresse all offences within his iurisdiction yet the king himselfe cannot be that Iudge The K. cannot be Iudge in Treason or Felonie nor sit in iudgement in causes of treason or felonie because he is one of the parties to the iudgement for al treasons felonies be done be supposed to be done contrary to the peace crowne dignitie of the K. And further the escheates and other forf of lands leafes goods and cattels which do come by the attainder of any person of treason or felonie do for the most part by the law accrue to the king And so if the King might be Iudge hee should bee Iudge in his owne cause which Ius gentium doth not permit But the King by his Commission may commit that authoritie to others who may iudge betwéene him and the supposed offendor What sort of men ought to be Iudges And the King ought to make choyce of such a man to be Iudge as is wise and doth feare God who hath truth in his mouth and no couetousnesse in his heart who will neither decline from the troden path of iustice to the right hand nor to the left for the hope of prosperity or feare of aduersitie nor will draw the Kings sword to reuenge his owne wrongs who will denie iustice to none neither himselfe will expect or
enacted That the wife or heire of any person murdered or slaine Iudges in appeale of murder or manslaughter as case shall require may commence their Appeale in proper person at any time within the yere after the felony done before the Sherife Coroners where the said felonie and murder was done or before the King in his Bench or Iustices of Gaole deliuerie 9 To the intent to inable the Iust Iustices of Nisi prius Iudges in felonie treason of Nisi prius to giue iudgement of such persons as be either attainted or acquit of treason or felonie by a stat made an 14. H. 6. it was established St. 14. H. 6. 1 That the Iust before whom Enquests Inquisitions and Iuries shal be taken by the K. writ of Nisi prius according to the form of the stat thereof made shall haue power of all the cases of felony and of treason to giue iudgement Though this stat of 14. H. 6. doth giue authoritie to Iustices of Nisi prius to giue iudgement as wel vpon acquital 10. Ed. 4. 14 as vpon attainder of treason or felonie notwithstanding if in an Appeale the defendant bée acquit before them they cannot award damages against the plaintife Awarding of damages and inquiring of abettors nor inquire of abettors for their power by this stat extendeth but to treason and felonie onely wherof they may giue iudgement and of nothing else for the awarding of damages and inquiring of abettors doth yet remaine as it was at the common law St. 33. H. 8. 23. 10 By the stat of Anno 33. H. 8. it is ordained Iudges of murders by speciall commission That if any person or persons being examined before the K. Counsell or thrée of them vpon any maner of murders do confesse any such offences or that the said Counsell or thrée of them vpon such examination shall thinke any person so examined to bée vehemently suspected of any murder then in euery such case by the kings commandement the K. Commission of Oyer and Terminer vnder the great Seale shal be made to such persons and to such Shires or places as shal be appointed by his Highnesse for the spéedie tryall conuiction or deliuerance of such offendors which Commissioners shall haue authoritie to inquire heare and determine all such murders within the Shire and places limited by their Commission by such good and lawfull persons as shall bee returned before them by the Sherife his minister or other hauing power to returne writs proces for that purpose in whatsoeuer other Shire or place within the K. dominions or without such offences were cōmitted But Péers of the realme being indicted of the said offence shall be tried by their Péeres This stat was also made for the triall of treasons and misprision of treasons by speciall commission But by the stat St. 1. 2. P. M. 10. of an 1. 2. P. M. it was enacted That all trials to bee made for any treasons shal be only vsed according to the course of the common law 11 Where Traitors Pirats Théeues Robbers Murderers and confederators vpon the Sea many times escaped vnpunished because the tryall of their offences hath heretofore béene ordered iudged and determined before the Admirall or his Lieutenant or Commissarie after the course of the Ciuile lawes the nature whereof is that before any iudgement of death can be giuen against the offendors either they must plainly confesse their offences which they will neuer doe without torture or paines or else their offences must be so plainely and directly prooued by witnesses indifferent such as saw their offences committed which cannot bée gotten but by chaunce at few times because such offendors commit their offences vpon the Sea and many times murder and kill such persons being the ship or boat where they commit their offences which should bée witnesse against them in that behalfe and also such as should beare witnesse bee commonly Mariners and shipmen which because of their often voyages and passages vpon the Sea depart without long tarrying and protracting of time to the great costs and charges as well of the King as such as would pursue such offendors For reformation whereof by a Statute made Anno 28. H. 8. it was enacted That all Treasons St. 28. H. 8. 15. Felonies Robberies Murders and Confederacies committed in or vpon the Sea or in any other Hauen Riuer Créeke or place where the Admirall or Admirals haue or pretend to haue power authoritie or iurisdiction shall bee inquired tryed heard determined and iudged in such Shires and places in the Realme as shall bée limited by the Kings Commission or Commissions to be directed for the same in like forme and condition as if any such offence or offences had beene committed or done in and vpon the land And such Commissions shall bee had vnder the great Seale directed to the Admirall or Admirals Iudges in piracie where the Admirall hath iurisdiction or to his or their Lieutenant Deputie and Deputies and to three or foure other such substantiall persons as shall bee named or appointed by the Lord Chauncellor for the time being from time to time and as oft as néed shall require to heare and determine such offences after the course of the common lawes of this land vsed for Treasons Felonies Robberies Murders and Confederacies of the same done and committed vpon the land within the Realme And such persons to whome such Commission or Commissions shall bee directed or foure of them at the least shall haue authoritie to inquire of such offences and euerie of them by the othes of twelue good and lawfull inhabitants of the Shire limited in their Commission in such manner and forme as if such offences had beene committed vpon the land within the same Shire And euerie Indictment found and presented before such Commissioners of any Treasons Felonies Robberies Murders Manslaughters or such other offences committed or done in or vpon the Seas or in or vpon any Riuer Hauen or Creeke shall be good and effectual in the law And if any person or persons happen to be indicted for any such offence done vpon the Seas or in any other place aboue limited then such order Proces Iudgement and execution shal be vsed had done and made to and against euerie such person and persons so being indicted as against traitors felons and murderers for treason felonie robberie murder or other such offences done vpon the land as by the law of this Realm is accustomed And the trial of such offence or offences if it be denied by the offendor or offendors shal be had by xij lawfull men inhabited in the Shire limited in such commission which shall be directed as is aforesaid No challenge for the hūdred and no challenge to be had for the Hundred And such as shal be conuict of any such offence or offences by verdict confession or proces by authoritie of any such commission shall haue
and suffer such pains of death losses of lands goods and cattels as if they had béen conuicted of any treasons felonies robberies or other the said offences done vpon the land without benefit of Clergie or Sanctuarie Prouided alwayes that this Act shall not extend or be preiudiciall to any person or persons for taking of any victuals Taking things vpon necessitie gables ropes anchors or sayles which any such person or persons compelled by necessitie taketh of or in any ship which may conueniently spare the same so the same person or persons pay out of hand for the same victuall gables ropes anchors or sayles mony or mony worth to the value of the thing so taken or doe deliuer for the same a sufficient bill obligatorie to bée payd in forme following viz. if the taking of the same things bée on this side the straits of Marrok then to bée payd within foure monethes and it beyond the said Straits then to be paid within twelue monethes next ensuing the making of the sayd bill And that the makers of the sayd bils well and truely pay the same debt at the day to be limited within the said bills Prouidâ—d alwayes Commissions directed into the fine ports that whensoeuer any such Commission for the punishment of the offences aforesayd or of any of them shal be directed or sent to any place within the iurisdiction of the fiue Ports that then euery such Commission shall bee directed vnto the Lord Warden of the sayd Ports for the time being or to his deputie and vnto thrée or foure such other persons as the Lord Chauncellor for the time béeing shall appoint And that when any Commission shall be directed vnto the fiue Ports for the inquisition and tryall of any of the offences expressed in this Act that euerie such inquisition and tryall to be had by vertue of such Commission shall be made and had by the inhabitants in the said fiue ports or the members therof Any thing in this Act to the contrarie notwithstanding So much of this stat as concerneth the triall of treasons is altered by the stat of Anno 1. 2. P. M. 10. and the same made triable onely by the course of the common law St. 18. E. 3. 2 12 The Iustices of peace of euery county by vertue of the K. commission to them directed and by force of the stat of Anno 18. Ed. 3. be Iudges in felonie Iust of peace Iudges in felonie and haue authoritie to heare and determine felonies the words of which stat be these viz. Two or thrée of the most worthy men of counties shal be assigned kéepers of the peace by the K. commission and at what time need shall bée the same with otherwise and learned in the law shall be appointed by the K. commission to heare and determine felonies and trespasses done against the peace in the same county and to execute punishment reasonably according to law reason and the maner of the fact And the words of the kings commission which doth authorize Iustices of peace to be Iudges of Felonie and to heare and determin felonies amongst others be these viz. Iacobus Dei gratia Angliae The words of the commission of the peace Scotiae Franciae Hiberniae Rex fidei defensor c. Praedilectis A. B. C. D. E. H. c. Salutem Sciatis quod assignauimus vos quoslibet duos vel plures vestrum Quorum aliquem vestrum A. B. C. D. vnum esse volumus Iustitiarios nostros ad pacem nostram in comitatu nostro Buckingham conseruandam ad inquirendum per sacramentum proborum legalium hominum de comitatu praedicto per quos rei veritas melius sciri poterit de omnibus omnimodis felonijs transgressionibus c. ac de omnibus singulis alijs malefactis offensis de quibus Iustitiarij nostri pacis legitimè inquirere possunt aut debent per quoscunque aut qualitercunque in Comitatu praedicto factis siue perpetratis Vel quae in posterum ibidem fieri vel attemptari contigerit c. Et ad omnia singula Felonias c. indictamenta praedicta ceteraque omnia singula praemissa secundum leges statuta Regni nostri Angliae prout in huiusmodi casu fieri consueuit debuit audiendum terminandum And though it doth plainely appeare by the words of the foresayd Commission that the King doth giue authoritie to Iustices of Peace to inquire of heare and determine all manner of Felonies viz. as well of such as bée made Felonies by Statute as of such offences as were Felonies by the Common law yet because there hath béene a scruple and question moued by some that the foresaid Statute of Anno 18. Edw. 3. did meane and was to bee expounded to giue authoritie to Iustices of Peace to inquire of heare and determine those felonies onely which were at the time of the making of that Statute felonies viz. That were felonies by the Common law and not to giue them authoritie to inquire of heare and determine those offences as felonies which were made felonies by seuerall Statutes ordained sithence that time and that the Kings Commission authorised by that Statute did giue them no further authoritie than that Statute meant Therefore not to adde to the law but to satisfie euerie reader and to make that thing more plaine and perspicuous to all men which to some did séeme doubtfull the makers of the stat of anno 8. El. 3. touching the transporting of shéepe and of the stat of anno 25. H. 8. 6. ordained against buggery and of the stat of anno 18. H. 6. 19. established to punish Souldiers that depart from their Captains without licence and of the stat of an 39. El. 4. an 1. Iac. 7. touching dangerous and incorrigible rogues and of the stat prouided an 39. El. 17. against wandering souldiers and mariners and of the stat of an 22. H. 8. 11. established against the cutting downe of powdike and of the stat of an 43. El. 13. enacted against the carrying away of any persons against their wils out of Cumberland Northumberland Westmerland or the Bishopricke of Durham did by speciall words ordaine that the I. of the peace of the counties wherein any of the foresaid seuerall offences were committed should haue authoritie at their generall Quarter Sessions to inquire of heare and determine the said offences And the like authoritie was giuen by the said seuerall stat to the Iust of Assise and Iust of Gaole deliuerie to inquire of heare and determine the said offences in the counties where the same were committed within their seuerall commissions And by the stat of an 1. E. 4. it waâ— ordained That the I. of peace of euery county St. 1. E. 4. 2 shal haue authoritie and power to arraigne and deliuer all person and persons indicted or presented befor the Sherifes Vndersherifes their Clerks Bailifs or Ministers
Maintenance in respect of neighbourhood 35 In what cases the master may maintaine his seruant In what cases the seruant may maintaine his master Deceit Couin Collusion Fraud Fol. 67. 1 The multitude and enormities of deceits and frauds 2 The reward for paines and punishment for deceits of officers towards the Law A Iudge A Clerke A Serieant A Pleader A Philozer An Exigenter No office of Iustice shall be sold or bought No man shal be Iustice of Assise in his owne County 3 Who shal be Atturneyes Sollicitors The penalty for following a suit in anothers name What acts done by Atturneyes in seuerall cases shall bee adiudged deceit 4 The Law reiecteth deceitfull and fraudulent acts A fine leuied of land to defraud the right owner thereof shall bee void 5 A fine leuied of auncient demesne land to defraud the Lord of his Seigniorie is voidable 6 How a recouery of land by deceit shal be auoided 7 A Scire facias vpon a recouery by deceit auoided A recouery of debt by deceit auoided A iudgement to auoid the meaning of a Statute The executors shall haue remedy for a deceitfull recouery against the Testator 8 Deceit vpon a recouery in a Quare impedit Deceit vpon a recouery in wast 9 Deceit vpon a recouery in a Praecipe in capite 10 Where a good Title shal be impaired by a couenous recouery thereof 11 A Warranty deuised by deceit 12 Deceit by getting of a Protection 13 Deceit by purchasing of a writ to charge another 14 Deceit by purchasing of a writ in anothers name Deceit for procuring one to sue another 15 Deceit by acknowledging of a statute in anothers name Deceit by doing of a iudiciall act in anothers name 16 Deceit by forging of a resignation of a Benefice 17 Deceit by conueying of land to one man which before was bargained to another 18 Deceit by not performing of his Warranty 19 Deceit by confession of an action wherein hee hath no interest 20 Deceit by the aliening of the goods of his wife from whom hee meaneth to be diuorced 21 Sale of goods in open Market by deceit and couin 22 A fraudulent assurance to defeat the discontinuee in tayle of his plea of Assets per Discent 23 Fraudulēt assurance to defeat a Lord of his Ward Marriage c. 24 He that is not partie to a fraud shall sustaine no losse by it 25 Deceit collusion to bring land into mortmaine Lands assured in mortmaine to Churches Chappels c. Collaterall assurances to defraud c. Which be charitable and lawfull vses 26 Couin by a particular Tenant to deceiue him in the reuersion 27 Couin by him in the reuersion to deceiue the lessee for yeares Couin to auoid a Statute or Recognizance 28 Fraudulent deeds to auoid other mens duties c. The forfeiture of parties to fraudulent deeds who doe iustifie the same Common recoueries Voucher in Formedon Estates made vpon good consideration and bonafide 29 Fraudulent deedes to auoid forfeitures shal be void 30 A deed without fraud must be made vpon good consideration and bonafide Infallible marks of a fraudulent deed of gift How a deed of gift may be made without fraud 31 Fraudulent assurances to deceiue purchasors The forfeiture of parties to fraudulent conueyances which do iustifie the same Conueiances made vpon good considerations and bona fide Conueiances with condition of reuocation or alteration Morgages 32 A purchasor doth know before of a fraudulent deed 33 The father maketh a fraudulent lease and the sonne selleth the land 34 A womans iointure made by fraud 35 Fraudulent deeds to auoid successors of dilapidations 36 An action popular sued by collusion and fraud 37 Fraudulent possessing of Bankrupts Lands Goods or Debts 38 Fraudulent administration of intestate goods 39 Fraudulent conueyances of Abbey lands 40 Seuerall deceits and frauds in marchandizes and men of trade 41 Deceit by selling of vnholesome victuall Extortion Exaction Fol. 82. 1 What is Extortion What is Exaction 2 Exaction by taking of reward for a report 3 Extortion in the Shirife Coroner or other officers 4 Extortion in a Serieant Crier or Marshall of a Iudge 5 Extortion in a Coroner 6 Extortion in a Sherife vnder-Sherife or Baylife for making of arrests c. 7 Extortion in a Sherife for sparing to returne a Iuror 8 Extortion in a Sherife for the seruing of an Execution 9 Extortion in the Chirographer of the common place 10 Extortion in the kings auditors or their Clerkes 11 Extortion in the Kings Receiuers Extortion in them who do pay fees or pensions 12 Extortion in officers of the Exchequer 13 Extortion in a Clerke of the Signet or priuy Seale 14 Extortion by officers of the faculties 15 Extortion by Gouernours vpon such as be made prentices or freemen 16 Extortion by the officers of the Court of Wards 17 Extortion in taking of Obligations for the payment of first fruits 18 Extortion by Escheators 19 Exaction by the Admirall c. vpon them who trauaile for Fish 20 Extortion by the marshall of the kings house Extortion by a seruitor of bills in the marshals Court. 21 Exaction by Muster-masters to spare the taking of souldiers Exaction by captaines of their souldiers 22 Extortion by taking of Scauage of Marchants 23 Extortion by the Clerke of the Statutes or c. 24 A preuention of extortion by atturneyes in taking of excessiue fees An atturney delaying of a suit or demaunding more then is due 25 A preuention of Extortion in stewards of Courts 26 Extortion in gaugers searchers and packers of fish Extortion in Ordinaries and their Officers for probat of Testaments Administrations c. 28 Extortion in an Ordinarie for the seale of a Citation 29 Extortion in Parsons Vicars c. for Mortuaries 30 Exaction for presenting or collating to a benefice 31 Exaction for admitting to a benefice 32 Exaction for resigning or exchanging of a benefice 33 Exaction for making of ministers or giuing licence to preach 34 Exaction for a voice in electing of a fellow or scholler into a Colledge or c. 35 Exaction by taking money to resigne a place in a Colledge c. 36 Exaction by gathering money which should discharge the fifteene of a Towne 37 Extortion by taking of an amerciament in a Court Baron 38 It is no Extortion to take lawfull fees Taking of barre fees of a prisoner discharged Taking of gloues of an offendor pardoned 39 Extortion by taking of fees of him who doth appeare gratis Oppression Fol. 91. 1 What Oppression is Oppression by disseisins Of what things one may bee disseised 2 Oppression by approuement of common Oppression by surcharge of common 3 Oppression by distresses Powndage money Distraining out of his fee. Excessiue distresse Seuerall distresses for one thing Distresse for damage fesant 4 Oppression by trespasses 5 Oppression by Nusances 6 Oppression by Rescous 7 Oppression by encroachments 8 Oppression by excessiue amerciaments 9 Oppression by committing of wast Wast in land Wast
excommunication in the plaintife 5 Who are mainpernable who not Bailement by the Shirife With-holding of Prisoners mainpernable 6 In what cases no mainprise by the common Law The King or Iustices commandement 7 The Marshall shall baile no prisoner The Iustices ordinarie or absolute commaundement 8 Mainprise for offendors in Vert or Venison 9 In what case hee that is outlawed may be bayled 10 Mainprise during an approuers life 11 Maineprise vpon good name The principall in Burglary and Robbery mainpernable 12 No bailement for a prisoner attainted 13 Bailement of offendors by Iustices of Peace 14 Bailement of offendors by the Shirife 15 Bailement by Shirifes and others 16 Imprisonment at the Kings pleasure 17 The difference betweene bailement in Felony and in a personall Action 18 Mainprise is matter of Record Confession of the offence Fol. 184. 1 An offendor in felony pleadeth one of three pleas 2 Confession of the offence before the Iudge vpon the prisoners arraignement may bee in two sorts Confession of the offence must be free and without menace 3 He that doth confesse his offence before the Iudge doth become an approuer 4 Confession of the offence before the Coroner whereupon abiuration doth ensue Approuer Fol. 185. 1 Who is an Approuer An Approuer shal be banished 2 Of what offences approuement may be 3 Approuement in an Indictment and not in an appeale 4 Before whom one may approue 5 How an Approuer shall vse himselfe No approuing after pleading An Approuer must tell truth 6 An Approuers oath 7 An Approuers wages 8 An Approuer set at liberty An Approuers appeale must be certaine 9 Proces against the appellees after the approuement 10 Pleas for the appellee against the approuer An Approuer attainted or conuict of Felony 11 An appellee cannot appeale others 12 An Approuer not in prison for felony or at liberty 13 The appellee an honest and credible man 14 Generall pleas in barre of the appeale 15 Where the king may pursue an Appeale begun 16 The appellants release to the appellee 17 An Approuer confesseth his Appeale to be false 18 An Appeale abating before declaration A Felon taken with the mannoure 19 No arraignment at the kings suit vpon a false declaration Where if not an appeale yet an Indictment may bee at the kings suit 20 The plaintife in the appeale excommunicat or outlawed 21 An Approuer pardoned the appellee shal be discharged 22 Vanquishing of one of the approuers 23 Examining of an offendor condemned Sanctuary and Abiuration Fol. 189. 1 What Sanctuarie is 2 What Abiuration is 3 All Sanctuaries be extinguished Abiuration by the common Law Abiuration to a place within the Realme 4 No abiuration for Treason 5 No abiuration for the robberie of a Church 6 No abiuration for a man attainted 7 No abiuration for a man before abiured 8 Where an offendor may bee drawne out of the Church by violence The offendors confession before the Coroner 9 Tarrying in a Church aboue the time limitted 10 The manner of Abiuration The oath of Abiuration 11 The attire of an abiured person 12 The vsing of persons abiured 13 The abiuration broken death ensueth A Clarke need not to abiure 14 Where no Felony no abiuration for Felony 15 The abiured pleadeth that he is not the same person The Kings pardon of Abiuration 16 Abiuration by a Recusant 17 Abiuration by a Popish Recusant 18 Abiuration by him that committeth Trespas Pleading not guilty Fol. 192. 1 The plea of not guilty the most common for a prisoner One may plead not guilty after other pleas 2 Where vpon the plea of not guilty counsel shal be allowed and where not Triall by Battaile Fol. 193. 1 Triall of not guilty by Battaile or by the Countrey 2 The forme of triall by Battaile 3 The reason why the defendant in an appeale may be tried by battaile 4 Counterpleas to the Battaile 5 Taken with the manoure 6 Breaking of prison 7 Le ts of triall by battell on the plaintifes part 8 Priuiledges of the appellants person The King A Citizen of London 9 No wager of battell in an appeale of Rape 10 One fighting with seuerall men 11 An Appeale by an approuer 12 The appellee wageth battell and then becommeth blind Triall by Peeres Fol. 196. 1 The triall of the plea of not guilty by Peeres 2 The forme of arraignement and triall of a Peere of this realme 3 By whom Peeres appealed shal be tried By whom Ladies shall be tryed 4 The triall of Bishops Arraignement and Tryall in Parliament 5 Triall of Treason committed in Ireland 6 Triall of Misprision of Treason The number of Peeres at the triall 7 Triall of Peeres by Peeres in all cases of Treason and Felonie Triall by the Countrey Fol. 198. 1 Triall of the plea of not guilty by the countrey 2 Triall by the country of forraine pleas A man stricken vpon the Sea dieth vpon the land 3 The Proces against the Iurie The Proces in an Appeale and not in an Indictment 4 Where a Nisi prius is grauntable in an Appeale 5 Remaunding of prisoners out of the Kings Bench into the Countrey 6 Triall of Felonies committed by English men in Scotland 7 The prosecutors and witnesses bound to giue euidence 8 The accessary tried though the principall be not 9 Euery Iuror must haue fiue pounds of freehold 10 The offendor shall forfeit no lands 11 A like Act made in Scotland 12 Scottishmen repairing into England to giue euidence shal be free from arresting 13 The offence shall be layed where it is done 14 Hee that is once tried shall not be eftsoones called into question 15 None shall bee sent out of England to receiue his tryall 16 The Iurors shall allow of or reiect the witnesses Challenge Fol. 201. 1 Where the prisoner is allowed to challenge peremptorily Seuerance in challenges 2 Which be challenges vpon cause for that hee was an indictor 3 Challenge for want of Medietatem linguae 4 Challenge for want of sufficient freehold 5 Challenge for the king 6 A man outlawed of Felony shall haue his challenge 7 A Iuror challenged for that he is an Alien a Villaine or Outlaw Euidence Fol. 204. 1 Some bound to giue euidence against an offendor let to baile 2 Some bound to giue euidēce against an offendor imprisoned 3 Restitution of goods vpon an attainder by euidence 4 Euidence giuen by a stranger 5 There must be two accusors to giue euidence in Treason 6 Euidence or accusors in high Treason 7 Euidence against abettors to offences 8 Euidence on the defendants part in Felony Verdict Fol. 206. 1 A Verdict at large may bee giuen in Felony 2 The Verdict sometime lesse penall then the Indictment 3 The Verdict sometime more penall then the Indictment 4 Where the Iury shal find who killed the dead man Clergy Fol. 207. 1 What Clergy is 2 Who shal not haue his clergy by the common Law 3 A committer of Sacriledge 4 The habite or tonsure of a Clerke 5 Clergie
Lord shall haue a Writ of Escheat and where he may enter 52 The forme of a Writ of Escheat 53 The kings remedy for lands escheated vnto him An office for those lands which doe escheat for Felony 54 The wiues forfeiture of title of Dower 55 What the appellee that wageth battell shall forfeit 56 A Rent-charge pro consilio not forfeited 57 The forfeitures of an outlaw Corruption of Blood Fol. 239. 1 Corruption of Blood salued by Parliament only 2 Where corruption of blood shall preiudice tenant by the courtesie 3 The eldest sonne attainted during his fathers life 4 Where attainder but no corruption of blood Restitution of stolne goods Fol. 240. 1 Restitution of goods vpon Fresh suit 2 What conuiction shal be sufficient to giue the owner restitution of his goods 3 Where the owner shall haue restitution 4 Before whom and by whom inquirie of Fresh suit is to bee made 5 Restitution vpon attainder by indictment Damages in Appeale Fol. 242. 1 The punishment of the appellant and the abettors when the appellee is acquit No Essoine for the appellant in an appeale of death 2 The appeale must bee commenced vpon malice 3 The statute of 13. Ed. 1. extendeth to all Felons 4 The defendant in an appeale acquited by battell 5 Where the accessarie in an Appeale shall recouer dammages 6 Where the defendant is said to acquit himselfe in due manner and where not 7 Acquitall at the Kings suit is only in appeale 8 What Iustices may inflict the penaltie vpon the Appellant 9 The dammages for seuerall persons assessed seuerally 10 Where the appellant shall pay a fine to the king 11 In what cases inquiry shall be made for the abettors 12 What pleas the abettors may plead 13 Proces against the abettors Nonsute in the proces against the abettors 14 A writ against the abettors by the appellee 15 Procurers of indictments for suits in spirituall courts A Writ of Conspiracie Fol. 245. 1 In what case a Writ of Conspiracie doth lye 2 Conspiracie maintenable vpon an acquitall in an indictment or appeale 3 The indictment must be false which giueth the Writ of Conspiracie 4 Conspiracie doubtfull whether true or false 5 The conspirators do become indictors A Iustice of Peace A giuer of Euidence 6 Who be conspirators 7 A Conspiracie must bee by more then one Where only one shal be charged in Conspiracie 8 No Writ of Conspiracie against the Husband and the Wife 9 The forme of the Writ of Conspiracie 10 The writ of Conspiracy for the accessarie 11 Barres in a writ of Conspiracie 12 Iudgement in Conspiracie A villanous iudgement 13 Inquiry of Conspiracie by Iustices 14 Inquiry of Conspirators at the kings or parties suit 15 Procurers of an indictment or an appeale in a forraine county 16 An offence supposed to bee done in a place where there is none such The Coroner and his authoritie and dutie in Felonies c. Fol. 249. 1 The office and duty of a Coroner 2 The Writ de Coronatore Eligendo 3 Who shall be Coroners and by whom they shal be chosen 4 Whether Coroners ought to be knights 5 Causes to remoue a Coroner 6 Where a Coroner shall haue fee and where not 7 What things Coroners shall inquire of 8 A Coroner shall execute his Office in his owne person A Câ—â—oner shall see the dead body A body buried taken vp againe 9 A Coroner must presently doe his office 10 A Coroner shall onely enquire of the death of a man A man slaine in an arme of the Sea A Coroner concealing or not apprehending a Felon 11 The force of a Coroners Record Which Coroners Record shall be preferred Abiuring before the Coroner Confession of breaking of Prison before the Coroner 12 Who ought to appeare vpon the Coroners Inquisition 13 The Coronour with the Sherife may take Appeales 14 Stopping vp of a place of daunger by the Coroners commaundement 15 Where the presence of all the Coroners is requisite and where but some one of them 16 The Coroner must record the euidence and bind the party to giue it 17 Inquiry of a man slaine within the Kings House and Verge 18 One man Coroner of the Kinges House and the Countie Who shall be Judge in Treason and Felony Fol. 253. 1 The King ought not to bee iudge in Treason or Felony What men of condition Iudges ought to be 2 None shall make Iudges but the King 3 Iudges vpon the arraignement of the Peeres of the Realme 4 Iudges of offences that are done in the Kings Pallace 5 Iudges of Conspiracies made to destroy the King or any Lord c. 6 Iudges within the Verge 7 Iudges of Treason committed out of the Realme 8 Iustices of Gaole deliuerie Iudges in Felony 9 Iudges of Nisi prius Iudges in Felony c. 10 Speciall commissioners Iudges at the arraignement of a Murderer 11 Iudges of piracie or offences done vpon the sea 12 Iustices of Peace Iudges in Felony 13 The Lord of a Mannour Iudge in Felony Infangtheefe Outfangtheefe 14 A Felon first executed and then iudged FINIS
officers requisit to be had for the spéed of the said suits which shall do their dueties without any rewards for their counsels helpe and businesse in the same And the same law and order shal be obserued in all such suits to be made before the K. Iustices of his Common pleas Barons of his Exchequer and all other Iust in Courts of Record where any such suits shal be 30 As Maintenance in the cases aforesaid is lawfull and iustifiable Maintenance in respect of kindred or alliance in respect of the parties priuat profit or interest in the thing in question or when it is done without malice or hope of profit vpon a charitable disposition so is it in diuers cases allowable in regard of the linke or bond of nature whereby one person is by loue or dutie tied to another 34. H. 6. 26. 6. Ed. 3. 33. as the father may maintaine his son and heire and giue money of his owne in defence of him or his title or suit for he is bound to find him but so he may not doe for another kinsman And the sonne may maintaine the father and mother and one brother another and one néere kinsman another 21. H. 6. 16. 14. H. 7. 2. 20. H. 6. 1. 19. Ed. 4. 3. 21. H. 6. 16. and one ally another in some cases and in some sort as if a man be impleaded another that is his brother or kinsmā or of his alliance may go to the bar with him stand by him comfort him or he may ride to his counsell with him or he may request a man that is learned in the law to bée of counsell with him in that cause 9. Ed. 4. 32. but he must not retaine that learned man nor giue him any mony of his own to be of counsel neither must he giue or promise money to the Iurors or any of them to giue their verdict for him for then it is vnlawfull maintenance in him so it is in a stranger who hath nothing to do in that cause if he doe goe to the barre with him that is impleaded or do stand by him of purpose for to countenance the cause in question or doe request a learned man in the law to bée of counsell with him or doe giue money to any of the Iurors for their verdict this is vnlawfull Maintenance in him And in the cases aforesayd and all other cases of Maintenance Vnlawfull maintenance is continuall this vnlawfull Maintenance is a continuall Maintenance during that suit vnlesse the partie grieued doe in the meane time release the same But if the same Maintenance bee in respect of alliance and that hee who is supposed to bee the maintainor hath maried the daughter sister néece or other kinswoman of one of the parties to the first suit wherein the maintenance was supposed be he must pleade 6. Ed. 4. that his wife was liuing at the time of the maintenance supposed to be for if she were then dead the alliance betwéene them is dissolued and then he had no cause to maintaine that suit but shal be punished as a stranger And yet in that case 14. H. 7. 2. if the same woman hath any issue of her bodie begotten who may inherit the land of him whose suit that husband of the deceased woman and the father of that issue did maintaine then is the maintenance lawfull in any action brought against the same partie in respect of the kindred and also of the benefit that may come to his owne issue And in a writ of maintenance it is a good plea for the defendant to plead Maintenance in respect of gossiprie that hee was gossip to him whose cause he was supposed to maintaine 6. Ed. 4. 5. for that gossiprie is in law adiudged a kind of affinitie Maintenance in respect the partie could not speake English 31 A. brought a writ of Maintenance against B. and supposed 34. H. 6. 26. 15. H. 7. 2. that the same B. did maintaine L. in an action which he brought against the said L. on the part of the said L. Whereunto the sayd B. pleaded that the same L. was a Dutchman borne out of the Kings obedience and could not speake the English or Latine tongue and therefore being acquainted with B. the defendant who could speake the Dutch tongue he desired him to bring him to some man learned in the law to be of his counsell in that suit and to informe that learned man of the truth of his cause in question whereupon hee brought him to one M. a man learned in the law and opened the truth of his case vnto the said M. as he receiued it from the said L. in Dutch which is the same maintenance And this was adiudged a good plea in barre and a lawfull maintenance for it is a déed of charitie to aid and helpe him who could not helpe himselfe And the Dutchman had no meanes to helpe himselfe being a straunger borne and not vnderstanding the English nor Latine tongue but by the assistance and information of some English man Maintenance in a professor of the Law 32 If a Serieant at law an Apprentice or other Councellor 6. Ed. 4. 5. being retained for his fee doe giue vnto his Client the best counsell that he can for the recouerie or defence of the suit which he vndertaketh according to the ordinarie course of the law or doth enforce the euidence at the barre so much as he can at the tryall of his clients cause this is lawfull maintenance and iustifiable But if he doe pay or promise money to any of the Iurie to giue his verdict for his client or do threaten any of them to be killed beaten 22. H. 6. 6. or otherwise euill intreated if they do giue their verdit against his client or if he do spēd 11. H. 6. 13. or do offer to spend his own mony in defence of his clients cause this is vnlawful mainnance and punishable according to the before rehearsed stat of ann 1. R. 2. for those things he doth not as a lawyer or according to the course of the law nor by the warrant of law but by iniustice and vpon his owne corruption and wrong But in the first specified case if a man that is not learned in the law 22. H. 6. 5 hauing himselfe no interest in the cause in question will declare to the Iurie or to the partie or to his counsell the cause in question and the circumstances thereof as a man learned in the law this is vnlawfull Maintenance in him though hee doe it as well as a man learned in the law for hee doeth it vpon Maintenance where the learned man doeth it for his fee. And so it is if a man that hath land in suit or question will bring and shew his euidences and writings to a Nobleman Fitz. Maint 21. Gentleman or other man of countenance that is not learned in the law and
4. 23. by a Statute made Anno 2. H. 4. it was declared That the said Marshall may take the fees héereafter following viz. of euery person which commeth by Capias to the said Court iiij d and if he be let to mainprise vntill his day ij d more And of euery person being defendant which is impleaded of Trespas and findeth two Mampernors to keepe his day vntill the end of the plea ij d. And of euery person committed to prison by iudgement of the steward in whatsoeuer maner the same be iiij d and of euery ptrson deliuered of felony iiij d and of euery felon let to mainprise by the Court iiij d. But if the Marshall or any of his officers vnder him doe take any other fées than are before declared the said Marshall and euery of his officers shall lose their offices A Seruitor of bills in the Marshals Court. and also pay to the partie gréeued treble dammages for the which the said party shall haue his sute before the Steward of the said Court for the time being A seruitor of bills which beareth a staffe of the Court shall take for euery mile from the said Court vntil the same place where he shall do his seruice j. d and for xij miles xij d to serue a Venire facias or a Distringas out of the same court the double And if any Seruitor of Bills do the contrary he shall be imprisoned and make fine to the K. after the discretion of the Steward of the same court and also be foreiudged and banished the same court All which articles the steward at his comming into the country hath authoritie to proclaime and put in execution 21 And for that the kings of this realme haue from time to time bestowed vpon such as they assigned to be muster masters or captains in times of wars liberall and bountifull stipends and allowances the rather to the intent they should not exact or make a pray of such as should be or then were souldiers Therfore to preuent such like exaction by a statute made An̄ 4. 5. St. 4. 5. P. M. 3. P. M. it was ordained Muster masters exacting mony to spare souldiers That if any person which shall be commanded by the Q. her heirs or successors by commission leters or otherwise authorized to leuy muster or to make men to serue in her warres or otherwise for the defence of this Realme do by any meane exact leuie receiue or take or cause to be taken any mony or other reward or thing whatsoeuer of any persō for seruice in wars or that shal be appointed named or mustred to serue in any such seruice or for the sparing or discharging of such person from the said seruice then he shall forfeit ten times so much as he shall receiue exact or take to the Q. I. to be recouered by A.I. c. wherein no W.E.P. If any captaine petit captaine or other hauing charge of men shall for any aduantage or gaine by him to be receiued discharge or licence any of the men or souldiers appointed to serue in the warres vnder his rule or order to depart from the said seruice or shal not pay vnto his souldiers Exacting by captaines of their souldiers to euery of thē their full whole wages conduct and coat mony within x. daies next after he shal haue receiued the same then the party offending in giuing such licence or discharge shall forfeit for euery such offence x. times the value of the thing so receiued to the Q. I. to be recouered by A. I. wherin no W.E.P. c. And also he shal pay vnto euery such souldier from whom he shall with-hold any such wages conduct or coat money treble the summe so with-holden Extortion by taking of scauage of merchants 22 Because Scauage otherwise called Shewage was many times wrōgfully and extortiously taken by Magistrates of cities and corporat townes of merchants that transported or brought their marchandizes thither therefore by a statute made Anno 19. H. 7. it was prouided That if any maior shirife St. 19. H. 7. 8 bailife or other officer in any city borough or towne within this realme doe distraine take or leuie any custome called Scauage or Shewage of any merchant denizen or of any other the K. subiects denizens for any merchandize to the K. before truly customed that is brought by land or water to be vttered in any citie borough or towne in this land or if any maior shirife bailife or other officer in any city borough or towne for non paiment of the said scauage let or disturbe any merchants or any other persons denizens to sel and vtter their merchandize by them brought into any city borough or towne then he which offendeth shal forfet for euery offence xx l. to the K. the party grieued or any other that wil first sue by A. of debt in any shire wherein no W.E.P. shal be allowed But the maior shirifes cōmunalty of London and euery of them shall haue such summes of mony for scauage of euery person denizen as of right they ought to haue 23 Euery of the chiefe Iustices of the Kings Bench and Common Pleas and the maior of the Staple at Westminster and the Recorder of the Citie of London before whom any obligation being of the nature and force of a statute Staple shall be recognized St. 23. H. 8. 6 according to the statute of An̄ 23. H. 8. The Iustices Clarks fee vpon euery Recognisance shal take for euery such Recognisance iij. s̄ iiij d the clarke that shall write make and inroll the same iij. s̄ iiij d and for the certificat of euery one such obligation xx d. And if any of the said Iustices Maior Recorder or Clarke take of any of the K. subiects aboue the summe or summes to them limited by this statute then the same offendor shal forfeit for euery time so offending xl l. to the K. and I. to be recouered by A. I. wherein no W.E.P. c. And by the Stat. of An̄ 27. St. 27. Eli. 4. Eli. it was further ordained That no Clarke of the same Recognisances shall or may take for or in respect of any search to be made for or concerning any statute Merchant or of the Staple The Clarkes fée for search brought vnto him to be entred aboue ij d for one yéers search so after the rate of ij d for euery yéere not aboue vpon paine to forfeit lose to the partie or parties grieued twentie times as much as he shal take contrary to the true meaning of this Act to be recouered in any of the K. courts of Record by action of debt B. P. I. wherein no W.E.P. 24 Because it is well perceiued that learned and expert Atturnies be necessarie members in our State and great meanes to further iustice and to bring sutes to their expected ends and that they must therefore
disburse money for learned councell for processe for pleading for copies and many other things and after receiue the same againe with their owne fées and salarie for their paines of their Clients Therefore the Law as a prouident mistris taking care that Atturnies and Sollicitors shal not in any secret maner commit extortion by charging their Clients with excessiue fées vnnecessary demaunds St. 3. Iac. 7. by a statute made An̄ 3. Iac. procured it to be established Meanes for Atturnies to auoide the suspition of extortion That no Atturney Sollicitor or seruant to any shal be allowed from his Client or master of or for any fée giuen to any Serieant or Councellor at law or of or for any sum or sums of mony giuen for copies to any clarke or clarkes or officers in any court of Record at Westm vnles he haue a ticket subscribed with the hand name of the same Serieant or Councellor clarke clarks or officers aforesaid testifying how much he hath receiued for his fée or giuen or paid for copies at what time how often And all Atturnies and Sollicitors shall giue a true Bill vnto their masters or clients or their assignées of all other charges concerning the suits which they haue for them subscribed with his owne hand name before such time as they or any of them shall charge their clients with any the same fées or charges An Atturney delaying of a suite or demāding more thā is due And if the atturney or sollicitor doe or shall willingly delay his clients suits to worke his owne gaine or demand by his bil any other sums of mony or allowance vpon his accompt of any mony which he hath not laid out or disbursed then in euery such case the partie grieued shall haue his action against such atturney or sollicitor and recouer therein costs and treble dammages And the said atturney sollicitor shall be discharged from thenceforth from being an atturney or sollicitor any more 25 For that the Stewards of Léets and court Barons did of late yeares get into their owne hands and in their owne names or into the hands of some of their friends to their vse the profits and perquisites of the said Léets and court Barons whereby many sutors to the same Courts were iniustly vexed and by grieuous fines and amerciaments vnduely punished and much extortion was done vnto the Tenants and Inhabitants where such stewards were to make and obtaine an vndue extraordinary gaine to themselues for the restraining whereof A preuention of extortion in Stewards of Courts by a statute made Anno 1. St. 1. Iac. 5. Iac. it was established That no Steward deputie Steward or vnder Steward of any court Léete or court Baron shall directly or indirectly in his owne name or in the name of any other take receiue or make benefite to his owne vse in money goods or any other thing to the valew of twelue pence or more by vertue or colour of any demise or graunt héereafter to be made of any of the profites or perquisites or amerciaments of any such Courts whereof they are Steward which rightfully shall belong to the Lords of the same vpon paine that euery Steward offending contrary to the Tenour of this Act shall for euery such offence forfeit tenne pounds and to be disabled euer after to be Steward of such Court or of any other The one moitie of which forfeiture shall be to the K. c. and the other to any party that will sue to be recouered in any of the Kings Courts of Record by A. B. P. I. c. wherein no E. P. or other dilatorie plea shall be allowed 26 To the intent that Gaugeors and Searchers of barrells of fish should know what was due vnto them for their paines and take no more nor commit extortion Extortion in Gaugeors Searchers and Packers of fish by a statute made Anno 11. H. 7. it was enacted St. 11. H. 7. 23. That euery Gaugeor Packer and Searcher shall take no more for gauging of a barrell of salmon herring fish éeles halfe barrell and firkin than for euery péece a farthing and for his labour for searching and packing if néede be of a barrell of salmon from head to head a peny and for boning naping and packing of a barrel of fish if néed be a peny and for searching and for packing of a barrell of herring if néed be two pence and for searching and packing of euerie barrell of éeles ij d and so in halfe barrels and firkins of herrings and éeles they shal take according to the former rate And if any Gaugeor Searcher or Packer do the contrary he shall loose his office and also be imprisoned forty dayes But the said Searcher or Packer shall receiue nothing of the said fées by colour of their office but onely for such Buts Barrels halfe Barrels and Firkins as by them shall be sufficiently searched and packed and were not sufficiently packed before 27 In the raignes of K. Edward the third and K. Henry the fift the Commons seuerall times complained in parliament of diuers extortions committed by Ordinaries and their officers in probat of Testaments making of Inuentories and giuing of Acquitances as it doth appeare by the statute of Anno 31. Ed. 3. and Anno 3. H. 5. St. 31. Ed. 3. 4. St. 3. H. 5. 8. But because the former of those statutes inflicted no condigne punishment vpon the offendors therein and the later is expired A preuention of extortion in Ordinaries and their officers and also for that the same extortions enormity did encrease Therfore for the redresse of the same by a Statute made Anno 21. H. 8. St. 21. H. 8. 5 it was established That nothing shall be demaunded receiued or taken by any Bishop Ordinarie Archdeacon Chancellor Commissarie Officiall nor any other person or persons whatsoeuer hauing authoritie to take or receiue probation insinuation or approbation of Testament or Testaments by him or themselues nor by his or their Registers Scribes Praisors Summoners Apparitors or by any other of their Ministers for the probation of any Testament The Ordinaries duty for probat of Testaments The goods not amounting to C. s̄ or for writing sealing praising registring fines making of inuentories giuing of Acquitances of for any cause concerning the same where the goods of the Testator of the said Testament or person so dying doe not amount cléerly ouer aboue the value of C. s̄ sterling except only to the scribe to haue for the writing of the probat of the Testament of him deceased vj. d. And for the commission of administration of the goods of any man deceasing intestate not being aboue the like valew of C. s̄ cleere vj. d. And when the goods of the Testator do amount ouer and aboue the cléere valew of C. s̄ The goods not amounting to xl l. and do not excéed the summe of forty pounds sterling Then no Bishop
Trial of treason committed in Ireland 5 If an Earle 19. 20. El. Dy. fo 360 or a Lord of Ireland doth commit treason in Ireland by open rebellion he cannot be arraigned and put to his triall therefore in England for he can neither be tried by his Péeres nor by any Iurie of twelue men in England because he is not a subiect of England but of Ireland and therefore his triall shall be in Ireland And the custome there is to attaint a Péere by parliament and not by his Péeres Misprision 6 This order of triall by the Péeres is likewise to be obserued where one of the Péeres of this realme is indicted but of misprision of treason or felonie in which triall the same forme shall be kept as it shall be where any Péere is indicted of treason or felonie and arraigned thereupon And the number of Péeres which shall be to trie a Péere indicted of treason The number of Péeres at the Triall felonie or misprision shall be twelue at the least and more if it shall please the King Triall by Peeres in all cases of treason and felony 7 In euery case where any offence or fact is of new made treason by any Statute the Lords of the Parliament and Péeres of the Realme offending therein shall haue their triall by their Péeres though the Statute doth not prouide for it by speciall words as other inferiour persons offending in the like crimes shal haue their triall by the verdict of twelue men their péeres viz. their equals so that the words which be commonly put into new Statutes that Péeres of the Realme offending therein shal be tried by their Péeres bée not of necessity inserted But because the course of the common law is in some sort altered by the statute of an̄ 33. H. 8. 23. St. 33. H. 8 23. authorizing the King to graunt a commission vnto such persons and into such shires as he will for the triall of any murder committed in any other countie or place of the Realme whatsoeuer And also by the Statute of 35. H. 8. 2. St. 35. H. 8. 2 giuing the King like power to direct a commission into any countie of this Realme and to any persons that he will for the triall of treasons and misprisions of treasons committed out of the Realme yet for that the triall in both those cases might be made by such persons as the common law hath appointed viz. of péeres by their péeres it is so prouided and ordained by the special words of both those statutes ⧠Triall by the Countrie TRiall by the Countrie Triall by the Country is a triall by twelue common persons of that vicenage or neighborhoode where the treason or felony was committed which kinde of triall séemeth also to be warranted and approued though not at the first begunne by the before rehearsed Statute of Magna Charta St. 9. H. 3. 29 which saith Neither shall any passe or sit in iudgement vpon him but by the lawfull iudgement of his Péeres or by the Law of the realme And thereupon it is accordingly vsed that Knights Esquiers and Gentlemen of great estate being indited of treason or felony be tried by their péeres viz. by their equalls in degrée being also Knights Esquiers Gentlemen or Merchants of good estate 1. M. Dy. 99 and inferiour persons be likewise tried by their péeres or equalls viz. by men of their owne degrée or most commonly by men of better or greater estate or degrée 2 If he that is charged to be an offendour in petit treason murder or felonie doe pleade to an Indictment found against him matter triable by an other Countie than the Countie which did indict him although by the common lawe he ought to haue béene tried in that forraine countie yet now by the Statute of Anno 22. H. 8. St. 22. H. 8. 14. 32. H. 8. 3 he shall be tried by the countie which did indict him the words of which Statute be these viz. For more spéedie trialles of murders and felonies Be it enacted c. That all manner of forraine pleas Triall of forraine pleas triable by the Countrie hereafter to be pleaded by any person or persons arraigned vpon any Indictment for any petit treason murder or felonie shal be forthwith tried before the same Iustices before whom such persons shall be arraigned and by the same Iurors of the same countie that shall trie the petit treason murder or felonie whereof he shall so be arraigned without any further respite or delay in whatsoeuer countie or counties place or places of this Realme the matter of the same pleas be supposed or alleadged This statute maketh no mētion of high treason therfore forrain pleas in high treason remaine to be tried in those forren counties as they were at the cōmon lawe And so be they in an appeale Appeale for this statute extendeth to Indictments onely But if A. doe strike B. vpon the Sea and there giue him a mortall wound whereof B. dieth in the Countie of L. in this case A. Coke 2.93 shall be discharged of the death of B. for they of the Countie of L. cannot inquire of the death without inquirie of the wound A man stricken vpon the Sea dieth vpon the Land and of the wound they cannot inquire because it was giuen vpon the Sea and not in any Countie or place in this Realme And they of the Admiralles Iurisdiction can not inquire as of a felonie of the wound without inquiring of the death and of the death they can not inquire because it was within the body of a Countie where by the statute of 13. R. 2. 15. R. 2. St. 13. R. 2. 5 St. 15. R. 2. 3. they are forbidden to meddle 3 The processe which shal be awarded against the Iury The Processe against the Iurie to trie an issue in an appeale is commonly a Venire facias Habeas corpora and Distringas as it is vsed in other actions sauing in the Kings Bench 27. H. 6. 10 for by the custome of that Court the first processe against the Iurie is an Habeas corpora and after a Distresse without suing a Venire facias And some say that in the K. Bench they vse to haue no Habeas corpora at the first day but a Venire facias and then a Distresse leauing out the Habeas corpora The processe which is to be awarded against the Iury Processe in an Appeale not in an In is for the most part intended in an appeale for in an Indictment though they may graunt processe against the Iury yet it is not vsed by the Iustices of Gaole deliuerie Fit Enquest 55 because they doe take the pannell which is returned by the Shirife without making any precept vnto him for that they giue a generall commandement to the Shirife before their comming to cause the Countrie to appeare before them But so do not Iustices of Oyer
or any of them in their Turnes or Lawdayes And as of other felonies 3. H. 7. 5. 5. E. 6. D. 69 9. H. 4. 1. so I. of peace may inquire of murder Murder because wilfull murder is felony But Iust of peace cannot inquire of treason Treason for neither the before mentioned stat of 18. E. 3. nor the words of their commission do authorise them so to do The Lord of a Mannor Iudge in felonie 13 There be some that haue libertie of Soc and Sac Tol and Them Bracton de Corona cap. 35. 2. R. 3. 10. Infangthéefe and Outfangthéefe these in their own courts may giue iudgement of him who is found within their liberty possessed of any manifest theft as if he be hand hauing and back bearing and that Sathaber viz. he whose the goods be do pursue him Kel fol. 150 for vnlesse he be in possession of the goods though another doth pursue him as a théefe yet that Court Hundred or Wapentake cannot hold plea of such a theft nor make inquirie by the Countrey whether such a man which was not possessed of the goods bee culpable or not Neither shall any wage battell without possession It is called Infangtheefe Infangthéefe where a Theefe is taken possessed of goods stolne within any such Manor or Libertie who is commorant and dwelling within the same libertie and one of the said Lords owne people Outfangthéefe Outfangthéef is a théefe that is a stranger comming from some other place into the Mannor of the Lord who hath such a libertie and is there taken with the manoure And yet he that hath such a libertie cannot fetch one of his owne people who hath committed larcenie out of his libertie and bring him into his libertie and iudge him there according to his libertie for euery person must receiue the punishment of the law where he hath offended the law But he may giue iudgement as well against his own people as against strangers committing larcenie that be taken within his libertie 46. Ed. 3. 15 14. H. 4. 15 And in this libertie of Infangthéefe and Outfangthéefe and in waife and stray and wreck of the sea a man may prescribe but so he cannot do in goods of felons and fugitiues for they do belong to the Crowne and cannot passe without the Kings graunt Fitz. Prescription 65 14 The custome of some countrey is such A felon first executed and then iudged that if one hath committed burglarie or other felonie and he be pursued by huy and cry from towne to town and so taken flying he must be beheaded in the presence of the inhabitants of foure townes and so by the vsage of that countrey he is accounted a felon And this must be recorded in the Coroners roll and after the Coroner must present it before the Iustices and they will adiudge him a felon And so he must be first put to death and after iudged a felon FINIS ⧠The generall Titles of this Booke 1MEnace Assault Batterie Jmprisonment Maiheming 2 Riots Routs vnlawfull and rebellious Assemblies 3 Force and Forcible Entries and Forcible detaining of possessions 4 Forgerie 5 Periurie and Subornation of Witnesse 6 Maintenance Champertie Embracerie 7 Deceit Couin Collusion Fraud 8 Extortion Exaction 9 Oppression 10 Treasons 11 Homicides 12 Felonies by the common Law 13 Felonies by Statute 14 Principall and Accessorie 15 Breaking of Prison and Rescous 16 Escapes of Felons 17 Pursute by Huy and Cry 18 Appeales of Felony 19 Jndictments 20 Mainprise and Bayle 21 Confession of the offence 22 Approuer 23 Sanctuarie and Abiuration 24 Pleading not guilty 25 Triall of the plea of not guilty by Battell 26 Triall by Peeres 27 Triall by the Countrey 28 Challenges 29 Euidence 30 The Verdict 31 Clergie 32 The Kings Pardon 33 Standing mute or answering indirectly 34 Judgement and Execution 35 Forfeitures for Treason or Felony 36 Corruption of Blood 37 Restitution of stolne goods 38 Dammages in an Appeale 39 A Writ of Conspiracie 40 The Coroner and his authority and dutie in Felonies 41 Who shall be Judge in Treason and Felonie ⧠A briefe effect of euery Braunch or Chapter in this Treatise Menace Assault Batterie Imprisonment Maiheming Fol. 1. 1 THe euill fruits of menaces Menacers shal be imprisoned The enormitie of libelling and defaming 2 The differences of Menacing Assault and Batterie 3 The declaration in trespas of menacing A rebuke accounted a Menace or Assault 4 Menacing a seruant wherby he departeth out of seruice 5 Menacing a tenant whereby he departeth from his tenancie Menacing of a Lords Freeholder 6 Menacing which is iustifiable 7 Menacing by going or riding armed 8 Wearing of a priuie coat a Menace 9 Labourers shall weare no weapons to preuent Menaces 10 Assurances made by Menace 11 What is an assault What is a batterie 12 Iustifying of beating in his owne defence Barre in trespas of Assault and Batterie 13 Iustifying of beating in defence of others The mastâ—rs remedy for beating of his seruant 14 Batterie in defence of his goods Battery in defence of his land lease or way 15 Batterie in resisting of a Iustice of Peace 16 A Schoolemaster beateth his Sholler 17 A Master beateth his Prentice 18 Beating of a man that is franticke 19 Beating of one that will not yeeld to arrest 20 Beating of a seruant departing out of seruice Beating of a Ward 21 Commaundement of Batterie 22 Battery or hurting at some exercise or disport 23 Battery by whipping of a vagabond Punishments by the order of Law 24 Battery for disobeying of a writ or warrant 25 Arresting one in a Church that is doing diuine seruice 26 Disturbing of a Preacher in his Sermon 27 Chiding in a Church or Churchyard Smiting in a church or churchyard Drawing or smiting with a weapon in a Church or c. 28 Drawing of blood within the kings palace 29 Assaulting one which commeth to the Parliament Assaulting the seruant of a Parliament man The liberty of the Clergie at a Conuocation house touching assaults 30 Assaulting a Iudge or Iuror Striking in time or place of iustice 31 Arresting by watchmen 32 Trespas for a battery before Outlawrie 33 A man first indicted for batterie and after sued for the same 34 What imprisonment is Voluntary consent no cause of imprisonment 35 Imprisonment by the commandement of the king or his Iustices c. 36 Imprisonment for notorious and grieuous offences 37 Imprisonment for offences done vi armis 38 Imprisonment for Riots 39 Imprisonment for holding land with force 40 Imprisonment of one that is pursued by huy and cry 41 Imprisonment of him that doth breake the peace Arresting of suspected persons 42 Imprisoning of him that doth attempt to rob 43 Assisting him to arrest that hath a warrant 44 Breaking of a house to arrest in what case lawfull 45 The shirife doth arrest and doth not returne his writ 46 Arresting vpon suspition of felony Causes of suspition of felony