its Originall or Prototype Quia origo rerum attendendaâ— And first of the Shire Shire is a Saxon word scyra and hath its etymology from shiran id est partiri to divide as Mr. Lambert saith in his explication of Saxon words Verb. Centur. And Mr. Cambden in his Britania reporteth that Alfred a Saxon King of England was the first that divided this Common wealth into Shires those Shires into Ridings and those Ridings into Weapentakes or Hundreds c. Likewise as Sir Henry Spelman in his Glossarie saith Sunt qui Comitatum distinct ones sub Berengariis Othonibus vel sub Carolo magno apud exteros accidisse opinautur quod de plurimis forte verum fuerit nounullae autem antiquius deprehenduntur Rem apud nos perspicuam facit Ingulphus si sane fides Rex Alfridus alias Aluredus Aethelfridus qui regnum iniit Anne 871 totius inquit Angliae pagos provincias in Comitatus primus omnium commutavit Comitatus in centurias hundredas in decennas id est tithingas divisit Which strenous authorities are sufficiently valid to prove the originall of Shires and their divisions The Republick being thus disunited or dissected into Shires every Shire is intirely governed by one Officer called a Sheriffe or Shire-reeve Vicecomes compounded of these two Saxon words scyr viz. Satrapia a Shire and reue viz. Praefectus a Governour of the Shire Mr. Cambden thus describes his Office Singulis vero annis nobilis aliquis ex incolis proficitur quem Vicecomitem quasi vicarium comitis nostra lingua Sheriff viz. Comitatus praepositum vocamus qui etiam comitatus vel provinciae Quaestor recte dici potest But in Seldeni Jani fol. 53. 54. you have two Governours of the Shire assigned where he saith Praefectus provinciarum qui antea vice-domini ad Ingulphum reversus est Aluredum in duo officia divisit 1. in Judices quos nunc justiciarios vocamus in Vicecomites qui ad huc idem nomen retinent Facessat ergo Polidoras urbinas qui primos a Normanno petit Vicecomites which we now call Vicount a Vice-comite which cometh from our Conquerors the Normans as Sheriffe from our Ancestors the Saxons Also Sir Henry Spelman in his Glossarie saith Quinem autem tunc essent magistratus quos Ingulphus hic vocat Justiciarios Vicecomites non plà ne assequor Reor Aldermanni provinciarum Grevii Saxonice Ealdormen gerefas De Grevii saith he tamen munere nec habeo definitum discrepare enim videtur a Vicecomite quod hic tum adhuc comitis esset vicarius ille regis officialis unde in Anglo-Saxonum legibus atque ipsius Aluredi Cyninger gereþan id est Grevius regis vel ut Latine saeâ—ius reditur Praepositus regis appellatus est And that he is Governour of the County the words of his Patent import as much viz. Commissimus tibi custodiam comitatus So that he is an Officer of great antiquity trust and authority having formerly from the King as now from his Highnesse the Lord Protector the custody tuition and command of the whole County Co. l. 4. 33. Mittons case The aforesayd Alfred at the division of the Kingdome into Shires or Counties instituted this Court called the County Court and established Jurisdiction in it granting power and authority to the Sheriffe to heare and determine such matters as by just cause of appellation either for Law or Equity should be brought unto him This Court as it is recorded by Mr. Selden in his Treatise of Tythes was joyntly exercised by the Bishop of the Diocesse and by the Sheriffe or Alderman of the sciregemot or Hundred or County Court where the one sate to give Godes fight the other for puruldre right that is the one to judge according to the Lawes of the Kingdome the other to direct according to Divinity And Sir Henry Spelman in his Glossary saith Comitatum simul regebant pariterque in foro considentes judicia publica exercebant hic secundum jus humanum ille vero divinum LL. Canuti MS. ca. 44. Habeatur ter in anno Burgesmotus i. Civitatis conventus Schiresmotus i. pagi vel comitatus conventus bis nisi Saepius opus sit intersit Episcopus Aldermannus doceat ibi Dei rectum seculi uterque scil Pro suo munere Idem Ladgari LL. ca. 5. sed pro Aldermannus illic comes extat ut supra demonstravimus utrumque recte Nam in comitatu simus considisse reor Comittem relpub partes tueretur Episcopum qui Ecclesiae Aldermannum qui Legem diceret exponeret But at the Norman Conquest this kinde of holding Ecclesiasticall Pleas in the Hundred of County Court was taken away as may appeare by this Mandate of William the Conqueror recorded in Seld. Jani lib. 2. fol. 76. Willielmus Dei gratia Rex Anglorum Comitibus Vicecomitibus omnibus Francigenis Anglis qui in Episcopatu Remigii terras habent salutem Sciatis vos omnes caeteri mei fideles qui in Anglia manent quod Episcopales leges quae non bene nec secundum sanctorum Canonum praecepta usque ad mea tempora in regno Anglorum fuerunt communi consilio Archiep. meorum caeterorum Episcoporum Abatum omnium principum Regni mei emendandas judicavi Propterea mando regia authoritate praecipio ut nullus Episcopus vel Archidiaconus de legibus Episcopalibus amplius in hundredo placita teneat nec causam quae ad regimen animarum pertinet ad judicium secularium hominum adducant sed quicunque secundum Episcopales leges de quacunque causa vel culpa interpellatus fuerit ad locum quem ad hoc Episcopus elegerit nominaverit veniat ibique de causa sua respondeat non secundum hundredum sed secundum Canones Episcopales leges rectum Deo Episcopo suo faciat All actions whatsoever were brought in this Court before the Sheriff as it is reported by Mr. Lambert in his Archeion in that particle of the Lawes of Edgar to our matter in hand Viz. Let no man seeke to the King in matter of variance unlesse he cannot finde right at home But if it be too heavy for him then let him seeke to the King to have it lightned The very like whereof in effect is to be seene in the Lawes of Canutus the Dane sometimes King of this Realme out of which Lawes may be collected foure things First That every man had meanes and was authorized to sue and commence their Actions in this Court in their owne Shire or County Secondly That no man ought to sue out of the County or to remove or draw his plea from thence without good cause both which things do plainely appear in the letter of this Law Thirdly That the King himself had a high Court of Justice wherein it seemeth that he sate in person as these words do demonstrate Let him not seek to
the King c. And lastly That the same Court of the Kings did judge not onely according to meer right and Law but also after equity and good conscience And after this order and in these two Courts was all Justice administred This Court continuing untill the time of William the Conqueror and ever since during the times and raignes of the ancient Kings and doth yet continue in manner the same forme and substance that it then was and will doe in despite of those Sycophants that have had their Primum mobile from it and now endeavour its subversion that Viperous brood of Birds that have so much defiled their owne Nest that the whole Countrey laughs at their folly and that the pleas ought no more to be taken from it now in our dayes without cause than they ought then to have been which may evidently be proved by those ancient Writs of Pone Recordare Writ of false Judgment and Accedeas ad curiam which are yet in use to this day and to this onely end to remove suits upon cause out of this Court into superior Courts But because this requireth great search of Records to make any further progression whereunto I have no accesse I must leave it to such whose abilities are more strenuous to travell in that so intricate a path This Court is no Court of Record but onely a Court Baron though it had in ancient times the cognition of great matters as may appear by Glanvile lib. 1. cap. 23. 4. by Bracton and Britton in diverse places and by Fleta lib. 2. cap. 62. but it was abridged by the Statute of Magna Charta cap. 17. and much more by 1 E. 4. cap. unico therefore pleas holden in this Court by Plaint nor pleas holden by Writ of Justicies are not taken as matters of Record for those pleas are holden by reason of the Court which the Sheriff holdeth by reason of his Office This Court as Dalton reporteth in his Office of Sheriffs was ordained for the Sheriff to hold Pleas there for particular or private matters under forty shillings between party and party It is now as it was alwaies holden once every moneth upon a day certaine the moneth being computed according to twenty eight dayes in the moneth and not according to the Kallander 9 H 3. c. 35. 2 E. 6. c 25. It holdeth no plea of debt or damages to the value of forty shillings or above because a Fine is due thereby to the Lord Protector yet if the debt be forty shillings or above and the Plaintiff will acknowledge in his Declaration the receit of so much as to bring it within forty shillings in this case the plaint is good But if the debt be above forty shillings as five pounds the Plaintiff cannot divide this into five severall actions to make this Court hold plea of it for in this case the Defendant may wage his Law And of Debt Detinue Trespasse and other actions personall above forty shillings the Sheriff may hold plea by force of a Writ of Justicies to him directed for that is in nature of a Commission to him and is not returnable Neither doth this Writ alter the nature of the Court for therein the Sheriff is not Judge but the Freeholders or Suitors yet all Judgments shall be pronounced by the Sheriff This Court may be kept at any place within the County at the pleasure of the Sheriff but not out of it Yet the Sheriff of Northumberland by the Statute is to keep his County Court in the Towne or Castle of Alnewicke and in no other place The Sheriff of Sussex by the Statute is to hold his County Court one time at Chester and the other time at the Burrough of Lewes and so to be kept alternis vicibus for ever And also the Sheriff of the County of Chester is to keep his County Court in the Shire Hall of the sayd County Daltons Office of Sheriffs fol. 157. 158. To this Court all persons dwelling within the County owe suit by reason of their resiance No Fine can be imposed in this Court upon any offendor because it is no Court of Record Co. 8. 41. 60. 11. 43. Fitz. 73. d. But a man may be amerced for a contempt or a disturbance of the Court in the presence of the Court. This Court will entertaine no suits for Charters of Land or for Inheritance or for Freehold of Land or any titles of Land or to make severall plaints upon one entire debt by Bond or Trespasse Vi armis or actions touching life nor actions to compell one to render an account The Office of the County Clarke THe Sheriff being elected which is done yearly in the morrow after All soules in the Exchequer Chamber by the Statutes 9. E. 2. 14 E. 3. cap. 7. And his Letters Patents do commonly beare date the sixth day of November 1 2 E. 4. e. 1. unlesse it be in cases of necessity that the Court is sorced to adjourne it Crook fol. 595. before the next County day after his election and discharge of the old Sheriff he ought to be very diligent in deputing and constituting a County Clarke such a one as is sufficient and able to keep the Court that no corrupt dealing be in it as he will answer the contrary and that he be very skilfull in entring the proceedings in it He ought to be endued with these qualities according to the description of Fleta Provideat sibi Vice com' de Clerico circumspecto fideli viro provido discreto gratioso humili pudico pacifico modesto qui in legibus consuetudinibusque provinciae officio Commit ' Cleric ' se cognoscat jura in omnibus teneri affectei quique sub-balivos in suis erroribus ambiguis sciat instruere docere c. Which is thus Paraphrased That a County Clarke ought to be endued and qualified with circumspection fidelity providence humility peace and modesty and must know himselfe or be expert in the Lawes and customes of the Countrey and to have ability to instruct or direct the Bailiffs or other Ministers in dubious things wherein they may erre He must neither be attracted by price nor lucratory corruption nor any sinister affection to wander out of the way of right Qui nec as Bracton adviseth ad dextram nec ad sinistram vel propter prosperitatem terrenam vel adversitatis metum à tramite justiciae declinet The Sheriff and not the Protector hath power to delegate this Office to whom he pleaseth as it appears in Myttons case in the fourth Reports where Queen Elizabeth by Letters Patents did grant the Office of Clarkship of the County Court of Somerset to Mytton with all Fees c. for life Arthur Hopton Esquire Sheriff of the same Shire interrupted him because it was incident to his Office Mitton complained to the Lords of the Councell and was referred to the two chiefe
Justices Wray and Anderson and after many arguments concerning the validity of that Grant and conference had with all the other Justices It was resolved by all the Justices Nullo contradicente aut reluctante that the sayd Letters Patents were voyd and their reasons were That the Office of Sheriff was an ancient Office before the Conquest and of great trust and authority for the King committeth unto him Custodium Comitatus And although the King may determine the Office ad beneplacitum yet he cannot determine this in part as for one Town or Hundred nor abridge him in any incidents to his Office for the Office is entire and ought to continue so without any fraction or diminution unlesse by Parliament and the County Court and the entring of all Proceedings therein are incident to the Sheriffs Office c. And though it was granted when the Office of Sheriff was void yet the new Sheriff shall avoid it as Scroges case in the time of Vacation in the Office of Chief Justice of the Common Bench Queen Mary granted the Office of the Exigenter of London resolved that the next chief Justice shall avoid it for it was incident to his Office Also in all Writs directed to the Sheriff concerning the County Court the King sayes in comitatu tuo and in return of Exigents made by him he sayes ad comitatum meum tent c. and the stile of the Court proves it and by the Statute of 33 H. 8. the Sheriff of Denbigh shall keep his Shire Court at c. In a false Judgment it is said in pleno com tuo recordari facias c. and in a Precept of Tolt it is said summoneas c. quod sit ad comitatum meum and it should be very inconvenient that another should have the custody of the Enteries and Rolls of Court which may be imbezzelled and the Sheriff responsible for them And it was resolved that the custody of all the Goales within every County appertains to the Sheriff by right and are annexed and incident by Law to the Sheriffs Office vide an 14 E. 3. cap. 10. But note that his late Highnesse in the year 1653. granted the Office of Clark-ship for the County of York to one Master R. H. though dissonant to common Law yet consentaneous to a gladiatorie power like those in Livie in armis jus ferre omnia fortium virorum esse that all Lawes are engraven on the hilt of a victorious Sword to whose Mandamus both Statute and common Law must submit He cannot execute the Office of a County Clark and practice as an Attorny both at one time it being prohibited by the Statute of 1 H. 5. 4. being a cause of encreasing Suits and a hinderance in dispatch of Clyents causes He cannot act any thing without the assent of the Suitors if he do an Action of Trespasse lyeth against the Sheriff He must be carefull in deputing honest able and sufficient men as Bayliffs for the executing of the Precepts issuing out of the Court. He ought to enter no Plaints except in case of Replevins out of Court but in full County sedente curia yet the case is otherwise at this day and as it seems good enough verifying the Diverbe communis error facit jus He must make sufficient Precepts after the Plaints entred but not before against the Defendants directed to his Bayliffs to attach or warn the Defendants to appear at the next County Court and answer the Plaintiff The County Clark and Plaintiff upon complaint of the party grieved may be examined by one Justice of Peace concerning the taking or entring of Plaints in the County Court and book against the Statute If thereby the Justice find any fault or offence committed that shall stand for a sufficient conviction and attainder without any further inquirie or examination And the said Justice must certifie the examination within a quarter of a year into the Exchequer by the Statute of 11 H. 7. cap. 15. If a Writ of discharge of the ancient Sheriff be delivered to the County Clark sitting in the County Court the authority of the said Sheriff although absent shall presently cease At the adjourning of every Court he must appoint a day certain for the next Court to the intent the Country may know at what time they may resort thither to hear the Lord Protectors Writs of Exigent and Proclamations read The Office of a Coroner in this Court A Coroner is one of the principall Officers of this Court being chosen in it by a Writ de Coronatore elegendo directed to the Sheriff by the Freeholders or Suitors in open and full Court and is published there and after the Sheriff is to returne and certifie into the Chancery the election of every such Coroner and their names likewise the County Clark in Court must administer to the Coroner his oath for the due execution of his Office The Coroner being thus elected and sworn he is to sit there with the Sheriff every County Court to give Judgment upon Outlawries which Judgment shall be given and pronounced by him in the fifth County and there the Sheriff is to returne the Outlawry with the Exigent But by this Judgment no goods are forfeited before the Outlawry appear upon Record neither shall such an Outlawry disable the party Exigents and Proclamations are to be proclaimed five County dayes one after another and once in the open Sessions and once at the Parish Church doore where he doth or did lately dwell that he appear or else that he shall be outlawed And if Proclamation be made five County dayes and at the fifth County day the Defendant appear not then the Coroner shall give Judgment that he shall be out of the Protection of the Lord Protector and out of the ayd of the Law F. N. B. 163. But before I conclude let me give you in brief why a man is said to be outlawed and a woman waived viz. A man is said to be outlawed because he was sworn to the Law and now for his contumacy he is put from the Law and said outlawed as it were extra legem positus but a woman is not so but she is waived and not outlawed because she was never sworn to the Law Of Attorneys in this Court IT was once objected to me that no Attorney could legally practice in this Court and that every man ought to prosecute his own cause himself Epitomie of the Statute of Westminster 2. cap. 10. That every man which oweth Suit to the County Court may make a generall Attorny to prosecute and follow his Suits in all Pleas And likewise in the Statute of Merton cap. 10. Quod quilibet liber homo qui sectam debet ad Com. c. libere possit facere Atturn suum ad sectas illas pro eo faciendas and an Attorny may doe every thing in the name and as the act of him who gave him the authority as if he did it himself he
chattels which late were W. W. deceased at the time of his death and now remaining in the hands of I. W. Executor of the Testament of the said W. W. and not administred of as well a certain debt of 40 l. which T. L. in my County Court by vertue of a Writ of Justicies recovered against him as also 20 s. which to the said T. L. in the same Court was adjudged for his costs and damages which he sustained by reason of the detaining of the said debt If the said I. W. Executor of the Testament of the said W. W. have so much goods or chattels in his hand which were the said W. W. at the time of his death sufficient to satisfie the debt and damages aforesaid If he have not so much goods or chattels in his hands which were the said W. W. at the time of his death sufficient to satisfie the said T. L. of the debt and damages aforesaid That then you or some of you levy of the proper goods and chattels of the said I. W. the damages and costs aforesaid so that I may have the said mony at my next County Court to be holden at the Castle of Y. c. to render to the said T. L. the debt and damages aforesaid whereof he is convict And this given under the Seal of my Office the c. I. B. Esq c. to all and singular my Bayliffs c. greeting I command you and every of you that of the goods and chattels of T. O. you levy 20 s. which S. D. in the County Court according to a Statute provided in that case were adjudged for his costs and damages which he sustained in his own defence in a certain Plea of debt which the said S. D. against the said T O. of late brought because the said T. O. did not prosecute his Suit but was thereupon non-suited and convicted so that I may have the mony at my next County Court at the Castle of Y. holden on Munday c. next to satisfie the aforesaid S. D. of his costs and damages aforesaid And this c. Given under the Seal of my Office the c. I. B. Esq c. to all c. greeting I command you that of the goods and chattels of T. C. you levy 40 s. which to P. P. in my County Court were adjudged for his damages which he sustained in his own defence in a Plea of debt by the said W. against him the said P. P. lately brought whereof the said P. P. was quieted and by Verdict of his Country whereof the said T. C. was convict have you the mony at my next County Court to be holden at the Castle of Y. on Munday c. to satisfie the said P. P. of his damages aforesaid And this c. given under the seal of my office c. I. B. Esq c. to all c. greeting I command you and every of you joyntly and severally that of the goods and chattels which late were of E. S. Esq who dyed intestate as it is said and now in the hands of R. M. Gent. and A. his wife Administratrix of the goods and chattels which were the said E. S. at the time of his death remaining to be administred you cause to be made as well a certain debt of 4 l. which I. W. hath recovered against the said E. S. in my County Court as 30 s. which to him the said I. W. in my same Court were adjudged for his costs and damages which he had by occasion of detaining of the same debt by vertue of a Writ of Justices so that I may have the said mony at my next County Court to be holden at the Castle of Y. c. to render the aforesaid I. W. of the debt and damages aforesaid whereof the aforesaid E. S. was convict And whereupon it was considered in my same Court that the aforesaid I. W. should have Execution against the aforesaid R. M. c. of the debt and damages aforesaid of the goods and chattels aforesaid by his the said R. M. his default And this given under the seal of my office the c. I. B. Esq c. to all singular my Bayliffs c. greeting I command you and every one of you joyntly and severally especiall to F. P. Bayliff of the Liberty of S. and his Deputies who hath the goods taken upon an Execution issuing out of this Court that those twenty weather Sheep of which each you cause to be apprised at eight shillings of the goods of I. C. Esq which you took and remain in your hands unsold for want of buyers as you your self returned to my Court you expose to sale and the mony thereof which in the whole amounts to eight pounds you have at my next County Court at the Castle of Y. holden on Munday the tenth day of May next to render to W. G. which to him the said W. G. in my Court were adjudged for his damages which he had by occasion of a certain Trespasse to him committed by the aforesaid I. C brought whereof he is convict And this given under the Seal of my Office the 18 day of October in the year of our Lord 1657. By the Sheriff Of a Scire Facias IF a Fieri facias do not issue out within a year and a day after Judgment entered it cannot be had till there be a Scire facias first sued out to summon the Defendant to shew cause why Execution should not be done and if now he neglect to answer or cannot be found to be summoned then a second Judgment shall be given that that Execution be done of the first Judgment If Judgment be given against a Testator albeit it be within a year after Judgment had yet there must first issue out a Scire facias against the Executor or Administrator before Execution to shew cause why it should not be had Or if a man recover against a Feme-sole and she become covert viz. take a Husband within the year and the day then he that shall recover must have a Scire facias against the Husband Scire facias post diem annum I. B. Esq Sheriff c. greeting Whereas W. F. of late in the Court of the aforesaid County by Judgment in the said Court of the County aforesaid held at the Castle of X on Munday the tenth day of February 1654. before the Suitors of the said Court recovered against G. L. as well a certain debt of thirty two shillings which the said W. F. in the same Court recovered against him as thirteen shillings and ten pence which to the said W. F. in the same Court were adjudged for his damages which he sustained by the occasion of the detaining of the debt of which he is convicted for as by the proceedings from thence in the same Court residing notwithstanding the manifest Execution of the aforesaid Judgment remains to be done as by
before the return of the same E. L. Knight late Sheriffe of the County aforesaid and that this Writ so as above indorsed and returned was delivered to me R. S. Esquire now Sheriffe of the County aforesaid by G. T. under-Sheriff of the aforesaid E. L. late Sheriff of the County aforesaid R. S. Esquire Sherif I hereby certifie the Justices within written That the Lands and Tenements which were of the within named F. B. the same day and year within mentioned in which judgement of the debt and accompts within specified was rendred are and yet be in the hands of our Soveraign Lord the King in his Court of Wards and Liveries by reason R. B. Gent. Tenant of the Lands and Tenements aforesaid hath not yet sued forth his Livery of the Lands aforesaid in the Court aforesaid Therefore to the execution of this Writ I may not proceed as within it is commanded R. S. Esq Sherif An Inquisition indented taken at W. in the County aforesaid the day of Ianuary in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred fifty eight before me R. S. Esquire Sheriffe of the County aforesaid by vertue of a Writ of his Highnesse the Lord PROTECTOR to me directed and ro this Inquisition annexed by the oath of M. P. and so to the number of twelve honest and lawfull men of my Bayliwick who say upon their oaths that H. S. in the said writ named was seized in his Demesne as of see the fourteenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred fifty in the same writ mentioned of one Capital Messuage with the appurtenances with five acres of Lands six acres of Meadow and eight acres of Pasture scituate and being in Br. in the County aforesaid of the cleer yearly value in all issues above reprises forty shillings And the said Jurors further say upon their oaths that the said H. S. hath not any other or more Lands or Tenements the said fourteenth day of June abovesaid nor at any time since nor any goods or Chattels at the day of taking this Inquisition in my Bailiwick to the knowledge of the said Jurors the moyety of all and singular which said Messuage Lands Tenements and premisses that is to say the said Capitall Messuage and the said five acres of Land and the six acres of Meadow I the said Sheriff the said day of taking this Inquisition have caused to be delivered to T. C. in the said Writ also named to hold to him the said T. and his Assignes as his Free-hold according to the forme of the Statute in this case made and provided untill the debt and damages in the same Writ mentioned shall thereof be fully levied In witnesse c. Otherwise untill the said T. C. in the said writ also named shall be fully satisfied of his debt and damages in the same writ mentioned In witness c. R. S. Esquire Sheriff The within named A. B. is not found in my Bailywick The residue of the execution of this Writ appeareth in a certain indented Inquisition hereunto annexed R. S Esquire Sheriff An Inquisition indented taken at I. in the County aforesaid the one and twentieth day of October in the year of our Lord 1658. before me R. S. Esquire Sheriff of the same County of N. By vertue of a Writ of His Highnesse the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging to me directed and to this indented Inquisition annexed By the oath of H. S. and so to the number of twelve at least good and lawfull men of my Bailywick who say upon their Oath that R. T. in the aforesaid writ named the twentieth day of A. in the year of our Lord 1657. in the same Writ mentioned on which day the said R. T. became debtor to his Highnesse Oliver late Lord Protector in the aforesaid also mentioned was seised in his Demesn as of fee of and in one Messuage with the Appurtenances five acres of Land sixe acres of Meadow and eight acres of Pasture scituate lying and being in F. in the County aforesaid now in the tenure and occupation of J. G. or his Assignes of the cleer yearly value in all Issues above reprises 10 l. All which said Messuage Lands and Tenements with the Appurtenances I the said Sheriffe the same day of the taking this Inquisition have taken and seised into the hands of his Highnesse Richard now Lord Protector as by this Writ it is commanded And the same Jurors say upon their Oath that the aforesaid R. T. at the day of the taking this Inquisition is seised in reversion when it shall happen after the death of C. Widow in his Demesn as of Fee of one Messuage with the Appurt six acres of Land 5 acres of Meadow and 12 acres of pasture scituate lying and being in H. in the foresaid County of N. and now in the tenure and occupation of the same C. widow And that the aforesaid C. widow is now living so that at present the said Messuage Lands and premisses in H. aforesaid are worth nothing But after the death of the said C. widow will be of the cleer yearly value in all Issues above reprises 8 l. The reversion of which said Messuage Lands and Premisses with the Appurt in H. aforesaid when it happens I the same Sheriffe have also the same day of taking this Inquisition taken and seised into the hands of his Highnesse the Lord Protector according to the exigence of his Highnesse said Writ And moreover the said Jurors say upon their oaths that the above named R. T. at the time of the taking this Inquisition was and is possessed of all the Goods and Chattels severally mentioned comprised apprised and valued in a certaine schedule to this indented Inquisition annexed as of his owne proper Goods and Chattels and that the whole value of the same Goods and Chattels is forty shillings Which goods and Chattels the same day of the taking this Inquisition I the aforesaid Sheriffe have likewise seised into the hands of his said Highnesse the Lord Protector And the same Jurors further say upon their Oath that the same day of the taking this Inquisition R. J. of G. in the County of N. aforesaid Yeoman was indebted to the above named R. T. in the whole sum of twenty pounds for Rent And also that there is now in the hands of the same R. J. divers Goods and Chattels of the said R. T. that is to say one long Table c. which goods and Chattels together are of the value of 40 s. All which said debt of twenty pounds and the Goods and Chattels of the said value of 40 s. l the Sheriff aforesaid the same day of the taking of this Inquisition have also seised into the hands of his said Highnesse the Lord Protector as in the hands of the aforesaid R. I. And the aforesaid Jurors moreover say upon their Oaths that the within named
the day of the date hereof hath delivered to the hands of the within named C. D. and E. F. the Writ of execution for levying and extending the goods chattels and moyety of the lands tenements and hereditaments of one G. H. of c. to and for the use of the said A. B. whereby the same A. B. may be satisfied of the summe of two hundred pounds mentioned in the said Writ if in case the said C. D. and E. F. or either of them do lawfully execute or cause to be lawfully executed the said Writ according to the nature meaning and purport thereof by the impannelling of twelve lawfull and indifferent men to be sworn of the contents of the said Writ if then the said A. B. his Executors and Administrators do quietly permit and suffer the said Sheriffe or under Sheriffe to have take receive and detaine to his and their owne proper use and behoofe out of such moneys goods or chattels as shall be had levyed or received by vertue of the said Writ or the execution thereof so much in lawfull money of England or other benefit as they or the said Sheriffe or under Sheriffe or one of them shall think reasonable or sufficient for their satisfaction of and for such travel paines or charges as they shall be at in and about the execution of the said Writ and extent thereupon to be had or made otherwise within c. next after the said writ shall be executed and return made thereof accordingly do pay or cause to be paid unto the said Sheriffe or under Sheriffe or their Deputy or Deputies so much lawfull money of England as they shall for the causes aforesaid reasonably demand That then c. A Bargaine and sale of Goods made by the Sheriffe by vertue of his office TO all faithfull people to whom this present writing shall come Sir H. B. Knight Sheriffe of the County of Y. greeting Whereas by vertue of his Highnesses Writ of Fieri facias to me directed out of his Highnesses Court of Common Pleas at Westminster for the levying of an hundred pounds debt and forty shillings damages which Sir H. H. Knight Lord Chiefe Justice of the said Court of Common Pleas hath recovered in the said Court against E. F Administrator of the Goods and Chattels which late were of I. R. late of R. in the said County Gent. deceased at the time of his death to be levyed upon the Goods and Chattels which late were the said I. R.'s at the time of his death in the hands of the said E. F. to be administred if so much of them do remaine in the hands of the said E. F. to be administred And if not then the damages to be levyed of the proper goods of the said E. F. as by the said Writ returnable from the day of the holy Trinity in three weekes more at large appeareth I have taken into my hands all and singular the goods and chattels mentioned in an Inventory hereunto annexed be the goods and chattels which late were the said I. R's at the time of his death and found in the hands of the said E. F. unadministred Now know yee that I the said High Sherif by vertue of the said Writ and of my Office and for and in consideration of the sum of two hundred pounds of good c. to me the said High Sherif in hand payd do hereby as much as in me lyeth by vertue of my said Office fully and absolutely bargain sell and deliver to the said E. F. his Executors Administrators and Assignes all and singular the said Goods and Chattels TO HAVE AND TO HOLD and enjoy the same unto the said E. F. his Executors and Administrators for ever In witnesse whereof I have hereunto set my seale of Office the tenth day of May in the yeare of our LORD 1658. THE JUDICIAL AND MINISTERIAL OFFICE OF CORONERS THIS Office of Coroner hath its Etymologie or Derivation a Corona being an Offficer of the CROWN from antiquity and hath principall cognisance of some PLEAS called Placita Coronae He was established by pristine Kings ELFRED c. to be Principalis conservator pacis according to the Mirrour of Iustice which saith Auxi ordains fuer Coronours in Chescun County et Viscounts a garder le peace quant les Countees soy demisterent del gard et Bayliffes in lieu de centeners that is Coroners in every County and Sheriss were ordained and constituted to be Conservators of the Peace when the Earles dismist themselves of the custody of the Counties and in place of Hundredors but of his antiquity and jurisdiction Vide 2d Instit Magna Charta Cap. 17. Merton Cap. 3. Reddisseisin and Westminster 1. Cap. 10. and 26. and Articl super Chart. Cap. 3. This office of Coroner is duplicate General Special 1. Generall TO the office of generall Coroners appertaines the receiving of the Appeales of the whole County of Fellonies committed within the yeare to award the Exigents of contempts and to pronounce the Judgements of Out-lawries upon County dayes of which see more in the County Court and likewise in what pledge or Decenary they were or of whom mainprised and in whose ward 2. Speciall SPeciall Coroners are Coroners of Liberties and of priviledged places as Coroner of the Verge viz. Coroner of the Protectors Houshold c. to demonstrate the distinction of the Authority and Jurisdiction of generall and speciall Coroners by Wrote and Wiggs Case in the fourth Reports fol. 45. and 46. Where it was resolved That at Common Law the Coroner of the KINGS House had an exempt jurisdiction within the Verge and the Coroner of the County cannot intermeddle therein as appeares by the preamble of the Statute of Articuli super Chartas Because that before this time many Felonies done within the Verge have beene unpunished and the reason and cause thereof was because the Coroners of the County are not suffered to interpose to enquire of Felonies within the Verge but the Coroner of the KINGS hostel which is passant By which it appears that the Coroner of the County could not intermeddle with the death of a man within the Verge but the Coroner of the Hostell onely And so was it adjudged Pasch 24 Eliz. in the Kings Bench where Swift was indicted before the Coroner of the County of Middlesex of a Murther done at Tuthil in the said County of Middlesex which Indictment was removed into the Kings Bench and there Swift pleaded that Tuthil was at the time of the murther and yet is within the verge c. upon which the Attorney did demur in Law and it depended in advisement three Terms and at length the plea was adjudged good and thereupon he was discharged of the Indictment for as the Coroner of the houshold cannot intermeddle within the County out of the verge because his Office extendeth not to it so the Coroner of the County cannot intermeddle within the verge and it shall be contrary
to reason that their Offices and jurisdictions being several and distinct the one should intermeddle within the jurisdiction of the other But it was resolved that the Justices of the Kings Bench Justices of Oyer and Terminer Goal-delivery and Justices of peace may enquire of hear and determine all murthers and felonies within the verge because their authority and jurisdiction are general through the whole County and alwayes hath beene so used and so was it adjudged without any scruple in Holcrofts case What person ought to be Coroner and how qualified OF ancient time this Office was of such estimation that none could have it but a Knight if we looke backe to the Statute of Westm 1. cap. 10. and the current of the Writ in the Register fol. 177. b. is nisi sit miles c. and such a one qui melius sciat possit officio illi intendere for this was the pollicy of prudent antiquity that Officers did ever give a grace to the place and not the place onely to grace the Officer Therefore it was holden a principall cause to remove and discharge a Coroner if he were not a Knight and had not a hundred shillings rent of Freehold Yet in F N B. de Coronatore eligendo it is not allowed a valid and sufficient cause to remove him though he be not a Knight at this day alledging That those words were inserted into the Statute to the intent that a Coroner should have sufficient within the County to be responsible for all that he doth or ought to do by his said Office Mr. Wilkinson in his office of a Coroner also saith that this Statute requireth such a Coroner as can will and may attend to execute the said office And therefore saith he if such a Coroner be elected as cannot will not or may not attend the execution of the said office he is to be removed and discharged by Writ from the same Office and the cause of his not attendance debility or insufficiency must be rehearsed in the writ and if he be discharged of his office by a false suggestion he may by a petition in Chancery pray a Commission to enquire of this false suggestion and if it be found and returned into the Chancery then his Highnesse may grant a Supersedeas to the Sheriffe of the County that he remove not the said Coroner from his office and if he be removed before the Supersedeas come then that he permit the Coroner removed to execute his office as he did before his removall He must have two properties viz. sufficient knowledge ability and diligence in executing his office Sir Edward Cooke in his second part of his Institutes Westm 1. cap. 10. saith he should have five properties viz. 1. He should be Probus homo 2. Legalis homo 3. Of sufficient understanding and knowledge 4. Of good ability and power to execute his office according to his knowledge 5. Diligent in execution of his office And the Common Law doth not only require expert men to be Coroners but men of sufficient ability and livelihood for three purposes viz. 1. The Law presumes that they will do their duty and not offend the Law for fear of punishment whereunto their Lands and goods be subject 2. That they might execute their office without bribery 3. That they be able to answer to the Protector all such fines and duties as appertaine to him and to discharge the Countrey thereof wherewith the County being their Electors were chargeable For the Coroners being elected by the Countrey if they be insufficient and not able to answer such fines and other duties in respect of their office as they ought the County as their superior shall answer the same As for example the County of Kent made election by force of the Kings writ of William Herlizon to be one of the Coroners for the same County who after was amerced for a false return forty shillings Whereupon processe went out to the Sheriffe to levy it the Sheriff upon his oath said that the said William Herlizon non habet terras vel tenementa bona seu catalla in ballivo suo nec habuit unde dict denarii levari possint Now saith the Record Et quia ipse Coronator electus fuit per Comitatum c. ita quod in defectu ejusdem Coronatoris totus Comitatus ut elector superior c. tenetur regi respondere praeceptum fuit nunc vicecomiti quod de terris tenementis hominum totius Comitatus in balivo suo fieri fac praedict 40 s. And the like law was of the Sheriffe and other the said Officers when they were elegible They remain Conservators of the peace within the County where they are Coroners notwithstanding the Protectors death for being elected by the Freeholders of the County by Writ and returned of Record in the Chancery wich is a judicial act remaineth and so of the Verderor It is otherwise of Judges and Justices that hold their place by Writ Commission Letters patents or otherwise at will whose authority is determined by the death of the King or Protector for by the Commission c. he maketh them Justiciarios suos so that he being once dead they are no more his Justices And it might be a reason wherefore the Sheriff of ancient time was eligible for that he had eustodiam Comitatus and principall Conservator of the Peace and therefore his authority should not cease by the death of the King or Protector no more then that of the Coroner Of the number of Coroners in each County THe number of Coroners are not set downe by the Law In some Counties there are sour in some Counties six in some sewer and in some but one 23 Ass P. 7. 14 H. 4. 34. 39 H 6. 40. F N B. 163. Inst 2. Westm 1. cap. 10. but in twelve Shires in Wales and in Cheshire there are but two Vide Lamb. Iust 16. b. Stamf. 48. Of the power and Jurisdiction of Coroners THe Coroners power is duplicace viz. 1. Judiciall 2. Ministeriall 1. The Judiciall authority both of a generall and speciall Coroner is in case where a man comes to a violent death by selony or mischance and to take the acknowledgement of selony to take the enquest of selonies happening within his Liberty to give abjurations pronounce Judgment upon out-lawries appeals of death by bill c. solely to take an Indictment super visum corporis and to take and enter an appeal but he can proceed no further upon the Indictment or appeal but to deliver them over to the Justices and to enquire of Treasure trove and wreck of the Sea c. But if you will enquire more amply what anciently appertained unto him read Bracton lib. 3. tract 4. cap. 5. de officio Coronatorum circa homicidium cap. 26. de officio Coronatoris in Thesauris inventis cap. 6. de officio Coronatorum in raptu Virginum cap. 8.
they might redress misdemeanors within their precincts and to punish offences committed by their Tenants and to decide and debate controversies arifing within their Juridiction and these Courts were termed Courts Barons as it appears amongst the Lawes of Edward the Confessor where it is said Barones vero qui suam habent curiam de suis hominibus c. taking its name of the Baron who was Lord of the Mannor or according to Coo. com Lit. fo 58. a. for that properly in the eye of the Law it hath relation to the Freeholders who are Judges of the Court because in ancient time such persons were called Barons and came to the Parliament and sate in the Upper House but when time had wrought such an alteration that Mannors fell into the hands of inferiour men and such as were farre unworthy of so sublime a calling then it grow to a Custome that none but such as the King would should come to the Parliament such as the King for their extraordinary wisdome or quality thought good to call by Writ which Writ ran hac vice tantum yet though Lords of Mannors lost their names of Barons and were deprived of that dignity which was inherent to their names yet their Courts retain still the name of Court Barons because they were originally erected for such personages as were Barons neither hath time been so injurious as to irradicate the whole memory of their pristine dignity in their denomination there are yet stamps left of their nobility for they are still entituled by the name of Lords Court-Baron cannot be seperated from a Mannor THis Court-Baron is the chiefe Prop and Pillar of a Mannor which no sooner faileth but the Mannor is destroyed and therefore it cannot be separated from the Mannor for it is a wealth to a Mannor the like of a Court of Pypowder to a Faire of which more in its proper place and by granting the principall which is the Mannor the Court which is incident to it passeth without being named 12 Eliz. Dyer 288. if a Mannor be granted cum pertinentiis the Court passeth for it is an incident inseperable to the Mannor and one cannot grant his Court but he may grant the profits of it Brownlows Rep. 175. Yet though a Court-Baron is incident to a Mannor it must be understood of a Mannor in facto in reality and truth but not to be a Mannor only in intendment and a meer nominall Mannor Bolstrod first part fol. 54. Mich. 8. Jac. And as a Mannor at this day cannot be derived out of the CROWNE therefore ex consequente neither the Court-Baron which is incident to such a Mannor but a Court-Leet is not incident to a Mannor but he which hath a Mannor may also have a Court-Leet to be by him held within his Mannor but this ought to be by a speciall grant from the King and not otherwise and then he may punish offenders the which he cannot doe in his Court-Baron he cannot be ousted of his Court-Baron unlesse he be ousted of his Mannor for if he have a Mannor he ought to have such a Court-Baron for this as I have said is as an incident and follows the Mannor as a necessary consequent and adjunct unto the Mannor and therefore if he have the one viz. the Mannor he shall also have the other viz. the Court-Baron What parts a Court-Baron doth consist of THis Court-Baron appertaining to a Mannor consisteth of four speciall parts viz. 1. The Lord. 2. The Steward 3. The Tenant 4. The Bayliffe It is defined to be an assembly of these parts together within the same Mannor and it is likewise duplicate viz. 1. The first is for the taking care counsel and inquiry of causes concerning the same Mannor as for the triall of titles of the land and the taking and pasing of estates Surrenders admittances and grants and to see justice duly executed and the Acts and Ordinances there done to be recorded in the Rolls of the same Court which Rolls are the evidences of all Ordinances duties and customes and conveyances between the Lord and the tenants of the same Mannor and are to be entred by the Steward or an Officer indifferent between the Lord and his Tenants and the same Rolls to remain with the Lord thereby to know his Tenants his Rents his Fines his Customes and his service And the particular grant of every Copy-hold to be copied out of the Rolls and the copies thereof to be delivered to every particular tenant neither can they make any other title to their said tenements but by their said Copy And this is called the Copiholders Court and herein the Steward is judge 2. The other is for the triall of actions under the sum of forty shillings of the nature of the County-Court of which we have copiously treated in the first part of this worke and therefore here not necessary And herein the Freeholders are Judges But to returne to the Copyholders Court And herein the Lord the Steward the Freeholders the Copyholders and the Bayliffs of every Mannor have an intermixt and joynt office and authority in some cases and to some purposes and to other purposes their office is distinct and every of them doth occupy several places persons and parts Five things necessarily appertaning to a Mannor THere are five things necessarily appurtenant to a Mannor and Court-Baron viz. 1. The Lord is chiefe to command and appoint 2. The Steward to direct and record 3. The Free-holders to affere and judge 4. The Copy-holders to inform and present 5. The Bayliff to attend and execute c. And all these united make a perfect execution of Justice and judgment in Court-Barons and without all these a Court-Baron cannot be held in his proper nature in respect of all causes appertaining to the perfect jurisdiction of a Court-Baron But to make a more particular demonstration of their distinct authorities and offices 1. And first of the Lord as he is chiefe in place so in authority and he officiateth three severall places viz. the one of a Chancellor in cases of equity the other of Justice in matter of right and the third of himselfe in cases proper and particular to himself 2. The Steward doth act the part of several persons viz. Iudge and Orderer in cases of Copyhold and also a Minister and Register to Record and enter things into the Court-rolls and in both these to be indifferent between the Lord and his tenants 3. The Freeholders do likewise execute two parts that is to affeere and judge amerciaments and also to return and certifie judgements 4. The Copyholders hold two distinct places viz. to inform offences committed against the Lord within the Mannor and to present such things as shall be given in charge by the Steward 5. The Bayliffe officiates two parts viz. to execute the processe and mandates of the Court and also to return into the Court the execution of the same process