according to the Custom of the Old Law but is now either by Wager of Battel or Grand Assize at the Election of the Tenant Which Tryal by Grand Assize arose at first from the great Clemency of the Prince and his Care to avoid the shedding of blood as Glanvil declares in his Seventh Chapter of his Second Book Est autem saith he Magna Assiza regale quoddam Beneficium clementia Principis de consilio Procerum populis indultum Another Tryal I read of in the Old Law which was of Nonage or Infancy which was by the Verdict of 8. men as appeareth by Glanvil in the 18. Chapter of his 13 th Book where he produces a special Writ of the same But this is no Law at this day in regard that Nonage shall now be tryed by inspection and full Age by a Verdict of 12 men Neither do I read in the Old Law of any other ordinary Tryal by any less numbers than 12 though the Old Law and the Law at this day in Attaints and some other special Cases has always permitted a Tryal by above the Number of 12. However the usual and ordinary Tryal of matters by the Common Law of this Realm is for the most part and alwayes has been by a Verdict of 12 Men which nevertheless has been practised with this Circumstance First the Sheriff that Empanelleth the Inquest is or ought to be fairly chosen without favour or affection by the mutual assent of the Noblest Discreetest and most Learned Men in the Realm as by them thought to be a man in his Countrey both indifferent and of good fame who upon his Nomination is admitted by the King and is also sworn truly and uprightly to execute all things that belong to his Office as also among the rest to make a true Return of Able and Judicious Men upon all such Inquests as are by him to be Empanell'd according to the tenour of the Writ all Freeholders of the Neighbourhood where the Fact in Issue was committed or the difference first arose Of which Four by the Old Law were to be such as through their Vicinity could not be thought to be without some knowledg of the Fact it self or of the Circumstances of the matter which they are to try Moreover by the words of the Writ they ought not to be such as are of any affinity to the Parties to the Suit or Indictment Nevertheless now all parties at the time of the Inquest taken have their Challenges allow'd them if there be cause So that no person shall be sworn to try any Issue but such as shall be thought indifferent to both Parties Neither is the manner of the said Tryal private or secret but openly us'd in the face of the World where every person present may understand and judge of the Proceedings Neither are the Jury allow'd to proceed barely upon their own Knowledg but the parties shall be heard by their Counsel and Witnesses shall be sworn to give in Evidence what they can for the proof or disproof of the matter in Issue for the better Instruction of the Jury and satisfaction of their Consciences After the Evidence given on both sides they are closely lockt up by one or more Keepers sworn to keep them from all persons and without Meat Drink Fire or Candle till they be agreed of their Verdict So that the Ordinary Tryal of the Law of this Realm is grounded upon so many Circumstances of Equity and Indifference for the avoiding all corruption and sinister affection that greater Caution cannot be devis'd by Man Which if we well consider and then compare the Tryal of Other Lawes with our own we cannot but easily perceive the Tryal of our own Law to be of far more Justice than the Tryal of any other Human Law in regard the Tryal of all other Lawes is by Witness onely which being two in number are sufficient so that their Credit be good As for the Extent and force of the Depositions it remains for the Judge to make his Construction and Exposition of them Now how many hazards and inconveniences both of Life and Limb and Estates men may be brought into whose Causes depend upon the Testimony of two Witnesses being sworn and examin'd in secret out of the sight and hearing of the Party against whom they are produc'd who is thereby at a loss how to make his Defence besides that the Examples of Holy Writ it self sufficiently declare in the Case of Jesebel and Naboth and Susanna and the Elders several other authentick Stories are full of tragical presidents to the same purpose Briefly then I conclude That the Law of this Realm and the Tryal by the same is not to be amended or reform'd by the Wit of Man so that it be rightly and duly executed according to the true intent and meaning of the first Institution But as no Law in the World ever had or could have so Good and Pious an Intent but that the wickedness and perversness of human Nature will be still contriving by sundry wayes and means to Elude and pervert the Course of Justice the same attacques were made to subvert the ordinary Tryal of the Common Law of this Realm at first sincerely and uprightly instituted and upon advice and mature deliberation admitted to the onely End that Justice and Equity might be administred impartially to all sorts and degrees of Men and which was accordingly practiz'd for a long time till it was interrupted and almost abrogated by the leud and sinister devices of several persons reaping advantages from the Encouragement of Enormity particularly mentioned in the Preamble of the Statute made for Reformation of those Abuses and Punishment of the Malefactors relating to it Upon which Statute as being of Great and Weighty Moment I have here undertaken to make a short Discourse L'Estatute de Anno XXXV Henrici Octavi Cap. vi touchant l' Appearance de Jurours per Brief de Nisi Prius FOrasmuch as the Issues joyned in every Action Suit and Demaund between Party and Party at the Common Law are by the Lawes of this Realm for the most part tryed and tryable by the Verdict of Twelve Men wherein is daily seen great delay partly for lack of Appearance of the Persons returned to try such Issues the occasion whereof cometh by reason of Maintenance Imbracery Sinister Labour and Corrupt Demeanours and partly by reason of the Challenges of the Parties to the Jurie or Jurours so returned to the great Costs Charges and Hinderance of the Parties to the said Actions Suits and Demands and to the great Delay and Hinderance of Justice For Reformation whereof and for the more Expedition of Justice hereafter to be had in such manner of Tryals of Issues Be it Enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament That in every Case where such Persons as should pass upon the Tryal of any Issue joyned in any of the Kings Courts of Record commonly holden at Westminster ought by the Law to dispend Forty
shillings by the Year of Freehold for term of life that the Writs of Venire Facias which from and after the First day of April next coming shall be awarded and directed for the impanelling of such persons as shall try the same Issue shall be in this form Rex c. Precipimus c. qd ' Venire fac ' coram c. XII liberos legales homines de Visn ' de B. quorum quilibet habeat quadraginta solidat ' Terrae Tenementorum vel Reddit ' per Annum ad minus per quos Rei veritas melius sciri poterit Et qui nec c. And so forth the Residue of the said Writ after the ancient form And in every Case where it is not requisite that the Persons that shall pass upon the Tryal of any Issue joyned in any of the Kings Courts aforesaid shall dispend forty shillings by the year of Freéhold that then the Writs of Venire Facias that shall be awarded after the said first day of April shall be made after the form aforesaid omitting this Clause quorum quilibet habeat quandraginta solidat Terrae Tenementorum vel Reddit ' per Annum ad minus And that upon every such Writ and Writs of Venire Facias that shall have the said Clause quorum quilibet c. the Sheriff or other Minister or Ministers to whom the making of the Panel shall appertain shall not retorne in any such Panel any Person unless he may dispend Forty shillings by the year at the least of Estate of Freehold out of ancient Demesne within the County where the Issue is to be tryed And also shall return in every such Panel upon the same Venire facias six sufficient Hundredors at the least if there be so many Hundredors within the said Hundred where the Venew lieth upon pain to forfeit for every one being returned in any such Panel that cannot dispend forty shillings by the year as is aforesaid Twenty shillings And for every Hundredor that shall be omitted in such Return of the Number aforesaid Twenty shillings And in every Writ of Venire Facias wherein the said Clause quorom quilibet c. shall be omitted the Sheriff or other Minister or Ministers to whom the making of the Panel shall appertain shall not retorne in any such Panel any Person unless he may dispend some Lands or Tenements of Estate of Freehold out of Antient Demesne within the County where the Issue is to be tryed And also shall return in every such Panel upon the same Venire facias six sufficient Hundredors at the least if there be so many Hundredors within the said Hundred where the Venew lyeth upon like Pain as is aforesaid And furthermore be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That upon every first Writ of Habeas Corpora or Distringas with a Nisi Prius delivered of Record to the Sheriff or other Minister or Ministers to whom the making of the Return shall appertain the said Sheriff or other Minister or Ministers shall from and after the said first day of April return in Issues upon every person impanelled and returned upon any such Writ at the least five shillings And at the second Writ of Habeas Corpora or Distringas with a Nisi Prius upon every person impanelled and returned upon any such Writ ten shillings at the least And at the third Writ of Habeas Corpora or Distringas with a Nisi Prius that shall be further awarded upon every person impanelled and returned upon any such Writ thirteen shillings four pence And upon every Writ that shall be further awarded to try any such Issue to double the Issues last above specified until a full Iury be sworn or the Process otherwise cessed or determined upon pain to forfeit for every retorn to be made contrary to the form aforesaid five pounds And for a more speedy Tryal of Issues to be tryed by the Verdict of Twelve Men hereafter to be had Be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That in every such Writ of Habeas Corpora or Distringas with a Nisi Prius where a full Iury shall not appear before the Iustices of Assize or Nisi Prius or else after Appearance of a full Iury by Challenge of any of the Parties the Iury is like to remain untaken for default of Iurours that then the same Iustices upon request made by the Party Plaintiff or Demandant shall have Authority by vertue of this Act to command the Sheriff or other Minister or Ministers to whom the making of the said Return shall appertain to name and appoint as often as need shall require so many of such other able persons of the said County then present at the said Assizes or Nisi Prius as shall make up a full Iury which persons so to be named and impanelled by such Sheriff or other Minister or Ministers shall be added to the former Panel and their Names annexed to the same And that every of the Parties shall and may have his or their Challenge to the Iurours so named added and annexed to the said former Panel by the said Sheriff or other Minister or Ministers in such wise as if they had beén impanelled upon the Venire facias awarded to try the said Issue And that the said Iustices shall and may proceed to the Tryal of every such Issue with those persons that were before impanelled and returned and with those newly added and annexed to the said former Panel by vertue of this Act in such wise as they might or ought to have done if all the said Iurours had beén returned upon the Writ of Venire facias awarded to try the said Issue And that all and every such Tryal had after the said first day of April shall be as good and effectual in the Law to all intents constructions and purposes as if such Tryal had beén had and tryed by Twelve of the Iurours impanelled and returned upon the Writ of Venire facias awarded to try such Issue And in case such persons as the said Sheriff Minister or Ministers shall name and appoint as is aforesaid or any of them after they shall be called be present and do not appear or after his or their Appearance do wilfully withdraw him or themselves from the presence of the Court That then such Iustices shall and may set such Fine upon every such Iurour making default or wilfully withdrawing himself as is aforesaid as they shall think good by their discretion the said Fine to be levied in such manner and form as Issues forfeited and lost by Iurours of default for their Appearance at the Common Law have beén accustomed to be levied And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That where any Iury that shall be returned by the Sheriff or other Minister or Ministers shall be made full by the Commandment of the said Iustices by vertue of this present Act that yet nevertheless such persons as were returned in the
de cest Estatute Quaere 27. En Breif de Disceit port de ceo que le Defendant avoit fauxment gest un Protection en Ley d'un Action que le Plaintiff avoit pendant vers luy en quel ils soient al Issue moy semble que le Plaintiff ne serra aide en son Triall per cest Estatute Quaere 28. En Action sur l'Estatute de Labourers le Defendant dit que il luy reteine esteant Vagrant sur que ils soient al Issue moy semble que le Plaintiff poiet aver son Triall solonque l'entendment de cest Estatute 29. En Forger de faux Faits le Defendant plede rien culpable moy semble que le Plaintiff poet aver son Trial solonque l'entendment de cest Estatute 30. En Curia claudenda le Defendant dit que le close prochein adjoinant al close a que le Plaintiff claime l'enclosure est le Franktenement de J. S. et nemy del ' Defendant sur quel ils soient al Issue moy semble que le plaintiff serra aide en son Triall sur cest Estatute 31. En Nuper obiit per un Copercener vers un auter que dit què puis le mort de lour Ancestor un J.S. fuit seisie del ' terre c. et de ceo enfeoffe le Plaintiff sur quel ils soient al Issue moy semble que le plaintiff poiet aver son Trial per cest Estatute 32. En Breif de Faux Iugement en le Comen Bank le Defendant dit que le Record est auter que est certifie sur que ils soient al Issue moy semble que ceo serra trie per Pais de xii homes uncore le plaintiff ne serra aide en son Triall per cest Estatute Quaere 33. En Brief d'Error pur reverser Judgment done en Precipe quod reddat le Plaintiff assigne pur Error que le Tenant vers que le Recovery fuit ewe fuit mort al temps del ' Judgment done sur que ils soient al Issue moy semble que le plaintiff en cest Case poet aver son Trial per cest Estatute Quaere 34. Sur Office trove per Diem clausit extremum est trove que J. S. tenust le Mannor de Dale del ' Roy en Cheif lou il ceo tenust d'un auter en Socage sur que l'heire mitte eins son Travers moy semble que ceo est triable al Nisi prius per Verdict de xii homes Et uncore l'heire ne serra aide en son Triall per cest Estatute 36. En Quare incumbravit vers l'Evesque de Londres il plede que il ne incumbr ' pas moy semble que ceo est triable per Pais solonque l'entendment de cest Estatute 36. En Breif de Contra formam Feoffamenti les Parties soient al Issue sur le quantity des Services moy semble que ceo poet estre trie solonque l'entendment de cest Estatute 37. En Praecipe in Capite l'Issue est joine sur Non-tenure et al Jour d'Enquest venust J. S. et surmise al Court que le terre en demand est tenus de luy nemy del ' Roy en Cheif et deliver as Justices un special Breif d'enquirer de ceo sur que les Justices agard que cest matter serra enquire per mesme l'Enquest sur que Nisi prius est agard pur le Trial de ceo moy semble que le Plaintiff en le primer Breif serra aide en son Trial per cest Estatute mes nemy J. S. Quaere 38. En Disceit vers un auter de ceo que le Defendant avoit forge un Estatute per quel le plaintiff serroit tenus a luy en C. li. le Defendant plede rien culpable le Plaintiff serra aide en son Trial per cest Estatute 39. En Action sur le Case port per un des Justices del ' Comen Bank de ceo que le Defendant avoit luy Sclander overtment en le Court del ' Comen Bank devant touts les Justices le Defendant plede rien culpable moy semble que ceo nest triable solonque l'entendment de cest Estatute 40. En Action sur l'Estatute que voet que nul Forester ne arresta ascun home deins le Forrest si non que il luy trove ove le manner a que le Defendant dit que il luy trove ove le manner c. sur que ils soient al Issue moy semble que le Plaintiff en ceo Case poet aver son Triall solonque l'entendment de cest Estatute Et moy semble que cest Estatute est cy bien destre entende des Judicials Actions Demands come des Originals si ascun Issue soit joine en eux que est triable per Nisi prius et per le Verdict de xii homes 41. Si en Scire facias d'executer un Fine le Tenant plede non-tenure ou seisin en le Demand ' ou auter Plee sur que tiel Issue poet estre joine quel est triable per Pais moy semble que le Plaintiff avera son Trial en ceo solonque l'entendment de cest Estatute Les Parolls del ' Statute sont des Issues joine en ascun Courts le Roy de Record comenment tenus a Westminster Moy semble que ceo est destre entend en l'un de ceux Courts scilicet Le Chancery Le Bank le Roy Le Comen Bank L' Exchequer et nemy d' ascun auters Courts 42. Si ascun Action soit port per ascun des Clerks del ' Chancery vers un auter et ils plede al Issue en mesme le Court ceo poet estre bien trie al Nisi prius solonque l'entendment de cest Estatute mes nemy per Breif de Nisi prius hors de mesme le Court. 43. En mesme le manner est si ascun qui ad privilege en l'Excheker sue auter la per Bill ou auterment sur que Issue est joine la que est triable per Pais de xii homes ceo serra trie per Nisi Prius hors de cest Court en quel le plaintiff poet aver son Triall solonque l'entendment de cest Estatute Cest Estatute nest tantsolement destre entende de tiels Actions Suits que soient primerment commence en un des dits Courts Car en ascun Case si l action soit commence en auter Court uncore serra trie solonque l'entendment de cest Estatute si l' Issue que est d'estre trie soit joine en ascun des dits Courts 44. En Breif de Droit port en Londres ou Praecipe quod reddat deins le County Palatine lou le Tenant vouche Foreiner a Garantie le Record serra mise en Comen Bank et process
nest plein pur default des Hundredors Moy semble que le Plaintiff en cest case poet aver Tales de Circumstantibus de plusors Hundredors si soient deins le Lieu per force de les Parolls de cest Estatute 7. Al Nisi prius plein Enquest appiert d'ont sex soient Hundredors accordant a les Parolls d'Estatute et quater de les Hundredors soient jurès et auters touts de l'Enquest soient tretes per challenge Moy semble què le Plaintiff avera Tales de Circumstantibus nient obstant que ne soient ascun auters Hundredors deins le lieu et nient obstant que les parolls d'Estatute soient que sex Hundredors serra empanel en chescun Enquest 8. Sur Issue joine en Breif de Mesne sex Hundredors soient retorne en le Panel et al jour de Nisi prius le Enquest appiert plein ouster les Hundredors et deux les Hundredors sont jurès et les auters Hundredors tretes per challenge et touts les auters del ' Enquest al number de plein Enquest soient challenge preter H. Moy semble què les Justices en cest case ne poient agarder Tales de Circumstantibus 9. Issue joine al Nisi prius L'enquest est Demand et un appiert et touts les auters font default Moy semble que les Justices poent agarder Tales de Circumstantibus al prier del ' Plaintiff ou Demandant Issint est si le plein Enquest ust un foits appiere et ussoient estre treits per Challenge touts forsque un 10. Sur Issue joine le Enquest appiert plein devant les Justices de Nisi prâ—us et tout le Enquest forsque un fuit treit per Principal Challenge et le Jurour qui remaine est auxy challenge pur Favor Moy semble que ore les Justices sur cel default ne poient agarder Tales de Circumstantibus solonque l'entendment de cest Estatute 11. Al Nisi prius plein Enquest appiert et le Defendant challenge le primer Jurour quant il ne vient al Lieu destre jurè et touts peravayle et touts les Jurours forsque deux soient treits per Challenge Moy semble que les Justices sur cel default ne poient agarder Tales de Circumstantibus solonque l'entendment de cest Estatute 12. Breif de Nisi prius est perenter deux grand Seigniors et auters homes de grand poer et sur special labour d'eux et lour amies le Jurours font default et auters soient labours d'estre present en Court pur estre retorne de Circumstantibus issint que un grand Tumult est semble que en cest case les Justices de lour discretion poent ouster le Plantiff ou Demandant de son Tales et per lour discretion eux adjorner en Bank nient obstant cest Estatute 13. En Breif de Trespass le Defendant plede rien culpable et al jour de Nisi prius il monstre un Arbitrement fait puis le darrein Continuance le quel le Plaintiff la confesse uncore Moy semble que les Justices poient agarder Circumstantibus si le Plaintiff ceo voilt prie 14. Sur Venire facias xxiiii Jurours soient retorne et sur le Habeas Corpora ove Nisi prius l'un des Jurours est omitte Moy semble que sur default des Jurours les Justices en cel case ne poent agarder Tales de Circumstantibus 15. Sur Issue joine Nisi prius un Protection est jette pur le Defendant Moy semble que les Justices ore sur ascun default des Jurours ne poent agarder Tales de Circumstantibus solonque le entendment de cest Estatute 16. Al Nisi prius pur default des primers Jurours le Plaintiff ad un Tales a luy agard per les Justices per quel le Enquest ove les primer Jurours est pleine et quant ils vient destre jurès le Defendant challenge le Array del ' Principal Panell que est quash Moy semble que il ne poet aver auter Tales de faier plein Enquest solonque l'entendment de cest Estatute 17. En Quare impedit al Nisi prius le Plaintiff ad un Tales de Circumstantibus en quel le Viscount retorne xvi queux appieront Et quant le primer Jury est destre jurè le Defendant challenge l'Array del ' primer Enquest que est quash Moy semble que le Plaintiff ne puit ' prender plein Jury del ' Tales que appiert nient obstant les parolls de cest Estatute Et uncore sil ussoit al Comen Ley il puissoit aver plein Enquest de Tales et procedereit 18. Sur Habeas Corpora ove Nisi prius retorne per le Bailiff d'un Franchise qui ad retorna Brevium al Nisi prius les Jurours font default per que le Bailiff esteant present est command per les Justices de retorner Tales qui respond que ne soient plusors sufficient deins son Bailiffwick Moy semble que les Justices al prier del ' Plaintiff poent agarder Tales de Circumstantibus destre retorne per le Viscount solonque l'entendment de cest Estatute 19. En Curia claudenda sur default d'appearance al Nisi prius Tales est agard et que apperont ne ount ascun notice del ' Terre a que l'enclosure est claime Moy semble que en cest Case le Plaintiff ne prendra benefit de son Triall de Circumstantibus solonque l'entendment de cest Estatute 20. Al Nisi prius en Curia claudenda Tales de Circumstantibus est retorne al Prier del ' Plaintiff et null del ' Principal Panell conust la Terre a que l'enclosure est claime Mes xii del ' Tales qui appeeront ount conusans del ' Terre Moy semble que le Plaintiff en cest Case ne prendra benefit de son Triall solonque l'entendment de cest Estatute 21. Tales de Circumstantibus est grant al Nisi prius en Breif de Wast per que est suppose le Wast destre fait en Terre et Pree Et les Jurours del ' primer Panell ount ewe le View del ' Terre mes nemy del ' Pree Moy semble què en cest case le Plaintiff ne proceedera en son Triall solonque l'entendment de cest Estatute 22. En Breif de Wast touts les Jurours forsque deux font default Moy semble que le Plaintiff ore n'avera Tales de Circumstantibus solonque l'entendment de cest Estatute 23. En Cui in vita al Nisi prius touts les Jurours font default issint que nul de eux appiert Moy semble què les Justices en cest case ne poient agarder Tales de Circumstantibus solonque l'entendment de cest Estatute 24. En
Authentique Copies of some Select Cases of the late Lord Chief Justice Hale in which he gave his Opinion when he was at the Bar as also of several Moot-Cases called the Cases of Greys-Inn I conceive it would be both Vanity and Presumption in me to offer at any Encomium upon the First lest I should injure the Manes of that Reverend Person whose Learning and Integrity not only now flourishes in the Memories of but is never to be forgotten by the Gentlemen of the Long Robe Nor can I think it at all becoming me to express my private Sentiments of the Latter but submit the Cases themselves to the more Eximious Judgment of that Honourable Society from whence they derive their Title W. B. THE AUTHORS Preface WHen God created Man at first he left him free not subject to any Law until he fell from God through Disobedience and the Breach of one single Command which was the first Offence that was committed upon the Earth After which Adam being in some measure restor'd to favour liv'd under that Law which we call the Law of Nature which in effect is compriz'd in these few words Do as thou would'st be done by By which Law the Holy Patriarchs Enoch Noah Abraham and several others were for many Ages guided that is to say till the Law was given by Moses The same Law was also extended to another sort of People who absolutely contemn'd it and making their Wills their Law render'd themselves as wicked as the others were sincere and upright And as they differ'd from the Holy Fathers in the government of their Lives so did they likewise vary from them in the Ends they propos'd to themselves I mean the corrupted Race of Cain the Giants of Nimrod of Ishmael and others who after the Fall of Adam were the first Examples of Impiety and Disobedience Whereby you are not only to understand that the first thing requir'd of God from Man was Obedience but also that the Law was first ordained by God for the Reformation of Man the perfection whereof consisteth in due obedience without which the best Laws and Ordinances in the World can never be well executed nor Kingdoms or Countreys be preserv'd For although at the beginning the heart of Man had not receiv'd or entertain'd any Law wherein obedience and order were prescrib'd unto him yet our human Fabrick from the first Creation of the World has taught us to be sensible that Disobedience and Discord among our very members causes the Destruction and Dissolution of the whole Frame whereby Nature her self not onely teaches us the Necessity of that Duty and Obedience which the Members owe each to other but also of that obedience and duty which all the Members joyntly owe to the Head and consequently what care the Head ought to take for the preservation of the Members Nature thereby giving us to understand that the one cannot subsist in a sure and perfect Estate without the assistance of the other The Consideration whereof has occasion'd several of the Ancient Writers to resemble the Estate of every good Common-wealth to the Natural Body of Man whose Health and Vigour depends upon the orderly government of the several parts which occasions me to reiterate the same resemblance in some measure and to divide a Commonwealth into four Parts The first and chiefest part I take to be the Royal Estate and the Person by God and the Lawes of the Land constituted and appointed as the Head of the same In the next degree I place the Nobility and Chief Magistrates upon whose shoulders lies the greatest Burthen and Charge of good Government The third I take to be the Commons divided into sundry inferiour degrees which I reckon to be the Members of this Body Politick among which I accompt one of the most necessary to be the Ministers of the Law which I may liken to the Hands of this Body whose natural Function it is not onely to defend the Body but also to afford such virtue and advantages as they receive from this Common-wealth to every particular part and Member of the same as occasion requires By the fourth part so plac'd in Order for the more Easie explanation of the outer-parts of this Body Politick though indeed it ought to be rank'd in the second degree next to the Head I mean the Prelacy and Clergie which may fitly be resembled to the Heari and Vitals contain'd within the Body as being naturally separated in their Functions from the external parts Which as they lye more conceal'd and secret so are they more liable to discomposure and distemper whereby they are not onely in a condition to weaken themselves but the Head the Members and indeed all the whole Frame of the Body so that while neither are able to exercise their Functions as they ought the Totum Compositum at length must absolutely perish On the other side the Members being orderly dispos'd and rightly directed both strengthen and render the whole Body more vigorous and active free from distemper and corruption of humours And thus it fares with a Common-Wealth the Members of which being under a sound and orderly Management it followes of necessity that the same must be preserv'd and continu'd by Civil and good Government which is the Law without which no Commonwealth can be well ordered and perpetuated And this is the Opinion of the famous Bracton who in the first Book of his Treatise Entitl'd Quae sint Vera necessaria thus delivers himself Si autem Reges defecerint sic exterminabitur Justitia nec erit qui justum faciat judicium Which Plato also affirms in these words Quis non apertis oculis cernit necessariam humano generi esse Legem Nam absque Legibus nihil ab atrocissimis feris descrepamur And this Commonwealth from its very first Establishment was always govern'd by Law the intrinsic Worth whereof so much by Bracton recommended being the subject of my Discourse in part occasions me to recite what he writes of our Law and the Execution of the same For the better understanding whereof I shall divide it into five parts First What the Extent of this Law is concerning which the same Author thus expresses himself Intentio Legis est ut per eam doceantur Corrigantur Errantes ut puniantur Contumaces Et ut mali Efficiantur boni et boni Meliores tum metu poenarum tum Expectatione praemiorum Secundum Horatii dictum Oderunt peccare boni Virtutis amore Oderunt peccare mali formidine poenae The second is What advantage it brings to the Students thereof of which he writes in these words Utilitas adeoque Legis Nobilitas addiscentes honores conduplicat et profectus et facit eos Principare in regno et sedere in aula regia et in sede ipsius Regis The third is What the End of the Law is of which he thus writes Lex eò tendit ut per eam jurgia Sopiantur Lites discindantur et
Vitia Expellantur et in regno Conservetur pax et justitia The fourth how available the Execution thereof is to the Common-Wealth of which the same Author thus writes Justa manifesta Legis Executio est regis regni praeservatio Fifthly what Rules the Ministers of the Law ought to observe and how they ought to be qualify'd Tria sunt praecepta Jurisprudentiae professori necessaria honestè Vivere alterum non Ledere Et jus suum unicuique tribuere The conclusion of all which in short is this That the Law reforms Evil men and makes good men better it brings honour to the Professors and Practicers of it it puts an end to all Strife and Contention Vice is thereby expell'd and Peace and Justice Establish'd That the true Execution thereof is the Preservation of the King and Kingdom and prescribes to the Ministers thereof an honest Life to hurt no body and to do as they would be done by which is the Sum of our Law and of the Execution of the same 'T is true our Law has been by some persons of late dayes vilify'd and contemn'd in regard that it is not a certain Law digested into great Volumes like the Civil Law nor us'd in any other Country To which effect thus Quintus Fabius perfaelices essent artes si de illis soli artifices judicarent Ignotum vero non solum non amari sed et sperni solet However if no Law were to be admitted but that which is written we should then condemn the Law of Nature which is the Parent of all good Lawes in the World and by which the chosen of God were directed and guided many hundred years before there was any Law written But there were other unwritten Lawes besides this as Plato seems to intimate in his Epistles Leges non Scriptae inspiratione quadam de mentibus divinis in mentes humanas transfusae sunt So that although our Law was never written yet since it is grounded upon the Law of God and the Law of Nature it may be said to be altogether as much authoriz'd by Gods Word as any other human written Law According to that of St. Paul Cum enim Gentes qui Legem non habent naturaliter ea quae Legis sunt faciunt hujusmodi Legem non habentes ipsi sunt Lex sibi ipsis And our Law as Bracton writes consists both of Reason and reasonable Custome Nor was it grounded at first upon the onely Will of the Prince according to the Maxim Quod Principi placet Legis habet Vigorem but was made and ordain'd with the Public Consent of many pro Conservatione Regis regni et in utilitatem Reipullicae And therefore it is also call'd Lex Politica according to that of St. Thomas in his Book dedicated to the King of Cyprus Lex Politica ex assensu populi optimè instituta minor is non est efficaciae aut Virtutis quam Lex regalis ab optimo Principe promulgata So that the authority of our Law is nothing Inferiour to the authority of all other human Lawes Neither can the certainty of our Law be better asserted and proved than by the daily experience of the same For by the order of the Common-Law of this Realm the End of all Suits is as certain as the Commencement and the Determination as quick as in any other Law On the other side whether it be so dilatory and tedious as the Civil Law in Processes of Appeal I shall submit to the Judgment of those that have had experience of both Now the reason why our Law varies from the Lawes of other Countries is because the Realm of England was not known at the begining when the Foundations of the Jus Civile were erected and that Law first ordain'd to be the General Law of Nations at that time discover'd and more familiarly made known And although our Law be private to our selves and not known to Forreign Countries yet we are deem'd by men of great Learning and Judgment to excel all other Countries not onely for that the Subjects of this Realm are better govern'd and kept in a more orderly quiet and obedience than the Subjects of other Countries under the restraint of other Lawes but because the ordinary way of Tryal by the same is more reasonable and grounded upon more Equity and Indifferency than the manner of Tryal by any other Law Now in regard the Statute upon which I intend to discourse was made for the Reformation of certain Abuses that were by Corruption advanced to hinder and overturn the ordinary way of Tryal It behoves me therefore to let you understand how many sundry sorts of Tryal were formerly in Use by the allowance of the Old Law of this Realm and how the same have been upon occasion alter'd and reform'd as also to let ye know wherein the Ordinary Tryals of our Law varie from the Tryals by other Lawes and wherein they Excel and are of more Worth than other Tryals And in regard that Treason Murder and Felony are the highest offences against the Commonwealth and such as the Law hath most reason to punish I shall begin with the Tryal of them The Tryal of these Crimes then as it appeareth by Glanvil in the first Chapter of his 14 th Book according to the Custome of the Old Law was this If there were no Proof nor Accuser after sundry Examinations and Inquisitions taken upon the Circumstances of the Matter suspected or if there were any accuser or direct proof and yet the party accus'd deny'd the same Then the Tryal according to the Old Law was by Wager of Battel if the party accus'd were under the age of 60 years and sound of his Limbs If he were diseased or lame or above the Age mention'd then he was to be try'd per Judicium Dei that is to say per Calidum ferrum vel aquam with these two differences that if he were a Freeholder he should be put to run bare-foot and bare-legg'd over a certain row of Iron Barrs laid over burning Coals which if he pass'd thrice without stop or fall then the Law held him acquitted as one to whom God had shew'd Mercy in that behalf And therefore it was call'd Judicium If the accused party were of the meaner sort which Glanvil calls by the Name of Rustici he was bound to run barefoot through such a number of Vessels fill'd with scalding water which if he could pass without stop or fall as before then the Law adjudg'd him free from the guilt But because the Tryal of Treason Murder and Felony as well upon Appeals as upon Indictments of all sorts of persons of all ranks and degrees is more amply set forth in a Treatise written by Mr. Justice Stamford Entituled His Pleas of the Crown I will not undertake to impair the Credit of his Learning by any weak endeavours of my own There was also a Tryal used in Writs of Right which was only by Wager of Battel
said Panel by the Sheriff or other Minister or Ministers to try any such Issue that shall not appear but make default shall lose the Issues upon them returned in such wise as though the Iury had remained for default of Iurours Provided alway and be it Enacted That upon a reasonable excuse for the default of Appearance of any Iurour or Iurours sufficiently proved before the Iustices of Assize or Nisi Prius at the day of their Appearance by the Oaths of two Lawful and Honest Witnesses that the same Iustices shall have authority by their Discretions to discharge every such Iurour of every such forfeiture of Issues upon him returned And that the Sheriff and Sheriffs or other Minister or Ministers having Commandment by the said Iustices to omit the returning of such Issues as is aforesaid upon such Iurour or Iurours shall be therein discharged of the Penalties aforesaid for the non-returning of the said Issues and that yet notwithstanding the said return to be good and effectual in the Law Any Law Vsage or Custom to the Contrary notwithstanding Provided also and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if the said Iustices afore whom any Iurour should appear in the County where such Issue is to be Tryed by vertue of a Writ of Nisi Prius do not come at the day and place appointed but that the Assize or Nisi Prius for that time shall be discontinued for not coming of the said Iustices or for any other occasion other then for default and lack of Iurours that then every one of the said Iurours shall be discharged for forfeiting of any Issues upon him returned in the same Writ And the Sheriff or other Minister or Ministers shall be likewise discharged of the Penalties of this Statute for the non returning of such Issues as are before limited in this Act Any Article or Sentence herein Contained to the Contrary notwithstanding And be it also further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if upon any such Writ of Habeas Corpora or Distringas with a Nisi Prius Issues be returned upon any Hundredours Iurour or Iurours by the Sheriff or other Minister or Ministers to whom the Execution of the same Writ or Writs shall appertain whereas the same Hundredours and Iurours shall not be lawfully summoned warned or distrained in that behalf that then every such Sheriff or other Minister or Ministers aforesaid shall lose for every such offence so committed double so much as the said Issues returned upon such Hundredours or Iurours not Lawfully summoned warned or distrained shall amount unto the Moyety of all which Forfeitures contained in this present Act other then the Issues to be returned upon the Iurours as is aforesaid shall be to the King our Soveraign Lord and the other half to him that will sue for the same by Action of Debt Bill Plaint or Information in any of the Kings Competent Courts In which no Wager of Law Essoine or Protection shall be allowed nor admitted Saving to all manner of Persons and Bodies Politick and Corporate their Heirs and Successors having lawful Right Title and Interest to have such Issues to be before any such Iustices of Assize or Nisi Prius at any time or times hereafter loft and forfeited all such Right Title and Interest as they or any of them shall or might have had to such Issues to be lost and forfeited as though this Act had never been had or made Provided also That this Act nor any thing therein contained shall not extend to any City or Town Corporate or to any Sheriff Minister or Ministers in the same for the returning of any Inquest or Panel to be made and returned of persons inhabiting in the said Cities or Towns Corporate but that they and every of them shall and may return such persons in every such Inquest or Panel as before this time they might and have been accustomed to do and as this Act had never been had or made so that the same Sheriff Minister or Ministers return upon such persons as shall be impanelled like Issues as are before mentioned in this Act Any thing in the same Contained to the Contrary notwithstanding Lectio Prima LE Mischeif al comen Ley devant le fesans de cest Estatute appiert per le Preamble de cest Estatute Et pur ceo què les parols d'estatute soient què Issues joine in chescun Action Suit Demand perenter partie partie al comen Ley soient pur le pluis part per la Ley del ' terre triable per le Verdict de xii homes les queux Trials ount estre delay per le Mischeif Abuse que l' Estatute reherse pur remedy le quel cest Estatute fuit fait Et pur ceo que les Parolls d estatute soient general que Issues joine in chescun Action Suit Demand c. Et pur ceo que nul Issue poet estre joine ne ascun Triall de ceo ensue mes per Original ou Action de ceo primerment commence Jeo entend ove vostre pacience primerment de monstre a vous en queux Actions Suits Demands le Triall purrey per cest Estatute prendra son effect et en queux nemy Et en queux Courts tiels Actions Suits Demands doient estre port commence Et en quel lieu le Court doiet estre tenus Et quant l' Action avera son commencement en l'un Court et serra mise a son Triall en auter Court Primerment moy semble que le Triall ordeine per cest Estatute gist forsque en tiels Actions queux averont lour ordinarie Triall per duodes homes non plusors et ceo forsque en ceux Actions en queux le Process de Venire facias Habeas Corpora Distringas gist vers les Jurours apres Issue joine Et en nuls auters Actions 1. EN Appeal de mort d'un home ou en Appeal de Robbery ou Rape les Defendants plede rien culpable moy semble que le Trial en ceux Actions ne serra solonque l'entendment de cest Estatute 2. En un Praemunire vers un qui suppose què le Defendant ad luy emplede en Court Christian pur chose touchant le Corone determinable per le comen Ley a que le defendant plede rien culpable moy semble què ceo nest triable deins le purvey de cest Estatute 3. En Warantia Chartae le Defendant dit què le Plaintiff ne fuit Tenant del ' terre jour de Breif purchase sur que ils soient al Issue moy semble què ceo est triable solone l'entendment de cest Estatute 4. En Ex Gravi Quaerela port per que est suppose què la terre fuit devise a J. S. en Tail et le Defendant dit que cestuy qui fist le devise fuit seisie en Tail del ' terre al temps del Devise sur que ils
l'heire del ' Mesne est forejudge en breif de mesne Tenant fait Feffment rendant rent durant feffor feffee al pleine age accept l'arrerages feffee est amerce en defalt de son suit et apres est nonsuit en replevin le Defendant avera costs et damages deins cest Statute 5. Gardein sur assignment de dower reserve rent pur le surplusage l'heire al pleine age agrea al assignment il distreine replevin abate pur saux latin Defendant recover costs et damages deins cest statute 6. A Lessa pur vse rendant un robe ou 20 s. pro eodem ove clause de distress pur luy et les assignes grant per Lessee sur condic'on que il assignera son estate al B. Lessee lessa al Estranger pur ans que expire A. grant le rent del ' robe et apres re-enter Grantee distreine Tenant port replevin et est nonsuit Defendant avera costs et damages deins cest Statute 7. Tenant en especial tayle ad issue 2 files per several venters disseisor lessa pur vie sur condic'on d'aver fee donor release al Lessee ove garrantie in forma praedicta Pere devie condic'on est performe assets descende lessee fait feoffment leigne file distreine Feoffee port replevin et suit al issue sur le propertie et apres Plaintiff est nonsuit Defendant avera Costs damages deins cest statute 8. Baron et Feme lessa terre la feme pur vie rendant rent remainder al B. pur vie Lessee est disseisie baron devie feme release al Disseisor touts actions disseisor morust seisie et apres le terre descende al feme feme receive le rent lessee devie B. distreine l'avers le feme et sont al issue sur ne prist pas et trove pur l'avowant il avera costs et damages deins cest statute ☞ Issint sur ceux parols del ' Statute il ad estre tenus que devant l'Estatute de 7 H. 8. cap. 4. nul damages ou costs serront recover per l'avowant car il fuit forsque en nature d'un Defendant et pur ceo le dit statute de 7 H. 8. fuit què st avowrie soit fait pur Rent Custome ou Service and the Recovery be found for him or the Plaintiff be otherwise barred that the Defendant shall recover his costs and damages as the Plaintiff should have done if it had beén found for him sur quel Statute ut appiert 19 H. 8. cap. 12. si le Plaintiff en un Second Deliverance fuit nonsuit que le Defendant recovera costs et damages et que sur le matter il est barre car il n'ad remedie pur les avers sans satisfier del ' partie mes si l'avowrie ust estre pur auter chose que pur Rent Service ou Custome come pur rent charge Damage Feasant et hujusmodi car ne suit provide pur cest statute de 7 H. fuit pur remedie de que mesme l'estatute de 21 H. 8. fuit fait Le primet branch de cest Statute come il ad estre tenus en le former Lecture quant al avowrie sur le terre extende solement al Rent Service ou Customes ou Services mes cest branch quant al recoverie de costs et damages enlarge le primer branch et sa extende non solement a touts rents come Rent charges ou seckes mes auxi al avowries pur damage feasant Cest branch coment il parla solement pur avowries pur rent et damage feasant uncore il ad estre tenus que per equitie il sa extende al avowries pur estraye pur waife pur suit al Court pur harriot pur amercement et hujusmodi Mes il ad estre prise què si en replevin les parties sont al issue sur le lieu et le Plaintiffe est nonsute ou auterment barre que le defendant recovera null damages ou costs car le meaning et intendment de cest Estatute sont ou le plt est barre en le point del Avowrie sc ou il est barre en le Chose que il demand per sa Avowrie Mes icy il n'est barre en le matter mes sur Chose al Brief et le point en question n'est trie Mesme la ley si les Parties en le Replevin sont al Issue sur te property des Avers Et le plt soit non suit ou auterment barre le desendant recovera ses Costs et damages Mes il eit estre tenus què si le Breif abate pur faur Latine ou pur defect de forme què le Defendant ne recovera Costs et Damages per cest Estatute FINIS Judge HALE HIS OPINION In some Select Cases LONDON Printed for Norman Nelson at Grayes-Inn Gate in Holbourn 1680. L'Opinion en Ascun SELECT CASES del ' Tresgrand Erudite Sage de la Ley Mathew Hale jadis Cheif Justice d' Angleterre Case 1. Moy semble què coment un original Breif ou Mesne Process al' Suit del ' comen Person ordinariment ne gist del ' Courts de Westminister en Gales uncore sur un Judgment en Dett ou damages en le Comen Bank icy un Breif d'Execution per Testatum Capias Fieri facias ou Elegit gist in Walliam 2. Moy semble què si la Person vers que le Judgment est done soit retorne non est inventus en le County en Angleterre lou l'original Suit fuit primes commence un Testatum Scire facias gist al' Viscount de tiel County en Gales lou les Terres del ' Defendant gisont vers les heirs Terre-Tenants pur ceo què est tantsolement Breif d'Execution et en order al ceo 3. Moy semble què si sur le Scire facias Issue soit joine si la Partie fuit seisie ou tiel local Issue poiet estre trie en le prochein Anglois-Countie pur ceo què auterment un Failer de Iustice ensuera Case 3. A. ove ses Mains demesnes en Decembr ' 1642. fist sa Volunt en Escript et ceo seale publishe devant trois Testmoignes et en e done several Legacies al sa Kindred Et done un Legacy de 20 s. al B. qui per ceo volunt fuit appoint Executor in hee verba If any thing remain undisposed of I refer it to the discretion of my Cosin B. whom I intreat to be rhe sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament A. puis en 1658. fuit possesse d'un pluis grand Estate personal que a luy deveigne per mort et en mesme l'ann suddenment morust sans altring ou fesans ascun auter Volunt Al temps de sa mort mesme la volunt fuit trove en son Study mes ses maine seal fueront laceratès de ceo mes per quel voy fuit ignote La volunt est bellement escrie per maine le Testator et nient un foits
THE Excellency and Praeheminence OF THE Lavv of England ABOVE All other Humane Lawes in the WORLD Asserted In a Learned Reading upon the Statute of 35 H. 8. Cap. 6. Concerning Tryals by Iury of Twelve Men and Tales de Circumstantibus By Thomas Williams late of the Inner Temple Esq sometime Speaker of the Commons House in PARLIAMENT II. Mr. Risden's Reading upon the Statute of 21 H. 8. Chap. 19. of AVOWRIES III. Judge Hale's Opinion in some Select Cases IV. Certain Cases which have been formerly Mooted by the Society of Greys-Inn LONDON Printed by the Assigns of R. and E. Atkins Esquires for Norman Nelson at Greys-Inn-Gate in Holbourn MDCLXXX The Publisher's PREFACE THE BOOK consisting of Four several and distinct Tracts it will not be unnecessary to give the Reader a brief praeliminary Account of each And first to begin with the Reading upon the Statute of 35 H. 8. Cap. 6. of Jurours and Tales de Circumstantibus by Mr. Williams of the Inner-Temple to whom Mr. Dugdale in his Origines Juridiciales gives the Title of Prolocutor Parliamenti begun in Quadragesima 3 4 Phil. Mariae it is usher'd into the World with an Incomparable Praeface wherein is most Learnedly asserted the Excellency and Preheminence of the Lawes of England above all other Humane Lawes in the World in respect of the great Benefits and Advantages the Subjects of England do receive and enjoy in their Trials by Juries and the Verdict of Twelve honest Men of the Neighbourhood where the Fact is committed or the cause of Action doth arise Which Reading he hath divided into Nine Branches or Lectures In the First whereof he tells us in what Actions Suits and Demands the Triall provided by this Statute shall take Effect and in what not And in what Courts such Actions c. ought to be brought and commenced And in what place the Court ought to be kept And when the â—ction shall be commenc'd in one Court and shall be sent to be tried in another Court And that it is his Opinion that the Triall ordain'd by this Statute lies only in such Actions as have their Trial by 12 Men and no more and that only in such Actions in which the Proces of Venire facias Habeas corpora and Distringas doth lie against the Jurours after Issue joyn'd and in no other Actions In the Second Lecture by way of Exposition upon these words of the Statute Issues joyn'd between party and party He shews between what persons and Parties the Trial provided by this Statute shall take Effect and who shall be said to be party within the Purview of this Statute and who not Thirdly he discovers what Issue Joyn'd shall be tried according to the intendment of the Statute and what not also of what Issues the Plaintiff or Demandant may be ousted of his Triall ordain'd by this Statute and of what not And moreover forasmuch as the words of the Statute be That in every Writ of Venire facias which hath this Clause Quorum quilibet every one who shall be retorn'd ought to have Freehold of the value of 40 s. per annum at the least and every one that shall be retorn'd in the other Writ of Venire facias upon this Clause Quorum quilibet ought to have some Freehold he tells us in his Fourth Lecture what shall be said sufficient Franktenement for Jurours upon the one Writ and upon the other Fifthly you have his Opinion upon those words of the Statute That the Sheriff shall not omit to retorn such persons as have sufficient Freehold c. upon pain of forfeiting 20 s. When the Sheriff or other Minister retorns any persons who at the time of the Panel made have not any Freehold and yet have sufficient when they are to be sworn shall not lose the penalty of the Statute and when they shall lose the penalty where they retorn persons who have sufficient Freehold at the time of the Retorn and when they shall be sworn they have nothing and when they shall not lose the penalty in such case upon this Statute And when the Sheriff may by their retorn of Jurours of sufficient Freehold otherwise lose the Penalty intended by this Statute and when not Sixthly whereas the words of the Statute are That the Sheriff shall impanel upon every Venire facias 6 sufficient Hundredors and that he shall lose for every Hundredor omitted in the Panel 20 s. He shews who shall be said sufficient Hundredors according to the intendment of the Statute and who not and when he shall lose the penalty for retorning no Hundredors Seventhly he tells you upon what default or non-appearance of the Jurours the Justices of Nisi prius may award Tales according to the Statute and upon what not and when the Plaintiff or Demandant shall have a Tales upon his prayer and yet when it is retorn'd he shall not proceed to the taking of the Inquest according to the intendment of the Statute and how many persons the Sheriff may retorn upon a Tales according to the Statute In the Eighth Lecture he informs us what person Plaintiff or Demandant may pray the Tales according to the Statute and what not And what persons the Sheriff c. may retorn upon the Tales and what not Ninthly and lastly he gives us an Account what Challenges the Parties may have to the Array or to the Poll of the Tales de Circumstantibus and what not and what shall be said a Principal Challenge and what not and when the Poll-Challenge shall be drawn presently upon the Challenge and when not The Second Treatise in order is that of Mr. Risden of the same House being a Reading upon the Statute of 21 H. 8. cap. 19. of Avowries distinguished into Five Divisions or Lectures In the First whereof he shews 1. What Mannors Lands Tenements and Hereditaments may be holden 2. What Persons may hold such Lands c And 3. Of what persons such Lands c. may be holden within the Purview of the Statute and what not In the Second Lecture he demonstrates what Rents Customs and Services are meant intended and provided for within the Purview of this Act and what not In the Third Lecture he tells us In what Actions Suits and Courts the Lord may Avow 2. In what Cases he shall make Conusance And 3. In what Cases he may Justifie within the Statute and what not Fourthly he declares his Opinion what things may be distrain'd and upon what Lands such Distress may be taken and upon what not within the Statute 2. If Seisins and other Observances in Avowries at Common Law be required in Avowries upon this Statute And Lastly he explains how far the second Branch of the Statute extends to other Rents than those are included in the first and to what other Rents And in what Cases the Defendant shall recover Costs and Damages by this Statute and in what not The Third and Fourth Parts of this Collection being Genuine and