Tithingman of the same parish of L. he was by this defendant stripped naked from the middle vpward and openly whipped vntill his body was bloudy And the same law is if any Iustice of peace Maior Bailife or other head officer shall commit any offendor which shall cut or vnlawfully take away any corne or graine growing or robbe any orchards or gardens or breake or cut any hedge pales railes or fence or digge pul vp or take vp any fruit trées or trées in any orchard garden or elsewhere to the intent to take cary the same away Or shall cut or spoile any woods or vnderwoods poles or trées standing not being felony by the lawes of this Realme Or shall be a procuror or receiuor knowing the same contrary to the statute therefore made An. 43. El. intituled Sta. 43. El. 7. an act to auoid and preuent diuers misdemeanors in lewd and idle persons shal be committed by a I. of Peace or by a head officer of a city borough c. to some Constable or other inferiour officer of the city borough Towne or Hamlet where the offence shall be committed or the partie apprehended to be whipped If in this case the said Constable or other inferior officer shall whip the same offendor vntill his body shal be bloudie the same offendor shall neither haue an action of Trespas of assault battery nor other remedy against the said Constable or officer for in the foresaid cases Punishments by the order of law in all other cases where an offendor is punished for petit Larceny by whipping for other offences by the pillorie the stocks the tumbrell or otherwise for any offeÌ„ce committed by him contrary to any of the lawes or statutes of the Realme there is no peace broken nor blame to be imputed to him or them which do execute that punishment for it is the iustice of the law which doth inflict those punishments vpon offendors for transgressing the law the executioners of those punishments be but the instruments of the law as the axe is in the Carpenters hand Battery for disobeying of a writ or warrant 24 In an action of Trespas of assault battery 21. H. 7. 39. Fitz. Trespas 108. it is a good plea for the def to plead that he had a warrant to arrest the plaintife and that by force of that warrant he did arrest him then the plaintife made assault vpon him therefore the hurt which he receiued was by his own assault for euery subiect is bouÌ„d to obey the K. writs all mandates precepts warrants awarded by his Iustices shirifes and officers sufficiently authorized And he that doth resist them or denyeth to obey them encountreth the iustice of the law and therefore the beating of him who refuseth to submit himselfe to the obedience of the Law is no breach of the peace but a meane to performe the law 25 Though the Law hath a regard to preserue peace betwéen all persons and in all places and caryeth a vigilant eye that one person shall not menace assault beate maihem or imprison an other but in certaine cases and for some speciall causes and imposeth an heauie burden vpon such as shall breake that peace by any of the meanes aforesaid Yet she hath a more speciall respect to some ceraine places to some tymes and to some persons and caryeth that reuerend and due care and consideration of them that she inflicteth a more sharpe and bitter punishment vpon such as shall violate the peace in them or to the offence of them And therefore for the auoiding of the disturbance of the peace in the Church where God is to be honoured and all peace to be preserued and to continue peace to preists clerks and others whilest they are dooing diuine seruice There was a statute made Anno 50. E. 3. and after rehersed and continued Anno 1. Sta. 50. E. 3. 1. 1. R. 2. 15. R. 2. whereby it was enacted That if any of the Kings officers or other person doe arrest any priest clerke or other Arresting one in a Church dooing diuine seruice which is doing any diuine seruice in the Church Churchyard or other place dedicated to God he shall be imprisoned and punished at the Kings pleasure and further shall recompence the partie arrested But no people of the Church shall kéepe them within the Church or Sanctuarie by fraud or â—ellusion 26 And because it is most necessarie in euery Christian common weale to prouide that peace and tranquility may be preserued and continued among the people and specially in holy Church in the time of diuine seruice and preaching and that all things being contrary thereunto or that are or may be in disturbance thereof may by forsight be eschewed and auoyded and remedy therefore prouided Sta. 1. M. 3. By a like statute made Anno 1. Reg. M. it was ordeined That if any person of his owne authoritie Disturbance of a preacher in his sermon shall willingly and of purpose by open words or déeds maliciously or contemtuously disturbe or by any other vnlawfull wayes disquiet or misuse any Preacher allowed to preach by the Quéene or by any Archbishop or Bishop of this realme or by any other lawfull Ordinary or by any of the Vniuersities of Oxford and Cambridge or otherwise lawfully authorized or charged by reason of his cure benefice or spirituall promotion or charge in his open sermon preaching or collation that he shall preach or pronounce in any Church Chappell or Churchyard or in any other place vsed or appointed then euery such offendor his aydors procurors or abbettors immediatly after any of the said misdemeanors committed or at any time after shal be arrested by any Constable or Churchwarden of the said parish towne or place where the said offence shal be so committed or by any other officer or by any other person then being present at the time of the said offence and carried to any Iustice of peace within the said shire or within any City borough Libertie or towne corporat wherein Iust of P. be where the said offence shal be so committed And the said Iustices vpon due accusations thereupon made by the apprehendor or other person of the offendor forthwith shal commit him to safe kéeping within 6. days immediatly after the said accusation so made the said Iust with one other Iust of P. within the shire city borough liberty or town corporat shal diligently examin the offence aforesaid And if the said two Iustices shall vpon their examination find the person so accused guiltie of any of the said offences whereof he shall be accused and that by two sufficient witnesses or by his confession then they shall commit him to the Gaole of the said Shire City Borough c. where the offence was committed there to remaine without baile or mainprise by the space of thrée moneths then next ensuing and further to the next quarter sessions c.
at which sessions the said person vpon his reconciliation repentance before the said Iustices at the said sessions shall be deliuered out of prison vpon sufficient surety of his good abearing and behauiour to be then and there taken by the said Iustices for one whole yeare then next ensuing as by the discretion of the said Iustices then and there being or of the more part of them shall be thought conuenient And if the said person will not be reconciled and repent at the said quarter sessions then he shall be further committed to the said Gaole by the said Iustices there to remaine without baile or mainprise Rescuing the offendor or disturbing the arrest vntill he shall be reconciled and be penitent c. And if any person or persons of their owne authoritie willingly and vnlawfullie doe rescue any offendor so apprehended or will disturbe the said offendor to be apprehended then euery of the said Rescuers or disturbers shall suffer like imprisonment as is aforesaid and further shall pay for euery of his offences v. l. to the Quéene The punishment of the Town where the offendor dothe scape If any of the offendors aforesaid be not apprehended in time conuenient but doe escape then the said escape shall be lawfully presented before the Iustices of peace at the next quarter sessions c. and the Inhabitants of the parish where the said escape was suffred shall forfeite to the Quéene c. for euery such offence v. l. to be leuied and taken as other like amerciaments and fines be leuied vpon any village hundred or towne for the escape of any murderer or other felon for not making pursuit vpon huy and cry according to the Statute of Winchester and the statute of 3. Punishment by Ecclesiasticall laws H. 7. 1. This Act shall not extend to take away the authority and punishment of the Ecclesiasticall lawes standing in force for the punishment of any of the offences aforesaid But they shall be vsed in euerie thing as though this act had neuer ben made Whatsoeuer person offending in the premisses shal for any the offences afore recited receiue punishment of the Ordinary hauing Testimoniall thereof vnder the said Ordinaries seale shall not for the said offence eftsoones be conuicted before the Iustices Eté conuerso 27 To the intent vtterly to take away all quarreling brawling fraying and fighting openly in Churches and Churchyards by a statute made An. 5. 6. E. 6. it was ordained Sta. 5. 6. E. 6. 4 That if any person whatsoeuer doe by words only quarrell Chiding in a Church or Churchyard chide or brawle in any Church or Churchyard Then it shall be lawfull to the Ordinary of the place where the offence is done and proued by two lawfull witnesses to suspend him being a Layman ab ingressu Ecclesiae and being a clerke from the Ministration of his office so long as he thinketh méete Smiting in a Church or Churchyard according to the fault And if any person or persons shall smite or lay any violent hands vpon any other either in any Church or Churchyard then ipso facto euery person so offending shall be déemed excommunicat and be excluded from the fellowship and company of Christs congregation And if any person shall maliciously strike any person with any weapon in any Church or Churchyard Drawing or smiting with a weapon in a Church or shall draw any weapon in any Church or Churchyard to the intent to strike an other with the same weapon then euery person so offending and thereof being conuicted by verdict of xij men or by his owne confession or by two lawfull witnesses before the Iustices of assise Iustices of oyer and determiner or Iustices of peace in their sessions shall be adiudged by the same Iustices before whom such person shall be conuicted to haue one of his eares cut off And if the person or persons so offending haue none eares whereby they should receiue such punishment as is aforesaid Then he or they to be marked and burned in the chéeke with an hot yron hauing the letter F. whereby he or they may be knowne and taken for fray makers and fighters and besides that euery such person to be and stand ipso facto excommunicated as is aforesaid 28 As the law hath alwaies had a principall and most speciall regard that there should be no breach or disturbance of the peace to those persons places and tymes which be dedicated and deuoted to the seruice of God to the Ministration of his Sacraments and preaching of his worde So hath she a secondarie respect that the King the head of the Realme and chiefe fountaine of peace may haue tranquillitie and peace at the time and in the place where he doth rest and in person make his aboade whereupon by a Statute made Anno 33. H. 8. it was enacted Drawing of bloud within the Kings pallace That if any person shall maliciously strike any other person Stat. 33. H. 8. 12. whereby bloud shall be shed in any of the Kings houses or pallaces or in any other house where the Kings Maiestie his heires c. â—â—â—t be at that tyme abiding in his royall person viz. within any edifices courts places gardens orchards or houses within the Porters warde of any the houses aboue rehearsed or within any gardens priuy walkes orchards tilt-yards woodyards tennis playes cockfights bowling allies neare adioyning to any of the houses aforesaid and being part of the same or within 200. foote of the standard of any outward gate or gates of any of the said houses commonly vsed for passage from any of the houses c. and shall be thereof indicted arraigned and attainted according to the Statute in that case prouided he shall haue his right hand stricken off be imprisoned during his life and make fine to the King at his pleasure But this act nor the paines and forfaitures before rehearsed shall not extend to any Noble man or other person that shall strike his seruant within the said pallaces or houses or the limits of the same with his hand or fist or any small staffe or sticke for correction for any offence committed Nor to any of the Kings officers that in executing his office shall strike any person with his hand or fist or small staffe sticke or tipstaffe Nor to any other person that in doing seruice at any triumphe or any other time of seruice by the King or any of his Councell or other his head officers commaundement shall for the executing of his said seruice strike any person with his hand fist small staffe or sticke or any tipstaffe within the same pallace house c. although by reason of the same stroake or stroakes there happen to be any bloud shead of such person as shall be so striken except the person so stricken dye of the same stroake within one yeare next after Long time before the making of this statute King Alured ordeined a law
other vnlawfull act prohibited by that statute and being required by a Iustice of peace or shirife of the said County or by the Maior or chiefe officer of the city or towne corporat to returne to their inhabitations do not but attempt to put in vre any of the said things Then euery of the same persons shall be imprisoned one yeare without baile or mainprise for the offendors in both the cases aforesaid putting in practise their outrages with a multitude of persons bee great disturbers of the peace and Transgressours of the law 21. H. 6. 5. 39 In an action of False imprisonment Imprisoning him that holdeth land with force the defendant pleaded that the plaintif held the manor of D. by force and B.C. a Iustice of peace of the same County did take him recorded the force and sent him to the defendant being Gaoler of the same County to be imprisoned and this was allowed a good iustification though he was committed to prison but by one Iustice of peace And in like sort if the action of false imprisonment had bin brought against the Iustice of peace who committed the offendor to warde the same had béen a good plea in barre for him St. 8. H. 6. 9. for that the statute of AnÌ„ 8. H. 6. doth warrant him so to do giueth that authority to one Iustice alone or to more then one 29. Ed. 3. 9. 5. H. 7. 4. 40 If a Huy and Cry be leuied and pursued that a horse of such a colour or marke so many beasts of such a sort or age Imprisoning of one pursued by Huy crie or so many shéepe of such a brand be stolen one is taken leading or driuing of the said horses beastes or shéepe it is lawfull for any man to apprehend and stay him and to commit him to the Constables of the Towne where he is apprehended and by them to be put into the stockes or safe kept vntill he be deliuered by due course of law though he be not of euill fame or name but a man of good credite for séeing the law by the Huy and Cry hath accused him by a course of law he must be againe acquited and discharged And in this case he that is so taken though he be after acquit of the felony shall not haue an action of Trespas false imprisonment or other remedy against him that did apprehend him Fitz. barre 202. 3. H. 4. 9. 41 In an action of Trespas of assault battery and imprisonment Imprisoning him that doth breake the peace the defendant pleaded that the plaintife menaced to kill him and therefore he requested the Constables to arrest the plaintife to find suerties of his good abearing and the Constables and the defendant with them did come and arrest him and put him into the stockes vntill he did finde suerties and this was allowed to be a good iustification 5. H. 7. 6. And in like sort if one do make an assault vpon a Constable the same Constable may arrest and imprison him vntill he hath found suerties to kéepe the peace though the Constable be the same person vpon whom the said assault was made for in this case he doth nothing but preserue the peace and obserue the Law which is to be done aswell in his own case 13. H. 7. 10. as any others And moreouer if a Constable be informed that a lewd man is in a suspected house with a woman of euill name for incontinencie he may take so many of his neyghbors with him as he will Arresting suspected persons and arrest the said man and woman to find suerties of their good behauiour And they nor eyther of them shall haue any action of False imprisonment or other action therefore against the said Constable or any other of his assistants for the Constable was ordeyned to kéepe the peace 10. Ed. 4. 17. and to represse felons And he may take suertie by Obligation if he find any commiting of a fray but vpon no penaltie And if the partie will not find suerties the Constable may impryson him vntill he hath found suerties 9. Ed. 4. 26. 42 In an action of Trespas of assault battery and imprisonment Imprisoning him that doth attempt to rob the defendant pleaded that the plaintife lay in waite in a high way leading from the towne of A. to the towne of B. to rob such persons as trauailed in that way and assaulted to rob one L. and drew his sword and commaunded the same L. to deliuer his purse whereupon L. fled and leuied Huy and Cry and this defendant being trauailing that way pursued the plaintife and tooke him and committed him to the Constable to be put in the stockes who did it accordingly and this was adiudged a good iustification for euery man may arrest and imprison him that doth commit a felony or him who maketh it apparant that he doth intend and goe about to commit a felony for that he doth manifest him selfe to be a principall breaker of the law and peace of the realme Assisting to arrest by warrant 43 In an action of false imprisonment against two 19. H. 6. 43. 56. one of them pleaded that he had a precept to arrest the plaintife which he did accordingly And the other defendant pleaded that he came in company with the other to ayde and assist him to arrest the plaintife And this was allowed a good Iustification in them both for any straunger may assist a Sherife his Baylifes or any other that hath authority to execute the Kings writs or proces and he that wil not assist him being required shall paie a fine to the King And the Sherife may take as many persons as he will to aide him to execute the Kings writs 3. H. 7. 1. 17. E. 4. 5. for it is in furtheraunce of Iustice and no breach of the peace Breaking a house to arrest 44 If a man be indicted of Trespas 27. Ass pla 35. 18. E. 4. 4. and a Capias pro fine awarded to the Sherife to take the body of the same person The Sherife may breake open his house or close to arrest and imprison him it is a lawfull imprisonment But the Sherife may not breake any house or chest to make execution by vertue of a fieri facias to him directed S. Force 32. The Sherife arreâ—eth and doth not retorne his writ 45 If the Sherife haue a Capias to arrest a man and he doth arrest him and after doth not retorne his writ the partie arrested may haue an action of false imprisonment against the Sherife and recouer damages for his wrongfull arrest or Imprisonment for the Capias is ita quod habeas corpus cius c. and so if he haue not the parties body in the Kings Court at the day of the retorne of the writ it shall be intended that he did not arrest him by force of that writ nor according to the
good iustification for him though the Iustice of peace did erre in the awarding of the proces And the same law is if the Shirife doth erre in any warrant that he doth direct to the Bailife of a Libertie Arresting an offendor deliuering him to the Constable If a man do arrest an other 10. Ed. 4. 17. who he knoweth hath committed a robberie man slaughter or other felony do deliuer him to the Constable to carrie to the gaole and the Constable will set him at libertie or doth not carrie him to the gaole or that the same person arrested be rescued out of the possession or custodie of him that did arrest him yet in neither of the foresaid cases he that was arrested shall haue an action of False imprisonment against him that did arrest him for that there was no default in him that the offendor was not imprisoned according to his desert Imprisonmēt vntill he hath made an Obligation 50 An action of False imprisonment was brought for imprysoning the plaintife vntill he had made an Obligation of xl 2. Ed. 4. 19. pounds to the defendant and others vnknowen by duresse and this was adiudged maintenable for if the plaintife did not know their names he could not expresse their names for the Obligation is not the effect of this suit but the imprisonment and he shall not recouer dammages for the Obligation but for the imprisonment for that he is not yet damnified by the Obligation because when that is sued he may plead that it was made by duresse of imprysonment and so auoid it But if the action of False imprisonment be brought of an imprisonment vntil he had made a fine he shall recouer dammages for both for he is presently grieued by the fine and so is he not by the Obligation 51 If a master do imprison a man in a house 22. Ed. 4. 45. and deliuer the key of the doore of that house to his seruant The seruant not chargeable for the masters offence the partie imprysoned cannot haue an action of False imprysonment against the said seruant for the kéeping of the key But if the seruant that hath the key do know that the same partie were wrongfully imprysoned then he ought to let him go at libertie for the seruant is bound to obey his masters commaundement but in those things that be lawfull onely And if the seruant which kept the key did not know that the same partie was imprysoned in that house then vpon his plea of not guiltie he shall be excused in an action of False imprisonment brought against him by the partie imprisoned Imprisonmēt by force of a Iustices 52 If a writ of Natiuo habendo or a Iusticies be directed to the Shirif 2. H. 4. 24. he cannot iustify the impris of any man by force therof for they be but commissions to hold plea. And the bodie of a man shall not be arrested or taken but by proces awarded out of a court of record and by those Commissions the Shirises court is not made a court of record 9. Ed. 4. 30. 53 In an action of False imprisonment A warrant vpon a Supplicauit it is a good iustification for the defendant to plead that a Supplicauit came to the Shirife to apprehend the plaintife who made his warrant to the defendant to take him which he did accordingly And yet the Shirife can not giue his authority to an other to take suerty of him 5. H. 7. 6. 54 A Iustice of peace can not direct a warrant to apprehend him who hath broken the peace for he is to be punished by inditement Arresting him who would break the peace at the Kings suit or by action of Trespas of batterie at the partie grieued his suit But he may direct his warrant to apprehend him who he doth doubt meaneth to breake the peace in time to come and to bring him before himselfe or some other Iustice or else to commit him to prison for one Iustice of peace alone may doe his endeuor to preserue the peace before it be broken but being once broken it must be punished by inditement in the presence of diuers Iustices of peace or by action at the common Law Sta. 5. El. 4. 55 If any seruant woorkeman or laborer Imp. of a seruant for assaulting of his master shall wilfully or maliciously make any assault or affray vpon his master mistresse or dame or vpon any other that shall at that time haue the charge or ouersight of him or of the worke wherein he is appoynted or hired to worke and beeing thereof conuicted before any two of the Iustices of peace Maior or head officer of a towne corporat where the offence is committed or before either of the Lords Presidents of the North or Wales by the confession of the said seruant workman or laborer or by the witnesse and oath of two honest men Then euery such offendor shall suffer imprisonment by the space of one whole yeare or lesse by the discretion of two Iustices of peace if it be without a towne corporat if it be within a towne corporat then by the discretion of the Maior or head officer of the same towne corporat with two others of the discréetest persons of the same corporation at the least And if the offence shall require further punishment then to receiue such other open punishment so as it extende neyther to life or limme as the Iustices of peace in open Sessions or as the more part of them or the said maior or head officers or vj. or iiij at the least of the discréete persons of the same corporation before whom the offence shall be examined shall thinke conuenient for the qualitie of the said offence so committed 56 By which foresaid cases and many more Where imprisonment is lawfull and where not it appeareth that imprisonment is lawfull and sufficiently authorized by the Common Lawes and Statutes of this Realme in diuers respectes and for many crimes and there is by it no breach of the peace nor offence to the Law when it is inflicted by the warrant of the law for it aduaunceth as much the justice and peace of the Realme to haue offendors punished as to haue the innocent protected But the imprisonment which tendeth to the breach of the peace and the offence of the law is when one person or more vpon his or their owne authoritie eyther in reuenge of some supposed wrong receiued or in hope of a priuat gaine expected or for some other cause will of his or their owne authority imprison or arrest an other for the redresse whereof the party grieued shall haue an action of false imprisonment or an action of trespas recouer his damages And the same offendor which before did wrongfully imprison an other shall then vpon his conuiction by verdict or his owne confession be himselfe lawfully imprisoned vntill he hath paid to the king a
Ed. 1. 25. and doth not except an Enfant By the statute of Westm̄ 2. if he that is named a disseisour in an Assise do personally alleage any false exception whereby the taking of the assise is deferred viz. that at an other time an assise of the said tenements passed betwéene the said parties or that a writ of higher nature is depending betwéene them of the said tenements Imp. for failing of a record pleaded and doth vouch any rols or records to warrant the same and at the day giuen he faileth of his warrant he shall be adiudged a disseisour without recognizance of the assise and shall restore double dammages of that which shall be found and for his falshood shall be one yeare imprysoned And fourthly a man in diuers cases shall bee imprysoned for his stubbornesse wilfulnesse disobedience and contempt to subiugate and submit himselfe to the censure and iudgement of the Law and to performe accomplish that which the law doth expect at the hands of him and all others being in his case As if a Quid iuris clamat or Per quae seruitia be brought against a man Imp. for not atturning who doth appeare in Court and will not atturne to the plaintife nor plead in barre he shall be imprisoned for his stubbornes And if the tenant that ought to do homage or fealtie to his Lord Imprisonmēt for not doing his true seruice do appeare in Court and will not do such of the said seruices as be claimed of him neither plead in barre thereof Fitz. Per q̄ seruitia 23. he shall be imprisoned vntill he will do his foresaid seruices for his wilfull contempt of the law and disobedience to justice And if a writ of Estrepement be directed to the Shirife to prohibit him to commit wast in lands against whom a reall action Co. Lib. 5. 105. or action of Wast is depending for or touching the same lands the Shirife by force of the same writ may resist him who would do wast And if he cannot otherwise redresse the offence he may impryson him if néed be he may take the power of the Countie to assist him for this disobeying of the Kings writ and resistance of the Shirife is a wilfull frowardnesse and contempt of the law in the offendor and therefore he deserueth to tast the smart of the Law by imprisonment for his contumacy And in like sort by the statute of An̄ 27. Stat. 27. H. 8. 20. Stat. 32. H. 8. 7. H. 8. An̄ 32. H. 8. it was ordeined That if any person after sentence difinitiue giuen against him by the Ordinarie his Commissarie or other competent minister or lawfull Iudge do obstinatly refuse to pay his Tythes or duties or such summes of money adiudged wherein he is condemned for the same Then two Iustices of the peace of the same Shire whereof one to be of the Quorum shall haue authoritie vpon information Imp. for obstinate refusing to performe the Ordinaries sentence certificat or complaint made in writing by the ecclesiasticall Iudge that gaue the same sentence to cause the same person so refusing to be attached and committed to the next Gaole and there to remaine without bayle or mainprise vntill he hath found sufficient suerties to be bound by Recognizance or otherwise before the same Iustices to the vse of the King to performe the said sentence In the same maner may any one of the Kings Councell or two Iustices of peace vpon an Information or request made to them by the Ordinary St. 27. H. 8. 20. commit any offendor to ward for any contempt contumacie disobedience or any other misdemeanour of his in any suit for subtraction of Tythes offerings and other duties of the Church vntill he hath found suerties c. vt gladius gladium iuuet What is Matheining 58 Maiheming is an other gréeuance in the Realme and a speciall cause to disturbe the peace And that is when one member of the Common weale shall take from an other member of the same a naturall member of his bodie or the vse and benefit thereof and thereby disable him to serue the common weale by his weapons in the time of warre or by his labour in the time of peace and also diminisheth the strength of his body and weaken him thereby to get his owne lyuing and by that meanes the common weale is in a sort depriued of the vse of one of her members How many sorts there be of maiheming 59 This maiheming is a dismembring of a man or taking away some member or part of his body or the vse thereof As when a wound blow or hurt is giuen or done by one person or more to an other person whereby he is the lesse able to defend himselfe in the time of warre or to get his lyuing in time of peace And therefore if a man do put out the eye or cut off the hand or foote or any ioynt of the hand or foote of an other it is a Maihem though it be done by chaunce medley Sta. 5. H. 4. 5 But if one man of malice pretended do cut out the tongue or put out the eyes of any of the Kings subiects it is Felonie And if one man do crush the mouth or head of an other or break out his fore-téeth it is a maihem for with them he may defend him selfe in battaile but to breake his hinder téeth or to cut off his Nose Fitz. Corone 458. or Eares whereby he loseth his hearing is no maihem but a deformitie or blemish of his bodie and no weakning of his strength It is a Maihem to pull any boane out of a mans head or to cut off any finger of a mans hand 28. Ed. 3 94. Lib. in t fol. 45. or to breake any of them so that they become shronke vp or dried vp or dead or crooked Gelding of a man is also a maihem though it be in a secret place yet it maketh him more féeble and vnable to defend himselfe in in bataile or to worke for his liuing If by any wound receiued the sinewes or vaines of a man be shronke vp it is a maihem To cut off the chéeke or iawbone of any person Lib. intur fol. 45. or so to crush or breake any of them that the same person is the lesse able to take his meate or drinke is a maihem If one person or more doe take an other person by force and put him in the stocks or otherwise bind him fast and after poure so much skalding what oyle and vinegar or hoat melted lead or other skalding licor vpon any part of his body and so continue it vntill it doth wast and consume the flesh of the same part and drie vp and mortifie the veynes and sinewes of the same parte it is a maihem If A. do strike at B. and the weapon wherwith he striketh breaking or falling out of his hand by the force of the blow doth put
commission do only tend to the maintenance of justice the roote foundation and supporter of peace And whereas the King by the words of the said Commission doth appoint the persons therin named his Iustices to preserue his peace The Commission doth chiefely respect the peace and to kéepe and cause to be kept all ordinaunces and Statutes made for the conseruation of the peace and the quiet gouernment of his people These Statuts amongst many others chiefly be intended Sta. 2. E. 3. 6. 18. E. 3. 2. 34. Ed. 3. 1. the Statutes of Anno 2. Ed. 3. 18. Ed. 3. 34. Ed. 3. by which it is ordained that Iustices of peace shall haue power to heare and determine at the Kings suit all manner of felonies Why they be called Iustices of Peace and Trespasses committed against the peace in the same County and to restraine offendors riottors all other barretors and to pursue take and chasten them to imprison and punish them according to their Trespas and offence and to informe them according to the said Iustices discretion And to inquire of all those that haue béen pillers and robbers beyond the Sea and become againe and goe wandring and will not labour as they had wont to doe And to take and arrest all those which they can find by inditement or suspition and to commit them to prison Binding persons suspected to their good behauiour And to take of all those which be not of good fame in the place where they remaine sufficient suertie and maineprise of their good abearing or behauiour towards the King and his people and the other duelie to punish To the intent that the people be not by such Rioters troubled or endammaged nor the peace broken nor any passengers by the way disturbed or put in perill But the fines which Iustices shall assesse vpon any person shall be reasonable hauing regard the quantitie of the Trespas and the cause 70 So that it appeareth both by the words of the said Commission of peace A Iustice taking suertie of the peace and also by the foresaid Statutes That a Iustice of peace by vertue of his office hath authoritie to preuent the breach of the peace both by taking suertie for the kéeping of it and for the good behauiour of the offendors And that he may do either of his owne motion or discretion or els at the request or praier of an other And by his owne discretion he may cause a common Barretor Rioter or one that maketh an affray in his presence or other person to him suspected to be inclyned to the breach of the peace 9. E. 4. 3. or men menacing one to hurt or kill an other or contending in whote words to finde suertie of the peace And he may perswade one man to require the suertie of peace against an other man and he himselfe after may graunt it for it is no more then he might haue done of his owne authoritie which suertie of the peace What the suertie of the peace is is a recognizance taken by the said Iustice of peace of the partie and his suerties to the King for the kéeping of the peace And as a Iustice of peace may take this suertie of peace or suertie of good abearing as a Iudge by vertue of his office So may he doe it as a minister by force of a Supplicauit directed vnto him out of the Chauncerie Taking suerty of the peace by a Supplicauit in which case he is then only to direct his precept to compell the partie vpon the writ to finde suertie of the peace Which Supplicauit out of the Chauncerie is sometime directed to one Iustice of peace alone sometime to moe and sometime to the Shirife and sometime to him with others And then the same Iustice or Iustices of peace or Shirife must make retorne of the said writ of Supplicauit and a Certificat of his doing into the Court from whence the same was awarded And if the said Iustice of peace shall take the said Recognizance for the kéeping of the peace by vertue of his office Sta. 3. H. 7. 1 then by force of the Statute of Anno 3. H. 7. he shall certifie sende Certificat of a Recognizance or bring the same Recognizance at the next Sessions of the peace where he is or hath bin Iustice that the party so bound may be called And if the partie make default the same then there to be recorded And the same Recognizance with the record of that default shall be sent and certified into the Chauncerie the Kings Bench or into the Exchequer Suertie of good abearing And the suertie of good abearing is granted by authority of the foresaid commission of peace by the warrant of the before rehearsed statut of 34. E. 3. aswell as the suerty of peace is it is ordained for the preseruation of the peace it doth differ in nothing frō that of the peace but that there is more difficultie in the performance of it and the party bound may sooner slide into the peril danger of it The suerty of good abearing is most commonly granted in open sessions or by two or thrée Iust of P. Or vpon a Supplicauit great cause shewed proued it is granted in the Chancery or K. Bench. And though one Iustice of peace alone may grant it if he will yet it is sildom done so 9. E. 4. 3. Kel fo 41. vnles it be to preuent some great sodain imminent enormity or danger The suerty of peace is most times taken at the request of one for the preseruation of the peace chiefely against one But the suerty of good abearing is oftentimes graunted at the suit of diuers and those must be men of credit and to prouide for the safetie of many for the effect and purport thereof is that the partie bound shall demeane himselfe well in his port behauiour and company and doe nothing that may be the cause of the breach of the peace or in putting the people in feare or trouble And it is chieflie graunted against common Barretors common rioters common quarrellers common peace breakers and persons greatly defamed for resorting to houses suspected to maintaine incontinencie or adulterie and against those that be generally feared to be robbers or spoilers of the Kings people or which doe endamage disturbe trouble Articles exhibited to haue good abearing granted or put in peril passengers by the way Co. li. 4. 14. And therefore if one doe exhibit Articles to Iustices of peace against a certaine person comprehending diuers great abuses and misdemeanors not onely touching the Petitioner himselfe but many others to the intent that the same person may be bound to his good behauiour in this case the partie so accused shall not for any matter conteined in the said Articles maintaine an action vpon the case for the party or parties who exhibited the said Articles haue pursued an ordinarie course
himselfe he may commaund them vpon paine of imprisonment to surcease 5. H. 7. 6. or else he may with his weapon part kéepe them asunder and call and procure others likewise so to doe And then he may carrie them before a Iustice of peace to find suertie of the peace which if they refuse to doe he may commit them to prison 3. H. 4. 9. or els the Constable may take suerties of them by Obligation to kéepe the peace And if any of the offendors doe flée into a house 13. Ed. 4. 9. the said officer may breake open the dores and arrest him and so he may doe if the offendor doe flée into another Countie for that the arrest is for the benefite of the commonweale And likewise if any of the said officers shall learne that certaine persons be fighting or quarreling in a house in such sort that they are like to breake the peace or that a man and a woman be in a house together committing addultery or fornication 7. E. 3. 10. 1. H. 7. 6. he may breake open the dores and arrest them to come before a Iustice of peace to find suertie of the peace or otherwise if he will he may commit any of the said offendors to prison And if any of the parties to an affcay haue receiued any daungerous wound then the officer must arrest the offendor and carrie him to a Iustice of peace 22. Ass p. 56 who is eyther to commit him to prison or to let him to mainprise vntill the next Gaole deliuery that it be knowen whethir the partie wounded will liue or die thereof or els the officer himselfe may commit him to prison vntill the same be knowen 38. Ed. 3. 6. for if the partie wounded doe die the offence wil be felony If the common voice and fame of the County be that C.D. hath committed a felony any of those officers that doe suspect him thereof may arrest him for it And so he may search within the limits of his authority for any persōs suspected of felony for it is a chiefe parte of the Constables dutie to preserue the peace and represse felons And if any of the officers before mentioned do arrest an offendor or any person suspected for any of the causes aforesaid who ought to be carried to the Gaole or before a Iustice of peace the same officer néede not carrie him presently to the Gaole 22. Ed. 4. 35. or before the Iustice but he may put him in the stocks or some other safe custody for a time vntill he can prouide sufficient company to assist him to conduct the same offendor to the Gaole or to the Iustice 2. Ed. 4. 9. Or if the partie arrested be so sicke diseased or wounded that he cannot be presently carried without daunger of death the officer may stay him vntill he be recouered 85 But the peace of the Realme hath béen so precious to all ages Euery able person is a Conseruator of the peace and Treasons Felonies assaults batteries and other forcible violences and offences so odious that the Lawes and Statutes of the Realme and the wisedome of our forefathers haue made and appointed besides the Magistrates and officers before mencioned all sortes of able persons in some sort and to some purposes preseruers of the peace intending that as all the members of the common weale doe taste swéet comfort and pleasant repose by the benefit of peace so they should be all partakers when néede requireth of the paines to maintaine and continue the same peace and to punish the transgressors thereof Sta. 3. E. 1. 9. And therefore by the Statute of Westm̄ 1. it is ordained That all men generally shall be ready at the commaundement and summons of the Shirifes and at the crie of the country to pursue and arrest felons when néede shall be aswell within fraunchises as without and they that will not and be thereof attainted shall make a grieuous fine to the King Sta. 3. Ed. 1. By the statute intituled Officium Coronatoris it is enacted That vpon all Homicides Burglaries men slaine or put in great daunger huy and crie shall be leuied and euery man shall follow the huy and crie and the offendors steppes if it may be and whosoeuer doth not and is thereupon conuicted shall be attached to appeare before the Iustices of Gaole deliuerie St. 5. E. 3. 14. By the Statute of Anno 5. Ed. 3. it is established That if any man suspect lewd persons then termed robertsmen wasters or drawlatches of any manslaughters felonies or robberies be it by day or night they shall incontinently be arrested by the Constable of the towne and if it be within franchise deliuered to the Bailifes of the franchise and if in guildable to the shirife and kept vntill the comming downe of the Iustices of Gaole deliuerie who shall procéede to the deliueraunce of them St. 17. R. 2. 8. By the Statute of 17. R. 2. it is defended to all the Kings people aswell Lords as others that none shall make assemblies Riots or Rumors against the peace And if any such assemblie be begun as soone as the Shirife and other Ministers may haue knowledge thereof they with the strength of the country shal disturbe such offendors and put them in prison vntill the law be executed vpon them And all Lords and other liege people of the Realme shall be attending with all their strength and power to the Shirifes and Ministers aforesaid St. 2. H. 5. 8. By the Statut of An̄ 2. H. 5. it is prouided That the Kings people being able to trauaile in the Countie where Riots assemblies or routs against the law be shal be assistant to the Iustices Commissioners Shirife or vndershirif of the same Countie when they shall be reasonably warned to ride with the said Iustices Shirife c. in aide to resist such Riots Routs and Assemblies vpon paine of imprisonment and to make fine and ransom to the King St. 15. R. 2. 2 By the Statute of 15. R. 2. it is ordeined That if the Shirife or any other of the Countie doe not attend vpon a Iust of peace to arrest such offendors as doe make forcible entries into lands or tenements he or they so offending shall be imprisoned and pay a fine to the King Sta. 1. M. 12. By the Statute of An̄ 1. M. it is established That if any person being aboue the age of xviij yeares and vnder the age of lx being able to serue and not sick lame or impotent shall be required by any Iustice of peace or any Shirife of any County where any vnlawfull assembly of xij persons or aboue shall be to do any vnlawfull act prohibited by that statute or by any Maior Bailife or other head Officer of any Citie Borough or towne corporat or by any other by the commaundement of any such Iustice Shirife Maior c. to go with him or them to suppresse the
the same which certificat so made shall be of like force and effect in the law as if the matter contained in the same were duly found by the verdit of xij men And euery person duly proued to be a mainteinor or embraceor of the same shall forfeite to the King xx l. and shall be committed toward there to remaine by the discretion of the Iustices What one Iustice of peace may doe alone in a Riot 23 One Iustice of peace alone can neither make inquiry of a Riot Rout 7. Ed. 4. 18. or vnlawfull assemblie when it is done nor assesse any fine nor award any proces for it nor otherwise meddle with it in the nature of a Riot or Rout but only as a trespas against the peace or vpon the statute of Northampton or the Statut of 34. Ed. 3. or vpon the Stat. of forcible entries for the wordes of the foresaid Statute of 13. H. 4. be That if such trespassors or offendors be departed before the comming of the said Iustices Shirife or c. the same Iustices thrée or two of them shall diligently enquire c. So that there must be two of them at the least to make such inquirie 14. H. 7. 9. But if one Iustice of peace doe heare of any Riot Rout or vnlawfull assembly he alone with his seruants may goe to the place where the assemblie is reported to be made and if he finde any riotously gathered together he may arrest them to finde suerties of their good behauiour according to the Statute of 34. Ed. 3. Kel fo 41. he may take their weapons from them and retaine them vntill their hot bloud be cooled And if they refuse to finde suerties of their good behauiour he may commit them to prison But this must be done presently vpon the act doing for if there be any meane time he hath then no authority to commit them to prison And if he come to the place whither he doth vnderstand that some persons will repaire to commit some Riot Rout or violent act against the peace and the same persons be not yet come thither he may leaue his seruants there to restraine them from committing their intended Riots or other offences or else to arrest them to finde suerties of their good behauiour if they doe offer to commit any Riot or to breake the peacce And so may he also doe if he shall be sicke and heare of any Riot c. intended to be done he may send his seruants to represse it or to bring the offendors before him or some other Iustice of peace to finde suerties to kéepe the peace or else to commit them to the Gaole So that one Iustice of peace alone may by the warrant of the said Statute of 34. Ed. 3. doe much in preuention of a Riot c. before it be done for the stayiâ—â— of it whilest it is in dooing but nothing to punish it as a Riot when it is done for that statute of 34. Ed. 3. was made for the common profit of the Realm spéedily to interrupt and preuent present mischiefes to disperse malefactors Barretors and other Riotors in their very first méeting and encounter and so farre as may be to parte and cut off the quarrell before it grow to any head or extremity which peraduenture would not be easily pacified if one Iustice should doe nothing vntill some other of his fellowes came to assist him therein And a Iustice of peace may by word only without warrant in writing commaund his owne seruants or any of them to apprehend those that are about to commit a Riot in his presence And they may iustifie the taking of them though those Riotors be gone or fled away out of the presence of the same Iustice before his said seruants can lay hold on them 24 Although this Statute of 13. H. 4. doth not make that mention which the Statute of 8. H. 6. of Forcible entries doth touching complaint to be made to the Iustices of peace of a Riot Rout or vnlawfull assemblie but doth hinde the next Iustices of peace to doe execution of this Statute euery one vpon pain of C.li. yet the Sages of the Realme and the wisedom of the interpreters of the law The Iustices must haue notice of the Riot haue thought it reason 4. El. Dy. 210. that notice should be giuen vnto the said next Iustices thereof before they should incurre the said penaltie of C.li. vnles it be some great notorious and very perilous Riot which by common intendment euery person in those parts may take knowledge of for as the said Statute of 13. H. 4. doth relate to the Statute of 8. H. 6. touching the conuiction of offendors by the record of the Iustices So it is like that the meaning of the makers thereof was it should doe in giuing notice or making of complaint of the wrong receiued 25 If the Iustices doe assemble themselues the Shirife The parties agréement no discharge of the inquisition and the Iurie to make inquirie of a Riot within a moneth according to the Statute and after at the parties request they do not inquire of it but doe dismisse the Iurie for that the parties haue agréed betwéene themselues Yet the Iustices shall pay a fine to the King although none doe giue euidence for the King vpon that Riot for they ought to take and charge an enquest and to make enquiry of that Riot whereof they were enformed or of all Riots séeing it may be that the Iurors themselues haue knowledge of the Riot And moreouer they must make proclamation if any will enforme the Kings Iustices of any Riots Routs c. And the said Statute of 13. H. 4. which giueth authoritie to the Iustices and Shirife c. to inquire of the Riot and to heare and determine it according to the law was ordained to punish Riotors for breaking of the Kings peace and thereby to make them an example to others and also to intitle the King to a fine And therefore the law will not permit that the satisfaction of the parties grieued should depriue the King of his fine or ease the offendors of their due and deserued punishment and also yéeld incouragement to others vpon hope of agréement to put in practise the like Riots or other outrages St. 13. H. 4. 7 26 And whereas the said Statute of 13. H. 4. hath ordained that if any Riot or c. against the law shall be made the Iustices of peace the Shirife or vndershirife shall come with the power of the Countie if néede be to arrest them That power of the County is expressed before by the Statute of 17. What power of the County the Iustices shall vse to represse Riots R. 2. viz. Al Lords and other liege people of the Realme as Knights Esquires gentlemen yeomen laborers seruants apprentises villaines and all others of the age of 15. yeares or aboue which be not of the Clergie decrepite or
women whereof the said Iustices and Shirife may take so many to assist them as they shall thinke good to arrest the offendors and to cary them to the Gaole And if the Iustices of peace be informed of a Riot committed at such a place and they go with the power of the Countie to suppresse it and finde no Riot there yet they are not to be blamed or fined for the leuying of the power of the Countie St. 13. H. 4. 7 27 By the said Statute of 13. H. 4. the Iustices of peace The Iustices record of a Riot Shirife or vndershirife haue power to record that which they shall finde done in their presence against the law and the trespassors and offendors shall be conuict by the Record of the same Iustices which recording must either be grounded vpon a thing done in their owne presence or else by inquirie vpon the oath of other men And therefore if two Iustices of peace assisted with the Shirife or vnder Shirife doe sée a Riot they may commaund the Riotors to be arrested then record the Riot without other inquirie But it is otherwise if they do not sée it for then they must first inquire of it by a Iury and after the same being found by inquisition they must make a record thereof which record that the said Iustices doe make must be in writing and is to remaine with one of them And they and none other of the Iustices ought to commit the Riotors to prison and to assesse their fines and to cause the same to be estreated into the Exchequer And if the Iustices do record a Riot of their owne fight the parties charged therewith shall neuer be allowed to trauerse it No trauerse to the record of a riot made of the Iustices own sight though indéed there was neuer any such Riot for their sight of the Riot being Iudges of record maketh that record in the iudgement of the law as strong and effectuall as if the supposed offendors had confessed the Riot befere them and touching the restrayning of trauerse more effectuall then if the Riot had béen found by a Iury vpon the euidence of others And if the Iustices of peace doe sée the Riot committed they may record the riot though the Riotors doe escape for that the fact is done in their presence which is the ground of their record And if the same Riotors doe escape from the Iustices at that time they cannot apprehend them at an other time for the apprehension and punishment of them must be whilest the Riot is committing or presently after and as it were whilest the blood is hot Neither in that case if the Riotors doe escape the Iustices can make any proces vpon their record neither ought it to be kept amongst the records of the peace but must be sent into the Kings Bench that proces may there be made vpon it And in that case 36. H. 6. 25. the offendors are not to be admitted to their trauerse but are of necessity to make fine for it If two Iustices of peace or more and the Shirife or vnderrshirife doe méet at a place appointed about the Kings seruice the affaires of the country or their owne priuate busines and any others to the number of thrée or aboue will make an assault in Riotous manner vpon them or any of them or vpon any other in their presence The credit of the Iustices record of a Riot they may arrest the offendors commit them to prison and record the Riot aswell as if they had come of purpose to sée and arrest Riotors but if they which doe begin a Riot doe flie into an other Countie before they doe commit the Riot then the Iustices must not meddle with them And this recording of a Riot by the Iustices of peace the Shirife or vndershirife is of that credit in the iudgement of the Law That if a man be bound by Recognizance to kéepe the peace and after such a record of being partie to the committing of a Riot is entred against him in a Scire facias awarded against him vpon his Recognizance he shall not be allowed either to iustifie the fact nor plead not guiltie thereunto 28 Whereas the said Statute of 13. H. 4. hath ordeined Stt. 3. H. 4. 7 that if the truth cannot be found then within a Moneth next after the same Iustices thrée or two of them shall certifie before the King and his Councel the whole fact and the circumstances thereof which words viz. the same haue relation to the Iustices of the Shire So that if two Iustices of the Shire and the Shirife or c. go to sée the Riot any other two Iustices may make inquirie of it and then they together or the first two or the last two may make certificat thereof Certificat of a Riot within a moneth after that inquisition taken But if the inquiry be made within a moneth after the Riot or c. committed and the certificat not made within a moneth after that then is not the certificat good nor according to the said Statute And yet if the Iustices do make an inquirie within a moneth after the Riot committed and then do giue day to the Iury to deliuer their verdict after the moneth expyred that is a good inquisition and according to the Statut for by that day giuen the Iury may enquire further and receiue more euidence to informe them of the truth of the matter If an enquest doe finde that a Riot was committed by x. persons and the Iustices doe certifie that it was committed by xx persons then the certificat and not the inquisition shall be taken for by that certificat of the Iustices it appeareth that the truth was not found by the inquisition And so it is if the inquisition be of x. persons and the certificat be of x. persons in harneis And likewise if the indictment be of a riotous assault only and the certificat bee of a riotous assault battery maiheming for though in the cases aforesaid the enquest haue found a truth yet they haue not foūd the whole truth neither that which is most for the Kings aduantage nor fully performed the meaning of the said statute but if the indictment and the Iustices certificat do vary in the day of the committing of the riot then the indictment shall be preferred before the certificat for the day doth alter nothing to qualifie or aggrauat the offence And yet séeing the said certificat is but only in the nature of a declaration to cause the parties accused to mak◠answer thereunto the same certificat ought to comprehend the certaine yeare and day though not the addition of the parties being not within the words of the statute of Additions made An̄ 1. H. 5. 5. St. 13. H. 4. 7. 29 And though the said Statute of 13. H. 4. The proces against riotors doth only make mention of a Capias yet it séemeth by the words
take into his or their hands or possessions all such copie customarie holds so holden of thē or any of thē immediatly to retain the same during only the life of such offēdor or offendors in such maner as he or they should haue had the rents or seruices of such copy or customary hold in case such person or persons so refusing had not refused A farmer required refuseth to serue 39 All euery farmer being a yeoman husbandman artificer or labourer 1. M. 12. beeing of the age of xviij yeares or more vnder the age of lx years not sick impotent lame maihemed nor hauing any other reasonable excuse or cause to the contrary being required by the sherife Iustice or Iustices of peace or other hauing authoritie by this act or by commissiō or letters c. they declaring their said authoritie or being required by their said Landlord or Landlords for the time being to whom the rents of such farmes shal be then rising growing or comming to serue the king for any the causes aboue rehearsed and refuse so to doe shall during only the life of such farmer or farmers so refusing forfeit and loose to such Landlord and Landlords as should haue had the rents of such farmer during the life liues of such person persons so refusing all their said farmes And it shal be lawfull to euery such Landlord c. their heires and assignes to whom the rents of such farmes should haue bin due during the life of such person or persons so refusing in case he or they had not refused to enter take into his or their hands or possessiō al such farms to retain the same only during the life of euery such offēdor or offendors But after the death expiration or determinatiō of the interest or terme of yeares of euery such copyholder customary holder or farmer as so shal offēd forfeit any of the said copi-holds customary holds or farmes as is aforesaid thē euery such person as should or ought to haue had the copy holds customary holds or farmes after or by the death expiration or determination of the interest or terme of years of such copie-holder customarie holder or farmer in case such copie-holder customarie holder or farmer had not so offended ne forfeited shall and may haue the same copie-hold customarie holds and farmes by entrie action admission or otherwise in like manner forme and condition and by such meanes as they and euery of them should might or ought to haue had if no such forfeiture or offence had bin had done or committed 40 If any person shal be spoken vnto moued 1. M. 12. or stirred to make any cōmotion Disclosing a commotion when one is moued insurrection or vnlawfull assembly for any of the intents aboue mētioned and doe not within 24. houres next after he shal be spoken vnto moued or stirred vnlesse he haue good and reasonable cause of excuse declare the same vnto one Iustice of the peace or Sherife of the said countie or to the Mayor Sherifes Bailifes or other head officers of any citie or town corporat where such commotion c. shall be had he shall suffer imprisonment by the space of thrée moneths without baile or mainprise vnlesse he shall be discharged by 3. Iustices of peace whereof one to bee of the Quorum of the same shire where the offence shall be committed 1. M 12. 41 If any person béeing aboue the age of eightéene yeares An able person required refuseth to serue and vnder the age of thréescore beeing able to serue and not sicke lame or impotent shall be required by any Iustice of peace or any Sherife of any Countie where any such assembly shall be or by any Mayor Bailife or other head Officer of any citie borough or towne corporat or by any other by the commandement of any such Iustice Sherife Maior c. to goe with him or them to suppresse the persons vnlawfully assembled in manner and forme aforesaid then euery person which so béeing able and required doth willingly and obstinately refuse so to doe shall suffer imprisonment for one whole yeare without baile or mainprise 1. M. 12. 42 If the King shall by his Letters patents make any Lieutenant in any Countie or Counties of this Realme Attendance vpon a lieutenant for the suppressing of any commotion rebellion or vnlawfull assemblie then as well all Iustices of peace and the Sherife and Sherifes of the same as all Maiors Baylifes and other head officers and all inhabitants and subiects of any Countie Citie Borough or towne corporat within euery such Countie shall vpon declaration of the said Letters patents and request made bee bound to giue attendance vpon the same Lieutenant to suppresse any commotion rebellion or vnlawfull assemblie vnlesse hee so required haue any reasonable excuse for his not attendance vpon paine of imprisonment for one whole yeare 1. M. 12. 43 The order and forme of the Proclamation that shall be made by the authoritie of this Act shal be as hereafter followeth The forme of the Proclamation or with the like order and words in effect viz. The Iustices or other persons authorized by this Act to make the said Proclamation shall make or cause to be made an Oyes and after that shall openly pronounce or cause to be pronounced these wordes or to the like effect The King our Soueraigne Lord chargeth and commandeth al persons being assembled immediately to disperse themselues and peaceably to depart to their habitations or their lawfull businesse vpon the paine contained in the act lately made against vnlawfull and rebellious assemblies And God saue the King 1. M. 12. 44 If any person or persons doe or shal molest let hinder Hinderance of the Proclamation or hurt any person or persons that shall proclaime or go to proclaime according to the proclamation and order aforesaid whereby such proclamation shal not be made then euery such person so molesting or hurting c. and hauing knowledge of his message shall incurre such daunger and suffer such paines and forfeitures the persons assembled to whom the proclamation should haue beene made should by this Act incurre for not obeying the Proclamation if it had béene made or for doing after the Proclamation of any the things before expressed And also all such persons beeing assembled to the number aforesaid to attempt or doe any the things aforesaid to whom Proclamation should or ought to haue beene made if the same had not beene let shall likewise in case they doe after put in vre and doe any the things aforesaid hauing any wayes knowledge of the let so made or by any meanes procuring the same let incurre like danger and suffer like paines and forfeitures aforesaid in euery their degrees as though the proclamation had beene made any clause article c. in this Act c. notwithstanding Other mens right saued 45 All
or Elegit or by Action of Debt against euery person of the petit Iurie so forfeiting and against his Executors and Administrators hauing then sufficient goods of their said Testator not administred And euery of the said petit Iurie shall seuerally make fine by the discretion of the Iustices before whom the said false Serement shall be found after their seuerall offences defaults and sufficiencie of them And those of the petit Iurie so attainted shall neuer be after of any credit nor their oath accepted in any court And if a false verdict be giuen in any action suit or demaund before any Iustice or Iudge of Record Attaint wher the thing doth not extend to xl l. of any thing personal as debt trespas and other like which shall be vnder the value of xl pounds then the partie grieued shall haue an Attaint And if the petit Iurie be attainted then euery of them shall forfeit fiue pounds to the King and the partie after the forme aforesaid and also shall make fine by the discretion of the Iustices And euery person that may dispend fiue markes by the yeare of fréehold out of auncient demesne or is worth an hundred markes in goods is able to passe in the same Attaint 18 The Law doth so hate Periurie and so much endeauour to extirpate the very roote thereof that shée doth sometime punish it in the onely will and intention of a man though that will neuer come to effect so that the same will and meaning may bée laid open vnto her The meaning to commit periurie punished by due proofe as it appeareth by a braunch of the before specified Statute of Anno 11. Hen. 7. St. 11. H. 7. 21. whereby it is ordained That if it be found by the graund Iurie that the petit Iurie haue giuen a true verdict in any of the courts of the citie of London in a suit whereupon an Attaint is brought then the graund Iurie shall haue authoritie to inquire if any of the petit Iurie hath receiued any summe of money or other reward or promise of money or other reward of the named defendants or tenants in the same Attaint or of any other person by the commandement couin or assent of any of them for the intent of their verdict giuing whereupon the same Attaint is grounded And after any such corruption by the said graund Iurie found Decies tantuÌ„ then the Iuror that is so found defectiue in taking money or rewards c. shall pay to the plaintife named in the said Attaint tenne times the value of the summe or other reward so taken or promised and shall suffer imprisonment without Baile or Maineprise sixe moneths or lesse by the discretion of Mayor and Aldermen of the said citie and shall bee disabled for euer to bée sworne in any Iurie before any temporall Iudge And such defendant and tenant in the same Attaint shall pay to such vse as other penalties bee forfeited within the same citie tenne times the value of the summe of money or other reward by him so giuen to any of the said petit Iurie and shal be imprisoned without Baile or Maineprise during sixe moneths or lesse by the discretion of the said Mayor and Aldermen And in like sort St. 34. E. 3. 8 38. E. 3. â—2 and for the same cause the Statutes of Anno 34. Edw. 3. 38. Edw. 3. were prouided whereby it was enacted That if any Iuror sworn in Assises or other Enquests to be taken betwéene the King and the partie or betwéene partie and partie doe by himselfe or any other take any thing of the plaintife or defendant to giue his verdict and thereof is attainted at the suit of the partie which will sue for himselfe or for the King or of any other person entring his plaint by Bill immediately before the Iustices before whom the Iurie was sworne the said Iuror shall pay tenne times so much as he hath receiued Decies tantuÌ„ And all those which bee Imbraceors Imbraceors to lead and procure such Enquests in the Countrie to make a gaine and profit thereof shall be punished as the Iurors And if the Iuror or Imbraceor so attainted haue not wherewith to make recompence in forme aforesaid he shal be one yeare imprisoned which imprisonment shall not be pardoned for any fine and the partie grieued may haue his action before other Iustices if hée will But no Iustice or other officer shall inquire of office vpon any of the points of this Statute but onely at the suit of the partie and of others as aforesaid By which foresaid Statutes it doth appeare that the Law doth punish Periurie not onely in such Iurors as doe commit it but also in those persons who bée the Imbraceors Perswaders or Procuters of it and not onely in those who doe commit or procure it but likewise in those who giue or take rewards to haue it done though it bée neuer effected for shee accounteth that when a man hath giuen his heart leaue for a reward to bée sworne it is the reward he respecteth in his oath and not the truth of the cause which reward will lead him blindfold into the dungeon of Periurie and therefore hee deserueth to be punished as a periured person S. Maintenance c. 6. 19 Because diuers did resort to Iurors in Wales and the Marches thereof and suborned them to acquit Murderers Felons and Accessories openly knowns St. 26. H. 8. 4 therefore by a Statute made Anno 26. H. 8. it was enacted That forthwith vpon the charge giuen to any Enquest to bee taken and sworne before any Iustices Steward Lieutenant or other officer within Wales or the Marches of the same of for or vpon any Trauerse against the King or the triall of any Recognizance broken or any other forfeiture forfeited to the King or of for and vpon the triall of any Murderer felon or accessorie of felonie or murder an officer shall be sworne for the kéeping of the same Iurors And if the same Iurors doe acquit any such felon murderer or accessorie vpon whose triall they shall be charged or giue any vntrue verdict against the King vpon the triall of any Trauerse Recognizance or other forfeiture The punishment of periurie committed by an enquest in Wales contrarie to the good and pregnant euidence ministred to them by the persons sworne before the said Iustice Steward Lieutenant or other officer Or that the said Iurors or any of them doe eate drinke or speake to or with any person or persons than to such as be sworn with them or otherwise misdemeane themselues after they be sworne and before they haue giuen their verdict Then the Lord President or other of the Councell of the Marches for the time béeing vpon notice or complaint thereof to be made shall not onely haue authoritie to call such Iurors before them but also the same Iusticiar Steward or other officers afore whome any such acquitall vntrue
verdit or misdemeanors shall happen to be made shall haue full power to compell such Iurors and euery of them vpon paine of imprisonment to be bound by Recognisance in a certaine summe of money by their discretion to be limited that the same Iurors and euery of them shall personally appeare at a certaine day by the same Iusticiar Steward or other officer to be limited before the Lord President and other of the Councell aforesaid for the time being then and there to abide and stand to such direction and order as the same councell shall make ordaine and decree of in and vpon the same And the same councell shall thereupon haue authoritie by examination or otherwise to heare and determine all and euery such cause and shall haue like authoritie to commit euery of the same Iurors to prison or other punishment as shal be thought meet by the discretion of the said counsel or otherwise assesse or taxe euery such Iuror to his fine and ransome by the same discretion to be paied and leuied of their lands goods and cattels to the vse of the King Periurie committed by witnesses 20 Hauing written of the restraint and punishment of periurie in Iurors consisting of twelue persons at the least impannelled or sworn to deliuer their verdict according to their euidēce I am now to expresse what punishments the law doth inflictt vpon such which doe come one by one as deponents or witnesses to testifie the truth and to informe the Iudge or the Iurie of the veritie of the matter in issue or question according to their knowledge whereof euery man by himselfe may be called singularis testis though there be more witnesses sworne in that cause And séeing that iustice cannot be executed without the knowledge of the truth of the cause in question that truth is in most cases only to be deliuered by the othes and testimonies of such parties as were witnesses priuie or best acquainted with the matter in variance Therefore first it is to be obserued that the wisdom of the law hath thought it necessarie to prouide that such witnesses may be compelled vnder a great paine to appear in court and testifie their knowledge concerning such matter in question as by the Statute made Anno 5. A witnes vpon proces serued shall appeare El. it was ordained St. 5. El. 9. St. 29. El. 5. That if any person vpon whom any proces out of any of the courts of Record within this Realme or Wales shal be serued to testifie or depose concerning any matter depending in any of the same courts and hauing tendered to him according to his countenance or calling such reasonable sums of money for his costs and charges as hauing regard to the distance of the places is necessarie to be allowed in the behalfe doe not appeare according to the tenor of the said Proces hauing not a lawfull and reasonable let to the contrarie then the partie making default shall forfeit for euery such offence x. l and shall yéeld such further recompence to the partie grieued as by the discretion of the Iudge of the court out of the which the said proces shall be awarded according to the losse and hindrance that the partie which procured the said proces shall sustaine by reason of the non appearance of the said witnesse the said seuerall summes to be recouered by the partie so grieued against the offendor by A.I.B.P. c. in any of the K. courts of Record wherein no W.E. or P. c. 21 There were seuerall statutes made during the raignes of king H. 6. K. H. 7. and K. H. 8. against Periurie and the procurers and committers of periurie and lastly one was ordained Anno 32. H. 8. St. 32. H. 8. 9 against such as should suborne witnesses to the hindrance of Iustice and the procurement of periurie Sithence the making whereof for that the penaltie therein is small towards the offendors in that behalfe the said offence of subornation and sinister procurement of false witnesses did neuerthelesse greatly increase and by reason of the wilfull Periurie committed by the same suborned witnesses diuers persons did sustaine disherison and great impouerishment as well of their lands and tenements as of their goods and cattels The penaltie for procuring of wilfull periury in witnesses for the redresse and more sharpe punishment whereof St. 5. El. 9. 29. El. 5. by a Statute made Anno 5. El. it was enacted That all and euery person and persons which shall vnlawfully and corruptly procure any witnes or witnesses by Letters Rewards Promises or by any other sinister and vnlawfull labour or meanes whatsoeuer to commit any wilfull and corrupt Periurie in any matter or cause whatsoeuer depending in suit and variance by any Writ Action Bill Complaint or Information in any wise concerning any lands tenements or hereditaments or any goods cattels debts or dammages in any of the courts of the Chauncerie Starre chamber White hall or in any other of the Kings Courts of Record or in any Léet view of Franke pledge or Law day Auncient demesne Court Court Hundred Court Baron or in the Court or Courts of the Stannerie in the countie of Deuon and Cornewall Or shall likewise vnlawfully and corruptly procure or suborne any witnesse or witnesses which shall bée sworne to testifie in perpetuam rei memoriam Then euery such offendor or offendors shall for his hers or their said offence béeing thereof lawfully conuicted or attainted forfeit fourtie pounds to the King and the partie grieued hindered or molested by reason of any of the offences aforesaid that will sue for the same by A. B. P. or I. in any of the Kings Courts of Record wherein no W. E. P. or I. shall bée allowed And if it happen any such offendor or offendors béeing so conuicted or attainted as is aforesaid not to haue any goods or cattels Lands or Tenements to the value of fourtie pounds then euery such person or persons so conuicted or attainted of any of the offences aforesaid shall suffer imprisonment one halfe yeare without Baile or Maineprise and stand vpon the Pillorie one whole houre in some Market Towne neere or next adioyning to the place where the offence was committed in open market there And no person béeing so conuicted or attainted shall bée from thenceforth receiued as a witnesse to bée deposed in any court of Record within any of the Kings dominions of England Wales or the Marches of the same vntill the Iudgement giuen against him or them shall bée reuersed by Attaint or otherwise And vpon euery such reuersall the parties grieued shall recouer his or their dammages against all and euery such person and persons as did procure the said iudgement so reuersed to bee first giuen against them or any of them by action to be sued vpon his or their case according to the course of the common Law St. 5. El. 9. 22 If any person or persons either by the subornation
of their office or occupation Nor to any Liueries or Badges giuen in the defence of the King and his Realme Nor to the Constable or Marshal for giuing any Badge Liuerie or token for any feats of armes to bee done within this Realme Nor of any Wardens of the Marches toward Scotland for any Badge Liuerie or token by thē giuen frō Trent Northward at such time onely as shall be necessarie to leuie people for the defence of the Marches St. 7. H. 4. 14 And by the stat of anno 7. H. 4. it was ordained That no congregation or companie shall make any Liuerie of cloth or of hats at their owne costs vpon paine that euerie of the same congregation or companie shall forfeit fortie shillings except Guilds and Fraternities and also people of Artes and Sciences within Cities and Boroughes which be ordained to a good intent 13 As the wisedome of the Realme hath established from one age to another the foresaid lawes and statutes Publishing inquiring of and punishing of maintenāce for the repressing or snibbing of Champertie Embracerie buying of titles and all other sorts of Maintenance so hath she prouided trumpets to sound out and publish those laws into the ears and sinke them into the hearts of all people and secondly shee hath assigned watchmen and sentinels to sée who infringed those lawes and lastly she hath ordained Censors and Iudges to punish the offendors therein as it appeareth by the before specified statute of anno 32. St. 32 H. 8. 9 H. 8. wherby it is enacted That the Iustices of Assise shall in euerie Countie within their circuits two times in the yeare viz. in the time of their sittings for taking of Assises or deliuerie of the Gaoles cause open proclamation to be made as well of the said statute and euerie thing therin contained as also of all other statutes heretofore made against vnlawfull maintenance champertie embracerie or vnlawfull retayners to the intent that no person hearing the same should be ignorant or misconisant of the dammages and penalties therein contained And by the former rehearsed statute of anno 8. St. 8. Ed. 4. 2 E. 4. it is ordained That euerie person which will sue against any other for any offence committed contrarie to that statute or any other of the premisses viz. any other ordinance or statute before that time made against any persons for giuing or receiuing of Liueries or Badges before the Kings Iustices in his Bench before the Iustices of the Common Pleas Iustices of peace in their Sessions Iustices of Oier and Terminer and Gaole deliuerie Iustices of the countie Palantine of Lancaster and Chester and in the Court of Hexamshire and in the Court of the Bishop of Durham in the Countie Palatine of Durham shall be admitted thereunto by the discretion of the said Iudges to giue information for the king of any of the premisses committed within the iurisdiction of the same Courts And euerie Informer shall be admitted to sue for the King and himselfe action or actions vpon the same by information in any of the said Courts against as many such offendors in one Bill of Information as liketh him which Information shall be in stead of a Bill or originall writ wherein such Proces shall bee awarded as in an originall writ of Trespasse but that in the Counties Palantine of Lancaster and Chester nor in Duresme no Exigent shall be awarded vpon any information suit or proces to be made by force of this ordinance And if any be or any Outlawrie thereupon pronounced the same shal be void without any writ of Error And if any of the offendors be present in any of the said courts any of the Iustices may cōmaund him to be brought to answer to such bill vpon such information by an othe first to be taken vpon a booke by such informer before some one of the Iudges that his complaint is true without any other or further proces therein And euerie of the same Iudges within his iurisdiction may by his discretion examine euerie of the defendants vpon such information and iudge him conuict as well by examination as by triall and the King shal haue the one halfe of the forfeiture if it be not in a citie or towne corporat that hath the same by the grant of the king or c. and the informer the other halfe which also shall recouer his costs by the Iudges discretion and execution thereof as in recoueries vpon debt or trespas wherin no Essoine or Protection shall lye And the Maior Sherife Bailife or other chiefe officer of euerie citie borough towne or port within this realm hauing power to heare and determine personall pleas in the court holden before them or any of them within any such towne haue authoritie to receiue information of any person which offends in the premisses and to heare determine as wel by examination as by triall all things done concerning the same by or to the inhabitants within the iurisdictiō of the same court to put this stat for those offences prouided in execution And the King shal haue the one moitie of all penalties forfeited by the said stat and the Informer chiefe officers of such citie borough c. shall haue the other moitie equally to be diuided betwixt them And the said chiefe officers part shal be imployed to the vse the said citie borough towne or port c. And sithence the foresaid lawes statutes by one other stat ordayned an 33. Iust of peace may inquire of and punish maintenance H. 8. and confirmed an 37. H. 8. it was enacted St. 33. H. 8. 10. 37. H. 8. 7. That Iust of peace at their Quarter Sessions shal haue authoritie to inquire as wel by the othes of xij men as by information giuen to them by any person or persons of defaults contempts offences cōmitted against the lawes statutes made and prouided concerning or in any wise touching retainers giuing of liueries signs tokens or badges maintenance embracerie c. and euery of them to heare determine the said defaults offences c. And vpon any information touching the penalties or any of them to make proces by Venire fac ' one Capias an Exigēt vnder their seals against euery such person persons against whom such information or presentment shal be had for their apparance before them in their Sessions to answer to such information or presentment as shall be there made And if the person or persons so accused by information or presentment shal be conuicted vpon such information or c. by confession or verdit of xx men then the said Iust haue power to giue iudgemēt against euery such offendor so conuicted of imprisonment forfeiture of money or both of them as are limited by the said seuerall statutes for such offences whereof they are conuict and to cause execution therof to be made accordingly Why the pursuing of maintenance is left out
prices or the buying of anie dried or salted fish herring or sprats not forestalled and solde for reasonable prices or the buying of any corne fish butter or chéese by any such Badger lader kidder or carier as shall be assigned and allowed to that office or doing by thrée Iustices of Peace of the Countie where the said badger lader kidder or carier shall dwell which shall sell and deliuer in open faire or market or to any other victualler or to any other person or persons for the prouision of his or their house or houses all such corne graine butter and chéese as any such person shall buy or cause to be bought and that within one moneth next after he shall so buy any such corne graine butter or chéese so that the same shall be bought without forestalling or else that any such common prouision made or héereafter to be made without fraud or couin by any person or persons of any of the things abouesaid for any citie borough or towne corporat or for the prouision or victualling of any ship castle or fort within the kings dominions without forestalling which shall be imployed onely to that vse and purpose or the buying and prouision of any of the victualls aboue mentioned necessary for the furniture and prouision of the inhabitants or of the towne of Barwicke Holy Island or the Marches of England against Scotland which without fraud or couin shall be transported and conueied as soone as winde and weather may serue to such of the places aforesaid for the which the same shall be so prouided shall not be in any wise deemed adiudged or taken any offence contrarie to this Act. If any person or persons hauing sufficient corne and graine for the prouision of his or their owne house or houses St. 5. 6. Ed. 6. 14. and sowing of their grounds for one yeare doe buy any corne in any faire or market Buying of corne for the change of seede for the change of his or their séede and do not bring to the same faire or market the same day so much corne as he shall fortune to buy for his seede and sell the same if he can as the price of corne then goeth in the said market or faire then euery such person or persons so buying corne for séede shall forfeit and loose the double valew of the corne so bought If any person or persons shal buy any manner of oxen ronts stieres kine heifers St. 5. 6. Ed. 6. 14. calues shéepe lambs goats or kids liuing Buying and selling of cattell aliue and sell the same againe aliue vnlesse he or they do kéepe and féede the same by the space of fiue wéeks in his or their owne houses ground farme ground or else in such ground or grounds where he or they haue the herbage or common of pasture by graunt or prescription then euery person and persons so buying and selling againe shall loose the double valew of the cattell or things so bought and sold againe The moitie of all which forfeitures afore rehearsed shall be to the King and the other moitie to him or them that will sue in any of the Kings Courts of Record by B.P.A. or I. c. in the which no W.E.P. c. The Iustices of peace in euery County within this Realme or Wales at their quarter Sessions St. 5. 6. Ed. 6. 14. shall haue full power and authoritie by vertue of this Act to inquire heare and determine all and euery the defaults and offences The authoritie of Iustices of peace committed or done contrary to this Act within the County where any such Sessions shall be kept by Inquisition presentment bill or information before them exhibited by examination of two lawfull witnesses or by any of the same waies or meanes by the discretion of the said Iustices and to make processe thereupon as though they were indicted before them by Inquisition or by verdict of twelue men or more and vpon the conuiction of the offendor by information or sute of any other than the King to make extracts of the one moity of the forfeitures to be leuied to the Kings vse as they vse to doe of other fines issues and amerciaments growen in the Sessions of peace and to award execution of the other moity for the complainant or informer against the offendor by Fieri facias or Capias as the Kings Iustices at Westminster may doe and vse to doe And if any such conuiction or attainder shall héereafter happen to be at the Kings sute onely then the whole forfeitures to be extracted and leuied to the Kings vse onely Whatsoeuer person shall at anie time heereafter be punished by vertue of this Act But once punished for one offence for any thing mentioned in this Act then the same person shall not otherwise be vexed troubled sued or put to any paine or punishment for that one thing wherefore hée or they shall haue béene so punished Prouided alwaies St. 5. 6. E. 6. 14. that it shal be lawfull to euery person or persons which shal be assigned and allowed by thrée Iustices of the peace of the county where he shall dwell Transporting allowed by Iustices of peace thereunto to buy otherwise than by forestalling corne graine or cattell to be transported or carried by water from any port or place within the said Realme or Wales vnto any other port or place within the saide Realme or Dominions if he or they shall without fraud or couin shippe or imbarke the same within fortie dayes next after he or they shall haue bought the same or taken couenant or promise for the buying thereof and with such expedition and diligence as winde and weather shall serue to carrie and transport the same to such port or place as his or their cockets shall declare and there doe dis-barke vnlade and sell the same and doe bring a true certificat thereof from one Iustice of peace of the County or maior or bailife of the towne corporat where the same shall be vnladen and also of the Customer of the port where such vnlading shal be of the place and day where the saide corne or cattell shall be disbarked vnladen and solde to be directed vnto the Customer and Comptroller of the port where the same was imbarked At all times when wheate shall be commonly at the price of sixe shillings eight pence the quarter When corne may be ingrossed or vnder St. 5. 6. E. 6. 14. mault and barley at thrée shillings foure pence the quarter or vnder otes or otes maulted at the price of two shillings the quarter pease or beanes at the price of foure shillings the quarter or vnder and rie or mescelin at the price of fiue shillings the quarter or vnder all which quarters shall be intended to be of London measure then it shall be lawfull to euery person and persons not forestalling to buy ingrosse and keepe in his or their
Striking in Westminster Hall 27 And the same Law is Fitz. Cor. 280. M. 2. 3. P. M. Dy. 188. if one strike another in Westminster Hall during the time that the Kings Courts be sitting there and be indicted thereof this is misprision of Treason and an indignitie offered to the Magistrates and place of iustice Therefore in this case the offender shall haue iudgement to haue his right hand cut off to loose his lands and goods and to be perpetually imprisoned Reâ—scuing a prisoner arrested by a Iudge 28 If one of the Kings Iustices assigned M. 22. Ed. 3. 13. doe arrest any person which hath made a fray before him and a stranger will rescue the prisoner whereby he doth escape this is misprision of Treason and in this case as well the prisoner as he that made the rescous shall forfeit to the King his landes and goods and be imprisoned during their liues Because the attachment of such a Iustice is the Kings owne attachment in the construction of Lawe 29 Because striking in the Kings pallace or where he shall remaine in person is a kinde of disgrace offered vnto or contempt had of the maiestie of the king who is the head of the common wealth and the chiefe preseruer of peace therein and therefore it is to be accounted a great Misprision and worthy of seuere punishment wherefore for the preuention thereof Shedding of blood within the kings palace by a Statute made Anno 33. St. 33. H. 8. 12. H. 8. 12. it was established That if any person or persons shall malitiously strike any other person whereby blood shall be shedde in any of the Kings houses or Palaces or any other house wherein the king his heires or successors shall bee at that time abiding in his royall person viz. within any edifices courts places gardens orchards or houses within the Porters ward of any of the houses aboue rehearsed or within any Gardens priuie walkes orchards tilt-yards wood-yards tennice-plaies cocke-fights bowling alleyes néere adioyning to the said houses and béeing part of the same or within two hundred foot of the Standard of any outward gate or gates of any of the said houses commonly vsed for passage from any of the houses c. and shal be thereof indicted arraigned and attainted according to the forme of the said Statute he so offending shall haue his right hand cut off bee imprisoned during his life and make fine to the King at his pleasure But this Act and the paines and forfeitures before rehearsed shall not extend to any Noble man nor other person that shall strike his seruant within the said Palaces or Houses or the limits of the same with his hand or fist or any small staffe or sticke for correction for any offence committed Nor to any of the Kings officers that in execution of his office shall strike any person with his hand fist or small staffe sticke or tipstaffe Nor to any other person that in doing seruice at any triumph or any other time of seruice by the Kings or any of his Councel or other his head officers commandement shal for the execution of his said seruice strike any person with his hand fist smal staffe or stick or any tipstaffe within the same palace house c. although by reason of the same stroke or strokes there happen to bée any blood-shed of such person as shal be so stricken except the person so stricken die of the same stroke within one yeare next after And so it is to be noted by the foresaid Statute of 33. H. 8. and the foure cases next precedent that striking in the Kings Palace or House where himselfe doth make his abode is not so penall as striking or drawing a weapon to strike is where he is but represented by others in time and place of Iustice for the law doth inflict a more seuere punishment vpon him who striketh or draweth his weapon to strike in place time of execution of Iustice than it doth to him who offereth the like violence in the house and at the time where the kings owne person is remaining In which case the offendor receiueth no punishment at all for striking or drawing of his weapons to strike vnlesse blood be shed thereby Which lawes doe procéed of the great care and reuerend respect that is had of Iustice and of peace ensuing thereof 30 For as much as some doubts and questions were mooued that certaine kinds of Treasons Misprisions and concealements of Treasons committed out of this Realme could not by the common lawes of this Realme be enquired of heard and determined within this Realme of England for a plaine declaration whereof St. 35. H. 8. 2 26. H. 8. 13. 5. Ed. 6. 11. by a Statute made Anno 35. H. 8. it was enacted That all manner of offences béeing alreadie made or declared or hereafter to bee made or declared to be Treasons Misprisions of Treasons or concealements of Treasons and done perpetrated or committed by any person or persons out of this Realme of England shal be enquired of heard and determined before the Kings Iustices of his Bench for pleas to be holden before himselfe Trial of treasons committed out of the Realme by good and lawfull men of the same shire where the said Bench shall sit and bée kept or else before such Commissioners and in such shire of the Realme as shall be assigned by the Kings Commission and by good and lawfull men of the same Shire in like manner and forme to all intents as if such treasons c. had béene committed in the same shire where they shall be so inquired of heard and determined as is aforesaid And if any Péere of this Realme shall be indicted of any such Treasons c. then he shall haue his triall by his Péeres c. Which foresaid Statute of Anno 35. H. 8. remaineth in force notwithstanding the Statute of Anno 1. 2. P. M. 10. By which it is ordered h. 13. El. Dyer 298. That all Trials had awarded or made for any Treason shall bee had and vsed onely according to the course of the common lawes of this Realme and not otherwise Outlawrie of offendors in Treason beeing beyond Sea 31 By a branch of a Statute made Anno 26. H. 8. it was ordained That all Proces of Outlawrie to be made within this Realme against any offendors in Treason being resiant or inhabiting out of this Realme or beyond the Sea at the time of the Outlawrie pronounced shal be as good and effectuall in the law to all intents as if any such offendors had béene resiant within this Realme at the time of such Proces awarded Outlawrie pronounced And after by a Statute made Anno 5. E. 6. it was conditioned and prouided St. 5. E. 6. 11. That if the partie so outlawed shall within one yeare after the said Outlawrie pronounced or iudgement giuen thereupon yéeld himselfe to the chiefe Iustice
An. 38. H. 8. Bro. Treason 2. for ioyning the Armes of England before the Conquest and the Armes since to his owne Armes for some other offences Quaere within which words of the first rehearsed Statute of 25. E. 3. or of any other Statute at the time of his arraignment in force that offence was comprised and made Treason S. Triall by Peeres 2. ⧠Homicide HOmicide is a word compound and is deriued of these two words Bâ—acton de corona viz. hominis cedium and the most apt and proper definition thereof is when one man or moe men doe kill another man for if a man be killed by a dogge a beast or other thing it is not properly termed homicide The said homicide may be committed by seuerall meanes viz. by iustice Homicide by iustice as when a Iudge doth command or pronounce his sentence that a man attainted by course of law shal be put to death By necessitie Homicide by necessitie as when one man killeth an other with griefe and sorrowe of minde thereby to deliuer himselfe or that which is his or some other persons or things which he is bound to defend from further perill which he or they cannot otherwise escape By mischance By mischance as when a man casteth a stone at a bird or a beast or is in lopping or felling of a trée and another man passing by is slaine therewith without the foreknowledge and against the will of him who did the déede By will By will as when one man hath a will to fight with another and then doth kill him or some other that is in his company and doth take his part in that combate But of this Homicide by will there bée two sortes whereof the one is called Murder and that is By murder when one man vpon malice prepenced and forethought doth feloniously kill an other And the other is called Manslaughter or Chance medley and that is By manslaughter when two men fight together vpon a suddaine heat of blood without any malice precedent and one of them doth kill the other 2 If a man be adiudged by the court to be hanged Homicide by iustice and the Sherife is commanded by the Iudge to doe execution in that manner and he doth it accordingly this is Homicide by iustice But if the Sherife do behead him or cause him to be beheaded or by any other meanes to be put to death than according to the Iudgement M. 35. H. 6. 58. this is no Homicide by iustice but felonie in the Sherife The order of law not obserued in execution of Iustice for that he hath not obserued the order of the Law viz. the iudgement in putting the offendor to death And the same law is if one which is not Sherife or other officer thereunto lawfully deputed will put to death an offendor that is condemned to die vpon his owne authoritie for that is no Homicide by iustice but felonie in him who beeing not the Kings officer thereunto assigned hath killed one of the Kings Subiects without warrant of his law And therefore if the Iudge himselfe who gaue iudgement of death against an offendor shall after put the same offendor to death it is not iustifiable but beeing indited and arraigned thereof he must plead not guiltie And in this case the wife may haue an Appell of the death of her husband so put to death against the said Sherife or other person though the heire cannot haue an Appell of the death of his father so executed because his blood is corrupted by the Attainder 35. H. 6. 57. No man may kill him that is outlawed of felony or attainted in a Praemunire 3 If a man be attainted of felonie by Outlawrie it is Homicide by iustice for the Iudge before whom he is brought to command him to be put to death and for the sherife to sée executioÌ„ done of him according to the iudgement 2. Ass p. 3. 27. Ass p. 4. 35. H. 6. 58. viz. to hang him But it is felonie and not Homicide by iustice for any other man of his owne authoritie to kill him And for as much as it was doubtfull whether by the lawes of this realme there was any punishment for such as kill or slea any person or persons attainted in or vpon any Praemunire Therefore by a Statute made anÌ„ 5. El. 1. it was enacted St. 5. El. 1. That it shall not be lawfull to any person or persons to slea or kil any person or persons in any manner attainted or hereafter to be attainted of in or vpon any Praemunire by pretence reason or authoritie or force of any word or words thing or things contained or specified in any Statute or Law of Prouision and Praemunire or in any of them Any Law Statute Opinion or Exposition to the contrarie notwithstanding So that to kill any person attainted vpon a Praemunire is felonie and not Homicide by iustice Killing a felon that will not be arrested 4 A shirife a bayly 22. Ass p. 45 Fi. Cor. 261 or any other which hath warrant to arrest a man indicted of Felony may well iustifie the killing of him if he wil not suffer himselfe to be arrested but that he doth stand at his defence in such manner that the officer and his assistants cannot arrest him without killing of him And in this case the officer shal be discharged without the kings pardon for this is homicide by iustice done vpon him who refuseth to yéeld vnto and submit himselfe to the iustice of the Law And euery person as well he that hath no warrant as he that hath may apprehend a Felon and if he wil not yeeld to be arrested but stand to his defence or flie the pursuer may kill him without blame the arrest being for Felony and therein he shall commit homicide by iustice And by the statute of Anno 1. Killing of such as be vnlawfully assembled M. it is established That if any persons St. 1. M. 12. aboue the number of two shall vnlawfully assemble together to the intent with force armes to doe practise or put in vre any of the things in the said statute mentioned then it shall be lawfull to euery Iustice of peace and to euery Shirife Mayor Bailife and other head officer of any Citie or Towne corporat or to any other hauing the Kings commission or letters to raise assemble the Kings subiects in maner of warre to be arraied in such great number as he or they shall thinke méet or able to the intent by violence of strength to suppresse and take the said persons so vnlawfully assembled And if the said persons so vnlawfully assembled or any of theÌ„ shall fortune to be slaine maihemed or hurt in or about the repressing or taking of them then euery such Iustice mayor sherife c. and euery other person hauing authoritie as is aforesaid and euery person and
said master or mistresse go away with the said caskets iewels mony or cattels or any part thereof to the intent to steale the same defraud his or their said master or mistresse thereof contrary to the trust confidence in him or thē put by his or their master or mistresse or els being in the seruice of his said master or mistresse without assent or commaundement of his master or mistresse hee imbesill the same caskets iewels money goods or cattels or any part thereof or otherwise conuert the same to his owne vse with like purpose to steale it if the said caskets iewels money goods or cattels that any such seruant shall go away with or which he shall imbesill with purpose to steale it as is aforesaid be of the value of forty shillings or aboue then the same false fraudulent and vntrue act shal be from henceforth déemed and adiudged felony and he or they so offending shal be punished as other felons be punished for felonies cōmitted by the course of the common law Prouided alwaies that this act or any thing therein contained shall not in any wise extend or be preiudiciall to any apprētice or apprētices nor to any person being within the age of xviij yéeres going away with his or their masters goods or iewels or otherwise conuerting the same to his or their owne vses during the time of their apprentiship or being within the said age of xviij yeares but that euery apprentice or apprentices such person or persons being within the said age doing or offending contrarie to this act shal be and stand in like case as they and euery of them were before the making of this act If a man do deliuer an obligation to his seruant to receiue xx M. 25. H. 8. Dyer 5. l. and the seruant doth receiue the money of the obligor Receiuing money vpon an obligation and thē goeth away with the same or doth conuert it to his owne vse this is not felony within the compasse of the foresaid stat of 21. H. 8. for the master did not deliuer any goods to his seruant in this case but an obligation which is not valuable but a thing in action and moreouer the money was not deliuered to the seruant by the hands of his master but by the obligor But if one of a mans seruants doth deliuer to another of his seruants goods of the masters being aboue the value of 40. s̄ and he doth go away with it or conuert it to his owne vse this is felony If a man do deliuer to his apprentice wares or marchandises M. 25. H. 8. Dyer 5. to sell at a faire Receiuing money for wares or a market and he selleth them and receiueth the mony and then goeth away with the mony or conuerteth it to his own vse this is not felony by the stat of 21. H. 8. for he had not the mony by the deliuery of his master neyther went he away with the thing that was deliuered vnto him Seruants imbesilling their masters goods after his death 13 By the stat of An̄ 31. H. 6. it was ordained St. 31. H. 6. 1 That executors shall haue a writ out of the Chancery by the aduice of the Chauncelor two chiefe Iustices and the chiefe Baron of the Exchequer with two proclamations returnable in the K. Bench against such houshold seruants of the Testator as haue spoiled or eloigned the goods of their master after the death of the Testator And if the writ be returned serued the defendants make default they shall be attainted of felony and if they appeare they shal be cōmitted to prison there to remaine at the discretion of the Iustices vntill the defendants do answer vnto the said executors in such actions which the said executors will declare against them or any of them by bill or writ for the riot taking and spoiling aforesaid and that the same actions be determined so that such actions be pursued with effect and not slackly to retaine the same persons in prison And if the same persons be enlarged out of prison by the said Iustices then they shal find sufficient sureties to the executors by recognizance to kéepe such daies as they shal haue assigned by the Court. And if the kéeper of the prison whereunto they shal be committed doe let them go at large without order of the Iustices then the said kéeper shall forfeit xl l. to the executors No protection shall lye in any action vpon this statute 14 By the stat of An̄ 14. E. 3. it was accorded Enforcing a prisoner to become an approuer That shirifes shall haue the kéeping of gaoles St. 14. E. 3. 10 as they had wont to haue and put in such kéepers for whom they will answer And if any kéeper of prison or vnder kéeper shall by too great dures of imprisonment and paine cause any prisoner which he hath in his custody to become an approuer against his will and is thereof attainted he shall be adiudged a felon 15 By the stat of an̄ 5. El. it was enacted Egyptians that euery person persons which shal be séene or found within this realme of England or Wales St. 5. El. 20. in any cōpany of vagabonds commonly called or calling themselues Egyptians or counterfeiting transforming or disguising thēselues by their apparell speech or other behauiour like vnto such vagabonds commonly called or calling themselues Egyptians so shall or doe remaine continue in the same by the space of one moneth then the same person or persons shall be déemed iudged a felon and felons and shall suffer paines of death losse of lands goods as in cases of felony by the order of the common lawes of this realme Triall and shall vpon triall of them or any of them be tried in the countrey and by the inhabitants of the county or place where he or they shall be apprehended or taken and not per medietatem linguae No Clergy and shall loose the priuiledge and benefit of Sanctuary and Clergy Prouided Xiiij. yeares That this act shall not in any wise extend to any child or children being within the age of 14. yeares St. 8. H. 6. 12. 16 By the stat made An. 8. H. 6. it was ordained That if any Record Imbesilling of Records or parcell of the same Writ Returne Pannell Proces Warrant of Atturney in the Courts of Chauncery Exchequer the one Bench or the other or the Treasury be willingly stolne taken away withdrawne or auoided by any Clerke or other person by cause wherof any iudgement be reuersed such stealer taker away withdrawer or auoider their procurors counsellors abbettors being thereof indicted and by proces thereupon made therof duly conuict by their owne confession or by enquest to be taken of lawfull men wherof the one halfe shal be of the men of any court of the same courts and the other halfe of other shal be iudged for
Felonie as Rape Robberie c. for in Rape if one do not commit the act Fitz. Cor. 314. 350. but aideth and assisteth his companion hee is principall as well as hee that committeth the fact And the same law is if one doe commit a Robberie and others be in his companie and do come with him for that purpose they bée all principals 13 Accessorie after the offence is he Accessorie after the offence committed who knowing that another hath committed a felonie doth receiue him ayd him or comfort him As if one do receiue a felon before he is attainted of felonie knowing of the felonie which he hath committed 26. Ass p. 47 or doth fauour him or ayd him with money meat drinke or lodging by that meanes he shal be adiudged accessorie What act of the accessorie maketh him a felon what not But this difference is to be taken of aid or counsell for if he aid him by his good word or suit for his deliuerance or do send a letter for his enlargement this doth not make him acessorie to the felonie Receit of a felon attainted in the same Countie 14 If one receiue a felon that is attainted of Felonie by verdict or confession in the same Countie where the receiuer is commorant or dwelling and doth ayd him he is accessorie to the Felonie Fi. Cor. 377 Bracton though he doth not know that the other hath committed Felonie because hee is a Felon by matter of record whereof euerie straunger dwelling or commorant in the same Countie is to take notice And it is Felonie if one be indicted of the receit of another that is Outlawed of Felonie in the same Countie where the receiuer dwelleth for that the offendor is attainted of Felonie in that Countie by matter of record S. Indictments 34. Receit of a felon attainted in another Countie 15 If one be attainted of Felonie by verdict confession Fi. Cor. 377 or outlawry in one Countie and another doth receiue him and aid him in another Countie he is not accessorie to the Felonie vnlesse he doth know of the Felonie because hée cannot take knowledge of an act done in another Countie though it be by matter of record S. Indictments 34. Indictment of an accessorie in one County to an offence done in another 16 Because that Théeues and Robbers that had robbed or stollen in one Countie would conuey their spoile or part thereof so robbed and stollen vnto some of their adherents in another countie where the principall offence was not committed who knowing of such felonie willingly and by couin did receiue the same in which case though the principall felon were attainted in one countie the accessorie escaped by reason that he was accessorie in another Countie and that the Iurors of the same countie by the common law could take no knowledge of the principall felonie ne attainder in the first countie and so such accessories escaped thereof vnpunished For the remedie whereof by a Statute made Anno 2. 3. E. 6. it was ordained St. 2. 3. E. 6. 24. That where any murder or felonie shall be committed in one countie Triall of an accessorie in one County to an offence done in another and another person or moe shall be accessorie to the same in another countie Then an Inditement found or taken against such accessorie and accessories vpon the circumstance of such matter before the Iustices of Peace or other Iustices or commissioners to enquire of felonies in the countie where such offences of accessorie shal be committed shal be as good in the law as if the said principall offence had bin committed within the same coūtie where the same indictment against such accessorie shal be found And the Iustices of Gaole deliuerie or Oyer Terminer or two of them of or in such countie where the offence of any such accessorie shal be committed or done vpon suit to them made shall write to the Custos Rotulorum or Kéepers of the Records where such principall shal be attainted or conuict to certifie them whether such principall be attainted or conuicted or otherwise discharged of such principall felonie who vpon such writing shall make sufficient Certificat in writing vnder their Seale or seales to the said Iustices whether such principall bee attainted conuicted or otherwise discharged or not And after that they doe certifie that such principall is attainted conuicted or otherwise discharged of such offence Then the said Iustices c. shall procéed vpon euery such accessorie in the Countie where he became accessorie in such manner and forme as if both the said principall offence and accessorie had beene committed in the same Countie where the offence of accessorie was committed and euery such accessorie and other offendors aboue expressed shall answer vpon their Arraignments and receiue such Triall Iudgement order and execution and suffer such forfeitures as is vsed in other cases of Felonie 27. Ass p. 69 25. Ed. 3. 39. 9. H. 4. 1. 17 If one receiue goods stollen or any parcell thereof yet hée shall not bée accessorie to the felonie if he do not receiue the Felon himselfe But if he doe receiue the goods stollen Receiuing of of stolne goods and also the Felon he shall be accessorie to the felonie so that the same Felon be before accessorie of the same felonic S. Indict 34. Fitz. Cor. 427. 18 If a Felon doth flie and come to his friends house Receiuing the Felon and his friend doth shut the doore and the countrey which pursueth him doe thinke that the Felon doth continue in the house whereas he escapeth in this case the friend shall bée adiudged accessorie to this felonie for that his friend did ayd and reléeue him and endeuoured to defend him from the iustice of the law S. Escape 2. 26. Ass p. 52 19 And also a man may be accessorie to an accessorie Accessorie to an accessorie as if one doe receiue him who is accessorie to a felonie by this meanes he himselfe shall be accessorie to this accessorie because that first accessorie is a felon 1. H. 7. 6. 20 If one doe rescue him that is arrested conuicted Rescue of a Felon or attainted of felonie hée is a principall Felon and not an Accessorie and the reason is for that this is a new felonie by it selfe though it doth depend vpon the former felonie 21 A woman couert cannot bée accessorie in felonie to her husband A wife no Accessorie to her husband A maried wife a principall Felon for that by the lawes of God shée ought not discouer his counsell But by force of a Statute made Anno 1. Mar. a wife shall be a principall Felon if shee doe send deliuer or conuey any reliefe to her husband which amongst others to the number of twelue or aboue shall bée assembled practise and put in vre any of the offences prohibited by the said stat prouided against Rebellious
Notice must be giuen of the robberie shal haue or maintaine any action or take any benefite by vertue of the saide two mentioned Statutes or either of them except the saide person or persons so robbed shall with as much conuenient spéede as may be giue notice and intelligence of the same felonie or robberie so committed vnto some of the inhabitants of some Towne Village or Hamlet neare vnto the place where any such robberie shall be committed Nor shall bring or haue any action vpon or by vertue of any the statutes aforesaide except hée or they shall first within twentie dayes next before such action to be brought be examined vpon his or their corporall Othe to be taken before some one Iustice of the Peace of the Countie where the robberie was committed inhabiting within the said Hundred where the robberie was committed The party robbed examined â— bound to prosecute the offenders or neare vnto the same whether hée or they doe knowe the parties that committed the said robberie or any of them And if vpon such examination it be confessed that he or they doe know the parties that committed the saide robberie or anie of them then he or they so confessing shall before the saide action be commenced or brought enter into sufficient bond by Recognisance before the saide Iustice before whome the saide examination is had effectually to prosecute the same person and persons so knowen to haue committed the saide robbery by indictment or otherwise according to the due course of the Lawes of this Realme 15 Because the inhabitants of the Hundred of Benherst in the countie of Berke consisting onely vpon fiue small villages and three hamlets and hauing in it two great road waies of three miles in length at the least through the Thicket haue béene ouercharged by seuerall Braunches of the said Statute of Anno 27. Eli. 13. In reformation thereof by a Statute made anÌ„ 39. Elizab. St. 39. E. 2â— it was enacted That the inhabitants of the Hundred of Benherst alias Beinersh within the Countie of Berke shall and may to their owne proper vse A remedy for the inhabitaÌ„ts of Benherst in Barkshire in the name of the Clerke of the Peace of the said Countie of Berke recouer haue and leuie all such summes of money costs and dammages as hereafter shall be recouered or leuied of or against them by the foresaide Statutes or any of them against the inhabitants and resiants of euery or any such Hundred with the franchises within the precincts thereof wherein negligence fault or defect of such pursute and fresh sute as by the said Statute of 27. Elizab. is appointed to be made shall happen to be after notice giuen or huy and crie brought to the saide inhabitants or resiants or any of them of or vpon any robberies which shall be at any time héereafter done within the saide Hundred of Beinersh And this present Act shal giue as full power and authoritie in all respects to the inhabitants of the saide Hundred of Benherst in the name of the Clerke of the Peace of the saide Countie for recouerie hauing and leuying of all the saide money costs and dammages as aforesaide as the aforesaide Statute of 27. Elizab. gaue or intended to giue for the recouerie of a moitie or one halfe thereof Prouided alwaies that no such remedie or recouerie shall be had In what cases onely the recouerie shall be had by this Statute for all or the whole summe or summes of money and dammages aforesaide but onely in these two Cases viz. The one where no such notice or intelligence as by the said Statute of 27. Elizab. was appointed to be giuen of euery or any Robberie shall be giuen to the inhabitants of the saide hundred of Benherst alias Beinersh The other where the inhabitants of the same Hundred after such notice of any Robberie to them or some of them giuen or after huy and crie for the same to them brought shall make or cause to be made fresh sute and pursute after the offenders with horsemen and footmen according to the saide Statute of 27. Elizab. and where neuerthelesse the offenders or any or one of them shall not be apprehended within fortie daies after the Robberie committed 16 Two ioynt owners of a sumine of mony P. 24. El. Di. 370. which were robbed by felons vnknowen at A. in the Hundred of B. in the countie of C. brought their action against the inhabitants of the said Hundred of B. and declared that wheras huy and crie was leuied by them and notice there giuen and the felons were not appreheÌ„ded nor descried nor amends made within the six months according to the statute of Winchester whereunto the defendants viz. the inhabitants of the saide Hundred of B. pleaded in barre of the action that immediately vpon the huy and crie leuied they made fresh sute from the said Towne of A. where the robbery was committed thorow their other townes vnto the towne of D. which is next adioyning to the said Hundred and there huy and crie was giuen to the inhabitants of the saide Hundred â—â—rsute wil not serue â—â—thout apprehensioâ— of thâ—â—â—lonâ— or descrying theÌ„ But this maner of pursute was adiudged no excuse according to the meaning of the said statute of Winchester without apprehending or answering of the robbeâ—s or descrying of their names that they might be indicted and outlawed And in this case the plaintifes may ioyne in action because they were ioynt owners of the money But if the summes of money had béene seuerall and they had seuerall properties in them they would not haue ioyned in Action Arresting of him â—hat is pu sued by huy and crie 17 If a man be driuing of cattell and be pursued by huy and crie 29. Ed. 3. 39. the Shirifes Bailiffe or any other may arrest him and the cattell supposed to be stolen and commit them to the Towne where they be apprehended to answer to the King according to the Lawe though the man arrested be not of euill name suspicious nor a stranger in those partes nor indited For the Lawe doth giue that credite to huy and crie that euerie man is a sufficient Bailiffe and officer to apprehend him that is pursued by huy and crie and taken with the thing supposed to be stollen And therefore if one man doe leuie huy and crie vpon an other without cause both the one partie and the other shall be attached to answer it as disturbers of the Peace Appeales WHen a murder manslaughter rape burglarie robberie or other felonie is committed and that the offendor be he principall or accessorie is apprehended by huy and crie or by any other meanes and so by imprisonment or mainprise brought to his answer Or otherwise if he flée and escape when he is so discouered and knowen that Processe may be awarded against him by name to take him and bring him into the Kings court of his answer Then either the
purpose in whatsoeuer other Shire or place within the Kings Dominions or without such offences of Treasons misprisions of Treasons or Murthers so examined were done or committed and that in such cases no challenge for the Shire or Hundred shall bee allowed After which Statute there was a Statute made Anno 1. 2. Ph. Ma. whereby it was ordained St. 1. 2. P. M. 10. That trials to be hereafter had awarded Triall of Treason or made for any Treason shal be had and vsed only according to the due order and course of the common lawes of this Realme and not otherwise 12. El. Dyer fol. 286 The foresaid stat of 33. H. 8. is repealed by the said stat of 1. 2. Ph. M. touching the indictment and triall of Traitors B for they are to be indicted and tried in the county where the offence was committed or by fréeholders of that county according to the course of the common law notwithstanding that they haue confessed their offences before iij. of the K. Councell But for the triall of Murther the said stat of 33. H. 8. doth continue in force 11 For as much as some doubts and questions were moued whether certaine kinds of Treasons misprisions and concealements of Treasons committed out of the Realme of England and other the Kings dominions can or may by the common lawes of this Realme be inquired of heard and determined within the Realme of England Therefore for a plaine order remedy Indictments and trials of Treasons cōmitted out of this Realme and declaration therein to be had St. 35. H. 8. 2 by a statute made Ann̄ 35. H. 8. it was enacted That all manner of offences being already made or declared or hereafter to be made or declared by any of the Lawes and Statutes of this realme to be Treasons misprisions of Treasons or concealements of Treasons and done perpetrated or committed or hereafter to be done perpetrated or committed by any person or persons out of this Realme of England shall be from henceforth inquired of heard and determined before the kings Iustices of his Bench for pleas to be holden before himselfe by good and lawfull men of the same shire where the said Bench shall sit and be kept Or els before such commissioners and in such shire of the realme as shal be assigned by the kings commission and by good and lawfull men of the same shire in like manner forme to all intents and purposes as if such treasons misprisions of treasons or concealements of treasons had bin done committed within the same shire where they shal be inquired of heard and determined as is aforesaid But if any péere of this Realme shall be indicted of any such Treasons or c. he shall haue his triall by his Péeres B If any subiect of this Realme being beyond the sea doth practise with the Prince or Gouernour of another countrey to inuade this Realme of England with a great power and in his practise doth declare by what meanes how and in what place the same may be done 13. El. Dyer 298. and though there be no such inuasion yet this practise is high Treason Treason practised beyond the sea for an inuasion with power may tend to the destruction or great perill of the person of the King And this offence shall bée tryed according to the foresaid Statute of 35. H. 8. which Statute doth remaine in force and is not repealed by the before rehearsed Statute of 1. 2. Ph. Ma. 10. Indictment in the County of Lancaster of a forraine 12 For the conseruation tranquillity and peace of the Kings liege people as well within the County Palantine of Lancaster as of other his liege people out of the said County within the Realme of England by a statute made Anno 33. H. 6. it was established St. 33. H. 6. 2 That euery Indictment to be taken before any of the Kings Iustices in the County Palantine of Lancaster or before any Shirife in his Turne in the said County whereby any person or persons be supposed by the same Indictment to be or to haue béene inhabiting or conuersant out of the said Countie and within any other Countie within England shall be taken by verdict of twelue men whereof euery of them or some other to their vse shall haue Lands and Tenements to the yearely value of an hundred shillings and no proces shall be made out of such Indictment before it be duly examined before the Iustices within the sayd County whether the said Indictors and euery of them at the time of such Indictment taken had lands and tenemēts within the said County of Lancaster to the yearely value of an hundred shillings aboue all charges And if it be found that euery of the said indictors at the time of the said Indictment taken had not lands c. to the said yearely value of 100. shillings then the Indictment as to such persons so indicted supposed by the said Indictment to be inhabiting or conuersant out of the said County of Lancaster shal be void Indictment in a forraine County of a Lancashire man 13 And by the same statute of Ann̄ 33. H. 6. it was likewise enacted St. 33. H. 6. 2 That euery Indictment from henceforth to be taken within any County of the said Realme and out of the said County of Lancaster before any Iustice or the shirife in his Turne whereby any person or persons supposed by the same indictment to be or to haue bin conuersant or inhabiting within the said county of Lancaster and without such county where such indictment shall happen to be taken shal be taken by verdict of twelue men whereof euery of thē or some other person or persons to their owne vses shall haue lands and tenements to the value of 100. shillings And that no proces be made out of any such indictments before it be duly examined and inquired before the K. Iustices hauing power to award any proces vpon such indictments whether the said indictors and euery of them at the time of such indictments taken or any other person or persons to their vse had any Lands or Tenements to the yearely value of an hundred shillings within the same Countie aboue all charges where such Indictments happen to be taken And if it be found before the King or any of his Iustices that the said Indictors or any of them had not at the time of such Indictment taken nor that none other to their vse had Lands and Tenements to the yearely value of an hundred shillings that then the said Indictment as to any such person or persons supposed by the said Indictment to be or to haue bin inhabitants or conuersant within the said County of Lancaster shal be void and of none effect 14 Though by the rules of the common Law euery offendor shall be tried in that County wherein he is indicted and he shall be both
hide their affection in that behalfe haue signified the cause of their apprehension to bée but onely for suspition of felonie whereby the said offendors haue escaped vnpunished to the incouragement of théeues and euil doers For reformation whereof by a stat made Anno 1. 2. P. M. it was ordained St. 1. 2 P. M. 13 That no Iustice or Iustices of Peace shall let to baile or mainprise any such person or persons which for any offence Bailing of offendors by Iust of peace or offences by them or any of them cōmitted be declared not to bée repleuisable or bailed or forbiddē to be repleuied or bailed by the stat of West 1. made An̄ 3. E. 1. And furthermore that any person or persons arrested for manslaughter or felonie or suspition of manslaughter or felonie being baileable by the law shal not be let to baile or maineprise by any Iu. of Peace if it be not in open Sessions except it be by two Iu. of peace at the least whereof one to be of the Quorum and the same Iustices to be present together at the time of the said bailement or mainprise which bailement or mainprise they shall certifie in writing subscribed or signed with their owne hands at the next generall Gaole deliuerie to be holden within that countie where the said person or persons shal be arrested or suspected And the said Iu. or one of them beeing of the Quorum when any such prisoner is brought before them for any manslaughter or felonie before any bailement or mainprise shall take the examination of the said prisoner and information of them that bring him of the fact and circumstances thereof and the same or as much thereof as shal be materiall to prooue the felonie shall put in writing before they make the same bailement which said examination together with the said bailement the said Iu. shall certifie at the next generall Gaole deliuerie to be holden within the limits of their commission And euerie Coroner vpon any inquisition before him found The Coroners duty vpon an inquisition found wherby any person or persons shal be indited for murder or māslaughter or accessorie or accessories to the same before the murder or manslaughter committed shall put in writing the effect of the euidence giuen to the Iury before him being materiall And aswel the said Iu. as the said Coroner shall haue authoritie by this act to bind all such by recognizance or obligation as do declare any thing materiall to prooue the said murder or manslaughter offences or felonies or to be accessory or accessories to the same as is aforesaid to appeare at the next generall Gaole deliuerie to be holden within the county city or town corporat where the triall thereof shal be then there to giue euidence against the partie so indited at the time of his triall and shal certifie aswel the same euidence as such bond bonds in writing which he shal take together with the inquisition or inditement before him taken found at or before the time of his said triall thereof Certificat of a bond taken by a Iu. of peace to be had or made And likewise the said Iu. shall certifie all euery such bond taken before him in like maner as before is said of bailmēts and examination And in case any Iu. of peace or Quorum or Coroner shal offend in any thing contrarie to the true intent and meaning of this act then the Iu. of Gaole deliuerie of the shire citie towne or place where such offence shal happen to be committed vpon due proofe thereof by examination before them shal for euery such offence set such fine on euery of the same Iu. of peace Coroner as the same Iu. of Gaole deliuerie shall thinke méet and shall estreat the same as other fines and amerciaments assessed before Iustices of Gaole deliuerie ought to be Prouided alwaies that Iu. of Peace and Coroners within the city of London and the County of Middlesex in other Cities Boroughs and Townes corporat within this Realme and Wales shall within their seuerall iurisdictions haue authority to let to baile felons and prisoners in such manner forme as they haue bin heretofore accustomed This act or any thing therein contained to the contrary notwithstanding And also shall take examinations bonds as is aforesaid vpon euery bailement by them or any of them to be made and shall certifie euery such bailements bonds examinations by them or any of them takē or made at the next Gaole deliuery to be holdē within the shire city borough or towne where their seuerall iurisdictions extēdeth vpon like paine and forf as is before limitted in this present act 14 Because Sherifs and others did in times past let to mainprise notorious and knowne théeues being taken and imprisoned for murder and other felonies S. 3. E. 1. 15. and such as be not mainpernable contrarie to the forme of a Statute made touching those which bee repleuisable and which not and thereby such malefactors as were not repleuisable were let to mainprise And for to deliuer them deceitfully before the comming of the Iustices in Eire or other assigned for their deliuerance they procured and suborned by themselues and by their friends Iurors of the countie some they threatened And so partly for feare of the Sherifs and others which did let them to baile and partly for feare of those felons which were so let to mainprise many robberies and homicides were hidden and concealed from the Iustices of Gaole deliuerie for the preuention whereof by a Stat. made an̄ 27. E. 1. An. 27. E. 1. 3. intituled the Stat. of fines leuied it was ordained That Iustices assigned to take assises in euery countie where they take assises presently after the assises taken shall remaine both together if they be Laie And if one of them be a Clerke then one of the most discréet knights of that county being associate vnto him by the kings writ shall deliuer the Gaole in that countie aswell within liberties as without of all the prisoners according to the vsuall forme of deliuering of Gaoles Bailement of offendors by Sherifes And then the same Iustices shall inquire which sherifs and others haue let to baile any prisoners that were not repleuisable or haue offended in any thing contrarie to the Stat. of West 1. and to punish and chasten them in euery respect according to the forme of the said Statute 15 And for the causes aforesaid it was ordained by the stat of an̄ 4. E. 3. St. 4. E. 3. 2 that good and discréet persons other than of the places if they may be found sufficient shal be assigned in all the counties of England to take assises Iuries and certifications and to deliuer the Gaoles And the same Iustices shall take the assises Iuries and certifications shall deliuer the Gaoles thrice in the yeare at the least and more often if néed be And
1. H. 5. 10 Fit Chall ' 105. 38. Ass p. 22 doe challenge any of the Polles hee must shewe the cause vpon his Challenge which must be presently tried for that it is in a plea of the crowne wherein the king is a party 6 A man outlawed of Felonie An Outlaw of Felony shall haue his challenges vpon an Issue taken for the auoidance of the Felony Fi. Chall ' 153. 165. For though hée cannot challenge a worse man then himselfe béeing outlawed for Felony yet séeing it is in Issue to trie whether hee bee an Outlaw or not and by this tryall if it bée found for him to defeat the same Outlawry that opinion of him ought to bee holden in suspence vntill the said issue shall be tried against him 21. H. 6. 30. 14. H. 4. 19. 7 It is a good Challenge vpon cause to say that one of the Iurors is an Alien or a Villaine or an Outlaw A Iuror an alien villaine or outlaw for then hée is not Liber legalis homo For though an Alien borne hath dwelt in this Realme from his childhood and be sworne in a Léet or other Court to the Kings obedience yet he is not the Kings liege man for the Steward of a Léet nor any other can make an Alien Legalis homo but onely the King ⧠Euidence 1 WHen a prisoner is indicted of Treason or Felony hath pleaded not guilty is therupon arraigned and finished his challenges then euidence is to be giuen against him to proue him guilty which euery person shall bée admitted to doe for the king And because the euidence of those that tooke the said offendor with the manner did first accuse him or brought him before the Iustices of Peace to be examined of the supposed offence hath béene alwaies adiudged most pregnant and effectuall Therefore by a statute made Anno 1. 2. Ph. Ma. St. 1. 2. P. M. 13. it was ordayned That two Iustices of Peace at the least Euidence against an offeÌ„dor let to batle wherof one of them to be of the Quorum when any prisoner is brought before them for any manslaughter or felony before any bailement or mainprise shall take the examination of the said prisoner and information of them that bring him of the fact and circumstances thereof and the same or as much thereof as shal be materiall to proue the felony shall put in writing before they make the same bailement which said examination together with the said bailement the said Iustices shall certifie at the next generall Gaole deliuerie to bée holden within their Commission and that euery Coroner vpon any inquisition before him found whereby any person or persons shall bée indicted for murther or manslaughter or as accessorie or accessories to the same before the murther or manslaughter committed shall put in writing the effect of the euidence giuen to the Iury before him béeing materiall And as well the said Iustices as the said Coroner shall haue authority by this act to bind all such by Recognisance or Obligation as doe declare any thing materiall to proue the said murther or manslaughter offences or felonies or to bée accessories or accessories to the same as is aforesaid to appeare at the next generall Gaole deliuerie to bée holden within the County City or Towne corporat where the tryall thereof shall bée then and there to giue euidence against the party so indicted at the time of his triall and shall certifie as well the same euidence as such bond and bonds in writing as hée shall take together with the Inquisition or Indictment before him taken and found or before the time of his sayd tryall thereof to bée had or made And likewise the said Iustices shall certifie all and euery such bond taken before them in like manner as is before said of baylements and examination And in case any Iustice of peace or Quorum or Coroner shall offend in any thing contrary to the true intent and meaning of this act then the Iustices of Gaole deliuery of the Shire City Towne or Place where such offences shal happen to be committed vpon due proofe thereof by examination before them shall for euery such offence set such fine on euery such Iustice of Peace and Coroner as the same Iustices of Gaole deliuery shall thinke méet and shall estreat the same as other Fines and Amerciaments assessed before Iustices of Gaole deliuery ought to bee S. Mainprise 13. 2 Because the foresaid statute of 1. 2. Ph. Ma. 13. doth not extend to any such prisoners as shall be brought before any Iustice of Peace for Manslaughter or Felony and by such Iustice shall be committed to ward for the suspition of such Manslaughter or Felony and not bayled in which case the examination of such prisoner and of such as shall bring him is as necessary or rather more then where such prisoner shall be let to bayle For the reformation whereof St. 1. 2. P. M. 10. by a statute made Anno 2. 3. Ph. Ma. it was enacted That such Iusticâ—s or Iustice before whom any person shall bée brought Euidence against an offendor coÌ„mitted to prison for Manslaughter or Felony or for suspition thereof before he or they shall commit or send such prisoner to ward shall take the examination of such prisoner and information of those that bring him of the fact and circumstances thereof and the same or as much thereof as shall be materiall to prooue the Felony shall put in writing within two dayes after the said examination and the same shall certifie in such manner and forme and at such time as they should and ought to doe if such prisoner so committed or sent to ward had béene bayled or let to mainprise vpon such paine as in the said former act is limitted and appointed for not taking or not certifying such examinations as in the said former act is expressed And the said Iustices shall haue authority by this act to bind all such by Recognisance or Obligation as doe declare any thing materiall to proue the said Manslaughter or Felony against such prisoner as shall bee so committed to ward to appeare at the next generall Gaole deliuery to be holden within the County City or Towne corporat where the triall of the said Manslaughter or Felony shall be then and there to giue Euidence against the party And the said Iustices shall certifie the sayd bands taken before them in like manner as they should and ought to certifie the bands mentioned in the said former act vpon the paine as in the said former act is mentioned for not certifying such bands as by the said former act is limitted and appointed to be certified 3 And for that men should be the readier and more willing to giue Euidence against Robbers and other Felons Restitution vpon attainder by euideÌ„ce by a statute made Anno 21. H. 8. St. 21. H. 8. 11 it
within the sayd Palaces or other the sayd houses at any time committed And if any person or persons bée indicted by the sayd Iurie so sworne before them as is aforesaid or by Inquisition before the Coroner of the sayd houshold and certified before the sayd Lord Steward or in his absence before the sayd Treasorer Comptroller and Steward of the Marshalsey or two of them whereof the sayd Steward of the Marshalsey to bee one Then immediatly the said Lord Steward or c. Treasorer Comptroller and Steward of the Marshalsey or two of them whereof c. before whom the sayd Presentment Inquisition or Indictment shall bée so found or certified by the sayd Coroner shall arraigne before them euerie such person so indicted according to the course of the common law and forthwith after issue ioyned betwéene the King and the prisoner so arraigned the same day and place or any other shall make another Precept to the sayd Clerks Comptrollers Clerkes of the Checke and Clerkes Marshals of the said houshold or to one of them to summon and returne one Iurie of foure and twenty persons to appeare before the sayd Lord Steward or c. Treasorer Comptroller and Steward of the Marshalsey or two of them whereof the sayd Steward of the Marshalsey to be one at such day time and place and vpon such paine as shal be then limited of the Serieants and Gentlemen Officers of the Kings chamber and of the sayd houshold which shall take wages by the K. Checke roll And the sayd Steward or c. Treasorer Comptroller and Steward of the sayd Marshalsey or two of them whereof the sayd Steward to be one before whom such Iurie shall bée so returned shall cause twelue of the same Iurie to bée sworne truely to try between the King and such person as shall bée so indictected and arraigned of such Treasons Misprisions of treasons Murders Manslaughters and other malitious strikings by reason whereof bloud shall bee shed against the Kings peace or any of them And if any such person or persons so arraigned be found guiltie of any Treason Misprision of Treason Murders or Manslaughters then hee shall haue iudgement of life and member and suffer such paines of death and shall forfeit all their mannors lands tenements goods and cattels in like manner as if the same person and persons had beene found guiltie of any of the sayd offences by the order of the common law without the benefit of Clergie or Sanctuarie Prouided alwayes that the tryall of Peeres for any offence before mentioned shal be as it hath beene vsed in times past St. 3. H. 7. 14 5 By the stat made Anno 3. H. 7. it was ordayned That the Steward Treasorer Iudges of conspiracie in the K. house and Comptroller of the Kings house for the time beeing or one of them shall haue authoritie to inquire by twelue sad men and discréet persons of the Checke rol of the Kings houshould if any seruant admitted to be his seruant sworne and his name put in the Checke roll of his houshold whatsoeuer he be seruing in any office or roome reputed and taken vnder the estate of a Lord make any confederacies coÌ„passings conspiracies or imaginations with any person or persons to destroy or murder the K. or any Lord of this realm or any other person sworne to the kings Counsel Steward Treasorer or Comptroller of the Kings house And if it be found before the said Steward for the time being by the said xij sad men that any such of the K. seruants as is abouesaid hath confederat compassed conspired or imagined as is abouesaid hee so found by the inquirie shall bee put thereupon to answer And the Steward Treasorer and Comptroller or two of them haue power to determine the same matter according to the law and if he put him in tryall then it shall bée tryed by other twelue sad men of the said houshold And if such misdoers shall be found guiltie by confession or otherwise the said offence shall be iudged felonie S. Felonie by Stat. 1. Iudges within the Verge 6 The Iustices of the Kings Bench the Iustices of Oyer and Terminer Co. li. 4. 47. Iustices of Gaole deliuerie and Iustices of Peace haue power to inquire heare and determine all murders and felonies within the Verge for that their authoritie and iurisdiction is generall through the whole countie and so it hath beene alwayes vsed 7 The Iustices of the Kings Bench Iudges of the K. Bench. without hauing Commission may heaâ—e and determine all maner of Treasons and Felonies And by the Stat. of Anno 35. H. 8. Anno 5. Ed. 6. it is enacted St. 35. H. 8. 2 St. 5. E. 6. 11 That all manner of offences being alreadie made or declared or hereafter to be made or declared by any laws and statutes of this Realme to be Treasons Misprisions of Treasons or concealments of Treasons done perpetrated or committed or hereafter to bee done Iudges of Treasons committed beyond the Sea perpetrated or committed by any person or persons out of this Realme of England shall bee inquired of heard and determined before the Kings Iustices of his Bench for Pleas to be holden before himselfe Dy. fol. 287 298. by good and lawfull men of the same Shire where the sayd Bench shall sit and be kept or else before such Commissioners and in such Shire of this Realme as shall bée assigned by the Kings Commission and by good and lawful men of the same Shire in like manner and forme to all intents and purposes as if such Treasons Misprisions of Treasons and concealements of Treasons had béene done and committed within the same Shire where they shal be so inquired of heard and determined Prouided alwayes that if any Peeres of this Realme shal be indicted of any such Treasons or other offences then they shall haue their triall by their Péeres as heretofore hath béene accustomed 8 By the Stat. intituled De finibus St. 27. E. 1. 2. St. 4. E. 3. 2 made Anno 27. Ed. 1. and also by the stat of Anno 4. E. 3. it is ordayned That good and discréet persons other than of the Benches Iudges of gaole deliuery if they may be found sufficient shal be assigned in all the shires of England to take Assises Iuries Certifications and to deliuer the gaoles And the Iustices assigned to deliuer the gaoles shall haue power to deliuer the same gaoles of those that shal be indicted before the gardeins of the peace And the said gardeins shall send their indictments before the Iustices And they shall haue authoritie to inquire of Sherifes Gaolers and others in whose ward such indicted persons shal be if they make deliuerance or let to mainprise any so indicted which be not mainpernable and to punish the said Sherifes Gaolers St. 3. H. 7. 1 and others offending against this Act. And by the stat of An. 3. H. 7. it is
Leges Aluredi cap. 7. That if any man did strike or draw a weapon of iron to strike in the Kings pallace the King might it he pleased put him to death 29 Because they which vpon the Kings commaundement do come to his councell or vpon his summons doe resort to his Parliament doe make their repaire thitherto further the wealth and peace of the Realme it hath béen therfore thought reason that during the time of the said councel Parliament they should not be depriued of that peace which they endeaour to procure to others and themselues Assault vpon one which cōmeth to the Parliament Wherefore by a Statute made Anno 11. H. 6. Stat. 11. H. 6. 11. it was ordeined That if any assault or fray be made vpon any Lord Spirituall or Temporall Knight of the Shire Citizen or Burgesse which commeth to the Parliament or to the Kings Councell by his commaundement and there being and attending then Proclamation shall be made in the most open place of the Towne where the fray was made by thrée seuerall dayes that the partie which made such affraye or assault shall yéeld himselfe in the Kings Bench within a quarter of a yeare next after the Proclamation made if it be in the Terme tyme or otherwise at the first day of the Terme following the said quarter And if he doe not he shall be attainted of the deede and pay to the party grieued his double dammages to be taxed by the discretion of the Iustices of the same bench or by the inquest if it be needfull and shall make fine and ransom at the Kings pleasure And if he come and be found guiltie by inquest by examination or otherwise of such affray or assault then he shall pay to the partie grieued his double dammages found by the inquest or to be taxed by the discretion of the said Iustices and make fine and ransom at the Kings pleasure Assaulting the seruant of a Parliament man And by the Statute made Anno 5. H. 4. it was enacted St. 5. H. 4. 6. That he shall haue the like punishment which maketh assault or fray in the Parliament tyme vpon any meniall seruant of any Knight of the Parliament Citizen Burgesse c. which doth come to the Parliament with his master The libertie of the Clergie as a conuocation And by the Statute of Anno 8. H. 6. it was prouided St. 8. H. 6. 1. That al the Clergie which be called to the conuocation by the Kings writ and all their seruants and familiars shall fully vse and enioy such libertie or defence in comming tarying and returning as the great men and Commons of the Realme haue or are wont or ought to enioy which are called to the Parliament 30 Séeing the wealth and peace of the Realme doth chiefely consist in the due execution of Iustice which cannot be ministred without méete persons and places ordeined therefore for that cause the Law hath specially prouided that those persons and places which be designed to the same Administration of Iustice shall be so guarded and protected from force and violence offered vnto them or in them that shee hath inflicted déeper and more greiuous punishments to those who shall breake or disturbe the peace in the presence of those Magistrates or in those places than to them who shall breake the peace in the Kings own pallace where he is in person abiding or in the Parliament time ordeined for the making of Laws Assaulting a Iudge or Iuror And therefore it hath bene adiudged 22. Ed. 3. 13. That if one draw his sword to strike a Iustice assigned sitting in place of iudgement and be thereof found guiltie he shall forfeite his lands and chattels and haue his right hand cut off And likewise if one in the presence of the Iustices doe strike a Iuror he shall forfeite his lands and goods haue his right hand striken off and be committed to perpetuall prison And the same Law is if one of the Kings Iustices assigned doth arrest any person which hath made a fray before him and a straunger will rescue that prisoner whereby he doth escape in this case as well the prisoner as he that made the rescous shall be disherited and be perpetually imprisoned for that the attachment of such a Iustice is the Kings owne attachment in the construction of the Law Striking in time or place of Iustice And if one doe strike an other in Westminster Hall Fitz Cor. 280. 2. 3. P. M. Dy. 188. during the time that the Kings Courts do sit hee shall forfeite to the King his lands and goods haue his right hand cut off and bee committed to perpetuall prison 4. H. 7. 2. 31 In an action of Trespas of assault and batterie the defendant pleaded Arresting by watchmen that there were diuers felonies committed in those parts where he dwelt and he being watching in his house came into the high Stréete where the plaintife was at eleuen of the clocke in the night and the defendant came vnto him and laid his hands in peaceable maner vpon him to sée his face and when he perceiued that he was a true man he left him departed which was the same assault and batterie And this was allowed to be a good iustification for by the statute of Winchester watchmen may arrest Nightwalkers and also may appose them from whence they come and what they be but they must be such watchmen as be appointed by the Towne And so euery man may arrest Nightwalkers for it is for the good of the Common wealth The same law is in an action of Trespas brought of the assault and batterie of his seruant 4. H. 7. 18. 5. H. 7. 5. 2. Ed. 4. 8. whereby he did loose his seruice 3. daies and the defendant pleaded that A. was robbed at midnight of goods to the value of xl s̄ whereupon the said A. came to the Constable and prayed him to search for suspicious persons and to apprehend and arrest them and accordingly he did search and found the same seruant walking suspiciously in the stréete in the night and therefore he would haue arrested him but the said seruant fled and would not yéeld to the arrest and the defendant by the Constables commaundement pursued and tooke him This was adiudged a good plea in barre for when a felonie is committed the Constable or any others may arrest suspitious persons and if any that is arrested will not yéeld but assault him or them that do arrest him they may iustifie the beating of him for that he doth resist the peace and iustice of the Realme when he doth forciblie striue to flie and not to be iustified by it 30. Ed. 3. 4. 29. Ass p. 63. 28. Ed. 3. 92. 6. H. 4. 7. 32 If a man be assaulted and beaten Trespas for batterie before outlawrie and then be outlawed in an action of Trespas and after doth purchase his
to the plaintife was of the plaintifes owne assault and in defence of the defendant Iustifiing in his owne defence And likewise it is a good plea in barre in an appeall of maihem for the defendant to plead the plaintifs release made vnto him after the supposed offence done of all actions personals or of all actions The plaintifes release or of all appeales or of all demaunds for in this case the plaintife is but to recouer dammages 7. H. 4. 30. 66 If an appeal of maihem be brought against diuers Execusion in appeal of maihem one of them doth appeare in court and confesse the maihem and is committed to the Marshalsea and the plaintife hath iudgement against him he can not sue against the residue vnlesse he will suffer him that hath confessed the maihem to goe at liberty for if he hath iudgement and the body of him who confessed the maihem to remaine in prison that shall be an execution for this whole maihem 67 The Sages and Iudges of the land in former ages did hold it for law An action of Trespas after an appeal of maihem that if one doe assault Fitz. Coron̄ 110. 22. Ass p. 82 beate and maihem an other and the partie maihemed doth bring an appeall of maihem against the offendor and recouer dammages against him yet after he may haue an action of Trespas of assault and battery against the same offendor and recouer dammages for his beating and the recouerie of dammages in the appeal of maihem shal be no plea in barre against the plaintife for the appeal doth only medle with the maiheming not with the beating But if the plaintife do bring an appeal of maihem in the Kings bench 43. Ass p. 39 and after apparance be nonsuit in the same and then doe bring an action of Trespas of assault and batterie for the same fact Then the defendant may plead the same appeal and nonsuit in barre against the plaintife and it is a good plea. 41. Ass p. 16 Co. Lib. 4. 43. But of late yeares viz. An̄ 31. Eliz. it was adiudged that in this and all cases when the plaintife for one wrong and iniurie is but to recouer dammages he shall not be for that cause satisfied twice for one offence And in these two actions of appeal of maihem and trespas the plaintife shall onely recouer dammages And therefore it was adiudged a good plea in barre in an appeal of maihem to plead that the plaintife had before brought an action of Trespas against the defendant of assault battery wounding and had recouered dammages therein and to auerre that the same assault batterie and wounding and this maiheming were all one offence 68 As the law hath prouided remedies to punish those who by menace Restraint of affraies by Iustices of peace assault battery imprisonment or maiheming do breake the peace So hath it alwaies had a vigilant eie by anticipation to preuent many others that would breake the peace by any of the meanes aforesaid and therefore hath from age to age appointed méet magistrates and watchmen to whose charge specially as selected Sentinels she did commit the preseruation of the peace who in times past before the raigne of King Edward the third were called Conseruators of the peace Stat. 1. E. 3. 26. and sithence they haue béen termed Iustices of peace because they be Iudges of record or otherwise they be named Commissioners of the peace because they haue and deriue their authority by the Kings Commission who him selfe being the chiefe and generall Conseruator and Preseruer of the peace throughout all his Dominions doth by his seuerall Commissions commit some particles of his authoritie touching the continuance of the peace and maintenance of certaine of his Lawes to some chiefe and select men in all the parts of the Realme whom he taketh to be the most méete men for the same in respect of their integritie wisdome learning courage and liuelyhood The forme of so much of which Commission as toucheth the Peace and good Abearing is this Iacobus c. praedilecto fideli Conciliario nostro Thomae domino Elsmere domino Cancellario nec non praedilectis A.B.C.D.E.F.G. H.I.L.M.N.O.P. c. The Commission of the Peace Sciatis quod assignauimus vos coniunctim diuisim quemlibet vestrum Iusticiarios nostros ad pacem nostram in Comitatu nostro buck conseruand ' ac ad omnia ordinationes Statuta pro bono pacis nostrae ac pro conseruatione eiusdem pro quieto regimine gubernatione populi nostri aedita in omnibus singulis suis articulis in dicto comitatu nostro tam infra libertates quam extra iuxta vim formam effectum eorundem custodiend ' custo dire faciendum Et ad omnes contra formam ordinationū vel Statutorum illorum aut eorum alicuius in comitatu praedicto delinquentes castigandū puniendum prout secundum sormam ordinationū Statutorū illorum fuerit faciendum Et ad omnes illos qui alicui vel aliquibus de populo nostro de corporibus suis vel de incendio domorū suarum minas fecerint ad sufficientē securitatem de pace vel bono gestu suo erga nos populum nostrū inueniendam coram vobis seu aliquo vestrum venire faciendum Et si huiusmodi securitatem inuenire recusauerint tunc eos in prisonis nostris quousque huiusmodi securitatem inuenirent saluo custodire faciendum Et ideo vobis cuilibet vestrum mandamus quod circa custodiam pacis ordinationum Statutorum omnium singulorum caeterorum praemissorum diligenter intendatis Et ad certos dies loca quae vos vel aliqui duo vel plures vestrū vt praedict ' est ad hoc prouideritis super praemissis faciatis inquisitiones premissa omnia singula audiatis terminetis ac ea faciatis expleatis in forma praedicta factur̄ in de quod ad Iusticiam pertinet secundū legem consuetudinem Regni nr̄i Angliae saluis nobis amerciamentis alijs ad nos inde spectantibus 69 And though there be many other offences mentioned in the said commission which the Iustices of peace are by force of the said Commission to enquire of heare and determine and to punish the offendors therin according to the lawes and Statutes of the Realme Yet as it appeareth by the words of the said commission the same hath his chiefe care and respect of the peace to the preseruation thereof And to the intent that the said Iustices or commissioners should the better remember and respect their charge and dutie they are called Iustices or commissioners of the peace and not commissioners of justice of conscience or equitie c. And so their names together with their offices and duties be in a sort written in their foreheads And the restraining or punishment of all the other offences mencioned in the said
of Iust nothing was attempted but the reformation of the mans conditions and to haue the peace and good behauiour continued The suertie of good abearing in other cases then for the peace And though this suerty of good abearing is chiefely prouided for the continuance of the peace yet by force of seuerall Statutes it is also grauntable in some other cases St. 10. E. â— 3 As if the King do graunt to any person a charter of pardon of any felony then he shall come within thrée Monthes before the Shirife and Coronors of the same Countie where the felony was done finde sixe sufficient Mainpernours for whom the said Shirife and Coronors will answere that he from thenceforth shall beare him selfe well and lawfully Sta. 1. M. 3 And if any man disturbe a Preacher in his Sermon he shall be bound to his good abearing for one yeare St. 3. Iac. 19. 5. El. 21. And he shall be bound to his good abearing for seauen yeares who doth vnlawfully hunt and steale deare or conies or take away wrongfully any haukes or haukes egges or shall vnlawfullie distroy or breake the head or damme of any pond poole moate stagne or stew whereas fish are put or shall wrongfully fish in any of them to the intent to steale or take away any of them against the will of the owner or possessor of the same not hauing lawfull authoritie so to doe And he shall be bound with two sufficient suerties in CC. Sta. 23. El. 1. l. to the good behauiour which doth absent himselfe from the Church by the space of twelue moneths c. 71 Because it appeareth by the words of the foresaid commission of peace that the said Iustices of peace shal cause al those to finde suerty of peace which doe threaten any of the Kings people to hurt them in body or to burne their houses For whom against whom the suertie of peace is to be graunted Therefore all lay persons vnder the degrée of Lords or Péers of the Realme and also Ecclesiasticall persons if they be not attendant vpon diuine seruice may be arrested to finde suerty for the peace And if the husband do threaten to kill his wife or outragiously to beate her or that she hath any notorious cause to feare that he will doe so Fitz. Nat. Bre. 80. 239. she may demaund the suertie of the peace against him and she shall haue it graunted And in like sort and for the like causes may the husband demaund suertie of the peace against his wife in which case shée her selfe shall not be bound but others shal be bound for her And a Iustice of peace vpon his owne discretion may in either of the foresaid cases grant suertie of peace And one Iustice of peace may vpon his owne discretion or at the request of an other graunt the suertie of peace against an other of his felow Iustices of peace of the same county And one Iustice of peace may demaund suertie of peace of an other of his fellow Iustices against an other man A man attainted of Treason or Felony or in a Praemunire A man attainted An Heretike A Dumb man An Enfant A Villeine or abiured or conuict of Heresie a dumbe man or an Enfant within the age of xiiij yeares may demaund ought vpon cause to haue suertie of peace And so may a Villeine haue suertie of peace against his Lord least that his Lord should maihem him the Lord may haue suertie of peace against his villein A dumbe man or an Enfant aboue the age of xiiij yeare may also be inforced to find suerties for the kéeping of the peace but then themselues are not to be bound but some others for them Or else they must be committed to prison vntill they can find suerties A Iustice of peace cannot graunt suertie of peace against a Baron of the Realme nor any other aboue the degrée of a Baron A Baron But the party who would haue the peace against him must bring him by Subpoena into the Chauncerie Fitzh Subpoena 20. there he must be bound to the peace A man that is frantike shall not haue the suertie of peace of his owne demaund A mad man because he hath not discretion to request it But a Iustice of peace vpon his own discretion may bind an other to kéepe the peace against him if he sée cause thereof Neither shall he who is a Alien borne no Denizen An Alien nor in friendship with the King the Realme haue suertie of peace graunted him 17. Ed. 4. 4. 72 If a man do threaten an other to imprison him the partie threatned shall not haue the suertie of peace against him that did so menace him Vpon what cause the suertie of peace is to be graunted for that after he is imprisoned he may haue against the other a Homine replegiando or an action of false imprisonment and recouer damages so be recompenced for his imprisonment But if one man do threaten an other to beate him the partie threatned may haue the suertie of peace against him for that beating may tend to the maiheming or killing of him which the suertie of peace might haue preuented If a man do feare that an other will kill him maihem him hurt him in bodie or burne his house or procure or cause the same to be done and will come before a Iustice of peace Fitz. Na. B. 79. take his corporall oath to that effect the Iustice of peace is to graunt him the suertie of peace against the man complained of for that may satisfie the conscience of the said Iustice that the partie doth complaine vpon méere feare and not vpon malice or vexation And though the partie against whom the peace is demaunded may séeme to the Iustice of peace to be a simple person weake féeble impotent or far vnable to incounter by force and strength with him that demaundeth the suertie of peace yet he may procure or cause the other to be slaine maihemed beaten or his house to be burned And further if the party that doth complaine and desiâ—eth the suertie of peace will sweare that he doth feare where indéed he neither doth feare nor hath cause of feare yet his oath doth therein discharge the conscience and oath of the Iustice of peace And the whole fault if any be shall be iustly imputed to the complainor 73 And whereas the words of the kings Commission be Suertie of peace inioyned by word or writing That the said Iustices of peace shal cause all those to find suertie of peace which do threaten any of the kings people to hurt them in bodie or to burne their houses It is to be obserued that in some cases a Iustice of peace may by his owne word only cause suertie of peace to be found sometime he must do it by writing As if one man do in the presence hearing
other case the partie yet the King can in neither of the said cases releas it vntill it be forfeited for the mischiefe that may come to A. thereby though the Recognizance be taken domino Regi for that it is not a debt vnto him vntill it be forfeited But being forfeited then the King and none other may releas pardon the forfeiture And in the cases aforesaid though the Iust of peace or the party may releas the suertie of the peace Buck. The Iustices release of the peace yet the Recognizance before taken for the suertie of the peace must not be cancelled least the peace was broken before the releas made so the Recognizance was forfeited And the forme of the Iustice of peace releas of the peace is this Ego p̄fatus Paulus Risley armiger vnus Iusticiariorū dn̄i Regis nunc ad pacem in Com̄p̄dictur conseruādam assignatur qui S. T. de Preston ad securitatē pacis inueniendam mea discretione compuli eandem securitatem pacis quantū in me est in mea discretione 10. die Maij An̄ 5. Reg. Iac. c. remisi relaxaui Dat' apud Chetwood c. And the forme of the release of the party before the same Iustice that tooke the Recognizance of the peace is this Memorandum quod 10. die Iulij Anno 5. The parties release of the peace Regis Iacobi c. A. B. venit coram me Francisco Cheney Milite vno Iusticiariorum dom̄ Regis nunc ad pacem c. gratis remisit relaxauit quantum in se est praedictam securitatem pacis per ipsum versus supranominatum S. T. petitam In cuius rei testimonium ego p̄fatus F. C. c. Datur apud Chessam Bois c. And in like sort the Iustice or Iustices of peace may doe which tooke suretie for the good abearing if they sée cause 83 The peace or good abearing is broken Causes of the breach of the peace or good abearing the Recognisance taken for the kéeping of the same is forfeited by violent extreame malicious and vnlawfull menacings assaults affrayes batteries strikings or imprisonments as if a man bound to the Peace doe wrongfully and malitiously menace assault beat or imprison another or doe forcibly thrust him into a riuer well or pond whereby he is in danger of drowning or doe rauish a woman against her will or doe commit manslaughter burglarie or robberie or treason against the person of the King Br. peace 20 And if a man be bound to the peace after he doth procure another to breake the peace this is a cause of forfeiture of his recognizance taken for the surety of the peace for that the peace is broken by his meanes 18. Ed. 4. 28. And if one be bound to the peace after doe menace I. S. to his face in his presence to kill or beate him this is a breach of the peace But if I. S. be absent when he is menaced then is it no breach of the peace vnles the same partie doe according to his menace lie in waight to kill or beate I. S. for then also it is a breach of the peace 22. Ed. 4. 35. And though the suertie of the peace be not broken without fighting 2. H. 7. 2. beating imprisoning or extremity of menacing yet the suertie of good abearing may be forfeited by the extraordinary number of people 10. H. 7. 12. that the partie bound hath attending vpon him or by his wearing of harneis or other weapons more then before he hath vsually done or be méete for his degrée or estate or by vsing of rigorous or terrible words or threatenings tending or inciting to the breach of the peace or indemeaning himselfe in his behauiour company or gesture or doing of any thing which shall tend to the breach of the peace or to put the people in dread or feare 84 As the wisdome of the Realme hath ordained Iustices of peace to be preseruors of the peace and men wholy or specially deuoted assigned to that office So hath she made choice of other magistrates who with their other offices haue the conseruation of the peace annexed to their charges as a thing incident or inseperable from their other functions and goe continually lincked arme in arme with them As euery Shirife in his County euery Coroner The Shirife Constable c. conseruators of the peace high constable of any lath-rape wapentake hundred or fraunchise and euery petit Constable Borshoulder Tithingman Headborough Boroughhead Thirdborough and chiefe pledge in euery Towne Village hamlet is within his limits and the precincts of his authoritie a conseruator of the peace And so is the Steward in euery Léete and view of franck pledge the Steward of euery Court of Pipowders a conseruator of the peace and if an affray be made in their presence sitting in their Court each of them may commit the offendors to prison And they all are in dutie first to bend their care foresight to preuent the breach of the peace next to imploy both their owne valor and strength to commaund the helpe force of others to pacifie those who by word or déed are in breaking of the peace And thirdly to punish those who haue broken the peace according to the law St. 5. F. 3. 14. And therefore any of the officers aforesaid may take and arrest suspected persons which walke in the night and sléepe in the day and carrie them before a Iustice of peace to finde suerties of their good behauiour Sta. 13. E. 1. And if any be taken by watchmen in the night watch that is suspected of euill behauiour they may take him and imprison him vntill he be deliuered by the ordinarie course of law And if any doe goe or ride armed by day or night in fayers or markets or other places sauing the Kings seruants in his presence or in executing of his precepts or such as doe pursue huy and cry where offences be done any of the same officers may take their armor from them to the Kings vse and commit them to the gaole And if any assemblies Rout or rumor shall be begun St. 17. R 2. 8 the Shirifes and other the Kings officers shall take the power of the County and disperse them and shall commit the offendors to prison vntill they be duely punished according to the law And if any do threaten to kill maihem or beate an other or doe attempt or goe about to doe it then any of the said officers may arrest the offendor to come before a Iustice of peace to finde suertie for the kéeping of the peace or els the same officer may commit him to prison 1. H. 7. 7. And if either of the said officers shal perceiue any other in his presence to be in breaking of the peace eyther dy drawing of their weapons or by assaulting or striking one of an other or by assaulting
the said Chauncellor for the King or any other against any person for any misbehauing by vnlawfull maintenances giuing of liueries signes and tokens retainers by Indentures oathes writings or otherwise embracery of the Kings subiects vntrue demeanings of Shirifes in making of pannels and other vntrue returnes by taking of money by iniuries by great Riots and vnlawfull assemblies haue authority to cal before them by writ or by priuy seale the said misdooers and they and other by their discretion by whom the truth may be knowne to examine and such as they finde therein defectiue to punish them according to their demerits after the forme and effect of the Statutes thereof made in like manner and forme as they should or ought to be punished if they were thereof conuict after the due order of the law And though the Iustices of peace doe assesse a fine in the Country vpon some that haue committed a Riot there yet the Lords in the Starre chamber may assesse vpon the said offendrs for the same Riot a greater penalty if they sée cause for in this case the offendors be not twice punished for one offence but part of the due punishment is inflicted at one time and part at another And the Lords doe sufficiently punish an offence which was but remisly done by the Iustices 3 A Riot is where thrée persons or aboue do assemble themselues together to the intent to beate or maihem a man to pul downe a house wall pale What is a Riot hedge or ditch wrongfully to claime or take common or way in a ground to destroy any parke warren douehouse pond poole barne mill or stacke of corne or to doe any other vnlawfull act with force and violence and against the peace and they doe it If a man goe abroade with his houshold seruants which he hath commonly of his owne familie though they be more then his abilitie or degrée is to maintaine and doth make a fray by the way this is no Riot vnlesse the Master did before make his seruants priuy that hée meant to make an affray for it is no riot except there be an intent before to doe some violence and hurt If thrée foure or more doe enter into landes with force vppon the possession of an other though their entrie be lawfull yet is it a Riot St. 5. R. 2. 7. for the Statute of Anno 5. Richard 2. doth prohibite entrie into Landes and Tenements with force or a multitude of people 4 An vnlawfull assembly is where thrée persons or aboue What is an vnlawfull assembly doe assemble themselues together to the intent to doe any of the Actes aforesaide or any other such vnlawfull act with force and violence against the Peace although they doe it not indéede but after their assemblie they departe by their owne consent vpon some feare conceiued or other cause without dooing of any outrage for their intent of assembling was vnlawfull though the act subsequent did not ensue according to the same 5 A Route is where thrée persons or aboue doe assemble themselues What is a Rout. for the reuenge of their owne common quarrell As if the Inhabitants of a Towne doe assemble together to pull downe a house wall pale ditch or other inclosure of a parke pasture or close or the head of a poole where they wrongfully pretend to haue title of common or a way or to beate or maihem one man or more that haue done to them all some publike offence If they once méete 17. Ed. 4. 4 procéede and goe forward towardes the execution of any of the Actes aforesaide and doe shew by Armour Gesture or Spéech that they meane to doe any violence or to terrifie or feare any of the Kings people it is a Rout whether they put their intended purpose in execution or not But if a Maior and Aldermen or Bayliffe and Burgesses or the fellowes of any societie doe assemble in their common quarrell and make a Riot Rout or Vnlawfull assembly this shall be punished in their owne priuate naturall persons and not in the body politike for it was their priuate persons that assembled to offend the Lawe and not the bodie politike If a man goe to the Sessions Market Faire Rout by wearing of Armour or other assemblie of company with his seruants in Harnesse though he hath no intent to fight or to commit any Riot yet this is a Rout by the manner of his comming and is contrary to the Statute of 2. St. 2. Ed. 3. 3 Edw. 3. which hath ordained That no man shall bring any force in affray of the peace nor shall go armed in faires markets or elsewhere vpon paine of imprisonment and forfeiture of his Armour Lawfull assemblies of thrée persons or more 6 An Assembly of thrée persons or more which is not to the terrour of the people nor to doe some Act with force and violence against the peace is not vnlawfull nor prohibited by any of the Statutes before mentioned The watch in London vpon Midsummer night is lawfull and so be such like in other Cities and Townes Assemblies be lawfull that be vsed vppon Maie day to fetch in Maie boughs or floures and so be assemblies at Church-Ales Whitson or Midsummer-Ales Assemblies at the fetching home setting vp or dauncing about a Maie-pole and assemblies at the bayting of a Bull or Beare or at the mowing or making of Dole or Reuell meade and assemblies of Minstrells and their fellowes at certaine places and times of the yéere allowed by old and ancient customes are also lawfull And Assemblies to play at Cardes Tables Bowles Clash Bucklers Wasters halfe Sword Tennis Quoits Cailes or such other games be likewise by the common lawe tollerable though some of the same games be prohibited vpon some penalties by Statute to be vsed by some persons and assemblies to runne at Quintall Sand bagge Base Footeball Stooleball Handball St. 33. H. 8. 9 or such like disports be also lawfull For these assemblies be not made with the intent to breake or disturbe the Peace or to offer violence force or hurt to the person of any but either to trie Actiuity or to increase societie amitie and neighbourly friendship And if in any of the said assemblies any of the parties the same shall make a fray with a stranger that is no Riot neither doth it make the residue of the same company Riotors who came thither for their disports and not to any euill or vnlawfull intent But if any of the same company shall fall out with a stranger or some others of their owne associates and then some of them doe take one parte and some of them another An Assembly lawfully begunne doth end riotously whereby a Riot is committed then so many of both sides as shall take sides and be parties to that quarrell shall be adiudged Riotors but not the residue for the Riot did not take his beginning at the first méeting when they did all
persons at the nomination and by the aduise of the Chauncellor of England And the said Commissioners incontinently shall send into the Chauncery the Enquests and matters before them in this behalfe taken and found Vpon the Cōmission the coronors shal returne the Iury 14 The Coroners of the same Countie for the time being St. 2. H. 5. 8. in which Countie such Riot Assemblie or Rout shall be made shall make the panell vpon the said commission retornable for the time that the Shirife so supposed in default shal remain in his office which Coroners shal return no persons but only such which haue lands c. to the value of x. l. by the yere at the least And also the same coroners shal return vpon euery of the said persons impannelled at the first day when issues be to be lost xx What issues shal be returned vpon the Iurors s. at the least at the second day xl s. at the least at the third day C. s. at the least at euery day after the double at the least which issues so returned because of non-appearance of such persons impanneled shall be forfait to the King and leuiable to his vse And if default be found in the said coronors touching the returne of such persons to be impanneled or touching the returne of such issues as afore is said euery of them shall pay to the Kings vse forty pounds Where the shirife shal return the Iury and not the coronors 15 And if the Shirife so reputed in default be discharged of his office St. 2. H. 5. 8. at the time that such commission shall goe out of the Chauncerie then the new Shirife of the same County his successor mediate or immediate and not the coronors shall make the pannell vpon this commission returnable in manner and forme as the said coronors should doe in time when the Shirife so reputed in default stood in his office And the same Shirife shall incurre like paine of xl li. to the King if any default in him be found touching the returne of other persons by him impannelled which haue not lands tenements or rents to the value of x. li by the yeare or of returning such issues as the said coronors be aboue charged to returne as the said coronors be to lose to the King in this behalfe A writ directed to enquire of a Riot 16 The Chauncellor of England as soone as he may haue knowledge St. 2. H. 5. 8. of such Riot assemblie or Rout shall cause to be sent the Kings writ to the Iustices of peace and to the Shirife or vndershirife of the County where they be so made that they shall put the foresaid Statute of 13. H. 4. in execution vpon the paine contained in the same And though such writ come not to the said Iustices Shirife or vndershirife they shall not be excused of the paine of 100. pounds aforesaid if they make not execution of the said Statute Riots shal be inquired of at the Kings costs 17 The Iustices and other officers aforesaid shall doe their offices at the Kings costs in going tarrying St. 2. H. 5. 8. and returning in dooing their said offices by payment thereof to be made by the Shirife of the same County for the time being by Indentures betwéene him and the said Iustices and other officers aforesaid to be made of the payment aforesaid whereof the said Shirife vpon his accompt in the Exchequer shall haue due allowaunce St. 2. H. 5. 8. 18 Such Riotors attainted of great and haynous Riots The punishment of Riotors shall haue one whole yeares imprisonment at the least without being let out of prison by baile mainprise or in any other manner during the yeare aforesaid and the Riotors attainted of petit Riots shall haue imprisonment as the King and his Councell shall thinke good St. 2. H. 5. 8. 19 The Kings liege people being able to trauaile in the Countie where such Riots assemblies or routs shall be made shal be assistant to the Iustices Each man shall helpe to represse Riots commissioners Shirife or vndershirife of the same County when they shal be reasonably required to ride with the said Iustices Shirife or vndershirife in aide to resist such Riots Routs and assemblies vpon paine of imprisonment and to make fine and ransom to the King St. 2. H. 5. 8. 20 The Bailifes of franchises Bailifes of Franchises shall impannell sufficient people as before vpon paine to loose xl li to the King in case that such sufficient persons may be found within the said franchises Corporat towns hauing Iustices And like ordinances and paines shall hold place and take effect in Cities Boroughs other places and townes enfranchised which haue Iustices of peace within them 21 Forasmuch as in the before rehearsed Statute of 13. H. 4. it is not expressed of what sufficiency the Iurors impannelled by the Shirife to inquire of Riots should be Nor what issues they should lose if they appeare not Nor any mention is made of any punishment the maintenors and embraceors of the Iurors that so shall be impannelled should haue for their misdemeanor A Iury to enquire of Riots if any should be St. 19. H. 7. 13. Therefore by a Statute made Ann̄ 19. H. 7. it was enacted that if any Riot Rout or vnlawfull assemblie be committed within this realme the Shirife hauing a precept directed to him shall returne xxiiij persons dwelling within the Shire where such Riot c. shall be so committed whereof euery of them shal haue lands and Tenements within the same shire to the yearely value of xx s. of Charter land or fréehold or xxvj s. viij d. of copihold or of both aboue all charges for to inquire of the said Riot Rout or vnlawfull assemblie And he shall returne vpon euery person so by him impanelled in issues at the first day xx s. at the second xl s̄ if that they appeare not and be sworne to enquire of the premisses at the first day And if default be found in the Shirife or vndershirife for returning of other persons being not of the same sufficiency or for not returning issues in forme aforesaid then the said Shirife shall forfeit to the King for either twenty pounds St. 19. H. 7. 13. 22 If the said Riot Rout or vnlawful assemblie be not found by the said Iury by reason of any maintenance or embracery of the Iurors Maintenance where by a Riot is not found then the same Iustices and the Shirife or vndershirife beside such certificat that they be bound to make according to the foresaid Statute of 13. H. 4. shall in the same certificat certifie the names of the mainteinors and embraceors in that behalfe if any be with their misdemeanors that they know vpon paine of euery one of the said Iustices and Shirife or vndershirife to forfait xx li. if they haue no reasonable excuse for not certifying of
of the same that first there ought to be awarded a Venire facias against the offendors and if they do not appeare then a Capias for the words of the Statute be if they do not come before the King and his councel or into the Kings Bench at the first precept then another precept shal be deliuered to the Sherife to take the said offendors c. And this proces must be returned before the Kings councell or in the Kings Bench but if there be awarded against the offendors a Subpena or a priuie seale it shall be void St. 13. H. 4. 7 30 Notwithstanding the said Statute of 13. H. 4. The penaltie of C. l. for not executing this Statute hath inflicted a penalty of C. l. vpon the next Iustices of the county where such riot shal be committed if the execution of that Statute be not done yet if other Iustices of the same county do performe that office then the next Iustices shall be excused and the same penaltie shall be saued for the Statute doth wholy or chiefly respect that the offendors shal be arrested or disturbed their offences inquired of recorded and punished and by that meanes the peace preserued for all the Iustices of peace within the commission how farre off soeuer they dwel so that they dwel within the said countie if they haue notice of such a riot rout or vnlawfull assemblie ought to enquire of it to record it and to suppresse it or otherwise they may be fined by the Lords in the Star chamber though the penaltie of one C. l. shal be inflicted onely vpon the two next Iustices for that they are intended most likely and soonest to haue knowledge of it But if the Sherife or Vndersherife should not come to the Iustices béeing sent for to assist the same Iustices and to further the repressing of that riot and the performance of that seruice then all the said Iustices dwelling néere or remote shal be excused of the same penaltie of C. l. or any other for the said statute doth giue him equal authoritie and as it were ioyne him in commission in the copulatiue with them St. 13. H 4. 7. 31 It appeareth by the said stat of 13. H. 4. Trauerse to an Inditement of Riot that if the offendors trespassors do trauerse the matter certified by the Iustices of peace to the King his councell the same certificat and trauerse shal be sent into the K. Bench and there be tried determined according to the law And in like sort if the trespassors offendors do trauerse the matter found by Inquisition before the Iu. of peace in the countie the same Inquisition shal be sent to the Iustices of peace at the next Quarter Sessions of the same countie city borough or towne corporat hauing Iustices of Peace within themselues there the trauerse shal be tried and determined according to the Law the forme of which trauerse taken in a towne corporat is this Alià s scilicet ad Sessionem pacis tentam apud Buckingham in comitatu praedicto die Lune proximo post festum Sancte Trinitatur Anno regni dnÌ„i nrÌ„i Regis Iacobi dei gratur Angliae c. secundo coram Iohanne Nichols generoso Balliuo Burgi parochiae de Buckingham praedicta Francisco Fortescue milite Thoma Denton milite Richardo Ingolsbie milite Willihelmo Androwes milite Roberto Iohnson milite Paulo Risley armigero A trauerse to an InditemeÌ„t of riot Simone Lambard generoso alijs socijs suis Iusticiarijs dicti domini Regis ad pacem in dicto Burgo parochia conseruandam necnon ad diuersas felonias transgressiones alia malefacta in eisdem Burgo parochia perpetrata audienda terminanda assignatis per sacramÌ„ duodecem Iuratorum extitit presentatum Quod A.B.C.D.E.F. de Galcot cum diuersis alijs malefactoribus pacis dicti Domini Regis perturbatoribus modo guerrino arraiati vniti assemblati vicesimo die Maij hora quarta post meridiem eiusdem diei Anno eiusdem domini Regis nunc secundo vi armis viz. baculis gladijs pugionibus falcastris alijs armis tam inuasiuis quam defensiuis apud Prebend-end in Buckingham praedicta clausum cuiusdam L. M. vocatum Bone-hill close illicitè riotosè routosé fregerunt intrauerunt decem carractatas seni ad valenc ' quatuor librarum de bonis catallis dicti L. M. adtunc ibidem iniuste illicite ceperunt asportauerunt contra pacem dicti domini Regis contra formam statuti inde editi prouisi Per quod praeceptum fuit Iohanni Crooke subballiuo quod non omitteret propter aliquam libertatem c. quin venire faceret eosdem A.B.C.D.E.F. ad respondeÌ„dum c. Posteaque scilicet die Lune proximo post festum sancti Michaelis Archang ' anno regni domini Regis nrÌ„i Iacobi secuÌ„do coraÌ„ praefatis Iusticiarijs veneruÌ„t pÌ„dicti A.B.C.D.E.F. in proprijs personis suis habito auditu Indictamenti pÌ„dicti seperatim dicunt quod ipsi non sunt inde culpabiles Et de hoc ponunt se super patriam Et H. I. qui pro domino Rege in hac parte sequitur similiter Ideo veniunt inde Iuratur coram Iusticiarijs dicti dnÌ„i Regis ad pacem in Burgo parochia pÌ„d conseruandam assignatis c. ad Sessionem pacis apud Buck. pÌ„d die Lune proximo post Epiphaniam dnÌ„i tunc proximo futuro teneÌ„dam Et qui c. Ad recog c. Quia tam c. Idem dies datus est tam praefato H. I. qui sequitur ê“ DnÌ„o Rege quam pÌ„fatur A.B.C.D.E.F. Ad quas quidem Sessiones pacis tentas apud Buck. pÌ„d in comÌ„ pÌ„d dicto die Lune proximo post festum Epiphaniae domini Anno regni dicti Regis dnÌ„i nostri Iacobi tertio coram dicto Balliuo dictis F.F.T.D.R.I. socijs suis Iusticiarijs dicti DnÌ„i Regis ad pacem in dict' Burgo parochia conseruandam necnon ad diuersas felonias transgressiones alia malefacta in eodem Burgo parochia perpetrata audienda terminanda assignatis venerunt tam pÌ„fatus H.I. qui pro dnÌ„o Rege in hac parte sequitur quam pÌ„fatur A.B.C.D.E.F. in proprijs personis suis Et Iuratores ê‘ subballiutim Burgi parochie pÌ„d ad hoc impannellatur exacti viz. E.F. Mercer O.P. Draper c. similiter venerunt qui ad veritatur de pÌ„missis dicendam triati iurati dicunt super sacrum suum quod pÌ„d A.B.C.D.E.F. culpabiles sunt eoruÌ„ quilibet culpabilis est de transgressione contemptu riotto pÌ„d in Indictamento pÌ„d superius specificatis modo forma prout superius versus eos supponitur Ideo coÌ„cessuÌ„ est ê‘ curÌ„ ê™ pÌ„d A.B.C.D.E.F. capiantur ad satisfaciendum dicto domino Regi de finibus suis occasione transgressionis contemptus riotti
praedicti Qui quidem A. B. C. D. E. F. adtūc ibid p̄sentes in cur̄ petierūt se ad finē cū dict' dn̄o Rege occasione p̄d admitti Et inde pon̄ se seperatur in miserecordia dn̄i Regis Et assessatur finis eiusd A.B. per Iusticiar̄ p̄d ad 5. li. Et assessatur finis eiusdem C.D. ad 3. li. c. bone legalis monetur Angliae ad opus vsum dicti dn̄i Regis 32 Thogh the laws statutes before rehearsed or mētioned did take sufficiēt order for the inquiring of repressing punishing of such as did cōmit riots routs or vnlawfull assemblies by iij. iiij.v or some small number of persons and then were apprehended or dispersed by the Iustices of Peace the sherife or vndersherife with the help of the countrie when néed required Yet there was no sufficient law deuised to suppresse and punish such as did assemble in great numbers routs and tumults and would in contempt of the law and in rebellious manner put in practise vnlawfull forcible and violent acts and being by authoritie of the same law in calme manner required to the contrary would yet stand at the staues end with the peace of the realme and the iustice of the law and as it were in despite of all gouernment and gouernors procéed in their furie Therfore to continue peace and tranquilitie in the common weale and by a more sharpe corrasiue to bridle or punish so great maladies St. 1. M. 12. by a statute made Anno 1. M. it was enacted Twelue or aboue assembled to change lawes That if any persons to the number of xij or aboue being assembled together shall intend goe about practise or put in vre by force of armes vnlawfully and of their owne authoritie to alter or change any lawes made or established for religion by authoritie of Parliament which stand in force or any other laws or statutes of this realm or any of them the same number being commanded or required by the sherife of the shire or by any Iu. of peace of the same shire or by the mayor sherife I. of peace or by the baylifs of any citie borough or towne corporat where such assemblies shal be vnlawfully had and made by proclamation in the Queens name to retire and repaire to their owne houses and habitations or places frō whence they came and they or any of them notwithstanding such Proclamation shall remaine and make their abode and continue together by the space of one whole houre after such commandement or request made by Proclamation or after that shall willingly in forcible and riotous manner attempt to do or put in vre any thing aboue specified Then as well euery such abode or continuing together as euery such act or offence that after such commandement or request by Proclamation had or made shal be attempted to be done practised or put in vre by any of the persons being of the number aforesaid shal be iudged felonie in all and singular those persons that so shall make their abode or continue together or shall attempt or commit any act And the offendors therein shal be adiudged felons and shall suffer only execution of death as in case of felony St. 1. M. 12. 33 If any persons to the said number of twelue or aboue shall intend Practising to destroy parks ponds conduits goe about practise and put in vre in manner and forme aforesaid to ouerthrowe cut breake cast downe or digge vp the pales hedges ditches or other inclosure of any Parkes or Parke or other grounds or ground inclosed or the bankes of any fish-pond or poole or any conduits for water conduit heads or conduit pipes hauing course of water to the intent that the same or any of them from thenceforth should remaine open not inclosed or voyd Common or way or vnlawfully to haue common or way in the same Parkes or Parke or other groundes or ground inclosed or in any of them or to destroy in manner and forme aforesaid the Deere in any Parks or Parke or any warrens or warren of Conies Destruction of déere conies doue-houses fish Pulling downe houses burning stacks of corne abating of rents or any Doue-houses or any fish in any fish-pond or poole or to pull or cut downe any houses barnes milles or bayes or to burne any stackes of corne or graine or to abate or diminish the rents or yearely value of any mannors lands or tenements or the price of any victuall corne or graine or any other thing vsuall for the sustenance of men being required or commanded by any I. of peace or by the Sherife of the countie or by the mayor bailife or bailifs or other head officers of any citie or towne corporat where such assemblie shall be had by proclamation to bee made in the Quéenes name to retire returne in peaceable maner to their places and houses from whence they came and they or any of them notwithstanding such proclamation shall remaine or make their abode or continue together by the space of one whole houre after such cōmandement or request made by proclamation or after that shall in forcible maner do or put in vre any of those things last before mentioned Then aswell euery such abode or continuing together as euery such act that after such commandement or request by proclamation or request had or made shall be done practised or put in vre by any of the persons being aboue the number of twelue shal be adiudged felonie and the offendors therein shall be adiudged felons and shall suffer only the execution of death as in case of felonie Raising of vnlawfull assemblies by some acts or words 34 If any person or persons vnlawfully and without authority 1. M. 12. by ringing of any bell or bels sounding of any trumpet drumme horne or other instrument whatsoeuer or by fiering of any beacon or by malitious speaking or vttering of any words or making of any outcrie or by setting vp or casting of any bils or bil or writing whatsoeuer or by any other déed or act shall raise or cause to be raised or assembled any persons to the number of twelue or aboue to the intent that the same persons should doe or put in vre any of the things aboue mentioned that the persons to the number of twelue or aboue so raised and assembled after request or commandemēt had or giuen in forme aforesaid shall make their abode or continue together as is aforesaid or vnlawfully and in forcible manner perpetrate doe commit or put in vre any the acts or things abouesaid Then all and singular persons by whose speaking deed act or any other the meanes aboue specified any persons to the number of twelue or aboue shall be raised or assembled for the doing committing or putting in vre of any the acts or things aboue mentioned shal be adiudged for his so speaking or doing a felon shall suffer executiō of death as in
shall be attending vpon the Iustices to go and assist the same Iustices to arrest such offendors vpon paine of imprisonment and to make fine to the King 3 And forasmuch as the said Statute of 15. R. 2. doth not extend to Entries into tenements in peaceable manner and after holden with force nor if the persons which enter with force into any lands or tenements be wholy remoued and departed before the comming of the said Iustices or Iustice Neither is there any paine ordained if the Shirife do not obey the precepts of the Iustices in this behalfe St. 8. H. 6. 9. Therefore by an other Statute made An̄ 8. H. 6. it was ordained that the said former Statutes should be continued and executed And further that where any do make such forcible entrie into lands tenements or other possessions or hold them forcible Holding possession by force after complaint thereof made within the said Countie where such entrie is made to the Iustices of peace or to one of them by the partie grieued that the Iustices or Iustice so warned within a conuenient time cause the said Statute to be executed and that at the costes of the partie so grieued And whether such persons making such Entries be present or gone before the comming of the said Iustices or Iustice presently the same Iustices or Iustice in some good Towne next vnto the tenements so entred or in some other conuenient place according to their discretion shall haue authoritie to inquire by the people of the same Countie aswell of them that made such forcible entries into lands or tenements Feoffement of lands for maintenance as of them which hold the same with force And if it be found before any of them that any doth contrarie to this Statute then the said Iustices or Iustice shall cause the lands or tenements so entred or holden as aforesaid to be reseised and shal put the partie so put out in full possession of the same lands or tenements so entred or holden as before they were entred or holden And if any person after such entrie into lands or tenements holden with force make a feoffement or other discontinuance 〈◊〉 any Lord or other person to haue maintenaunce or to take away and defraud the possessor of his recouerie in any wise if after in an Assise or other action thereof to be taken or pursued before Iustices of Assise or other the Kings Iustices whatsoeuer they be by due inquirie thereof to be taken the same feoffements and discontinuances may be duely proued to be made for maintenance as is aforesaid then such feoffements or other discontinuances so as before made shall be void And if any person be put out or disseised of any lands or tenements in forcible manner or put out peaceablie after holden out with strong hand and armes against the Iustice of peace or after such entry any feoffement or discontinuance in any wise thereof be made An Assise or action of trespas againste disseisour by force to defraude take away the right of the possessor the party greiued in this behalfe shall haue an Assise of Nouel disseisin or a writ of Trespas against such disseisor And if the party grieued recouer by Assise or by action of Trespas and it be found by verdict or in any other manner by due forme of the Law that the partie defendant entred with force into the lands tenements or them after his entrie did hold with force then the plaintife shall recouer treble dammages against the defendant and moreouer the defendant shall make fine and ransome to the King The authority of officers of Cities and Townes enfranchised And the Maiors Iustices and Iustice of peace Shirifes and Bailifes of Cities and Boroughes hauing fraunchise shall haue in the said Cities Townes Boroughes like authoritie to auoid such Entries and in other articles aforesaid rising within the same as Iustices of peace and Shirifes in Counties and Shires haue 4 As by the foresaid Statute of 8. H. 6. if any person after entrie into lands or tenements holden with force shal make any feoffement or other discontinuance thereof to any Lord or other person to haue maintenance or to defraud the possessor of his recouery then the same feoffements discontinuances shall be void So by an other Statute made before that Anno 4. H. 4. St. 4. H. 4. 8. it was inacted A speciall Assise against a disseisor with force That if any man in his owne right to his vse or in an other mans right to his vse doth make any forcible entrie into an other mans lands by way of maintenaunce or doth take or carry away any goods of the possessors of the fréehold after any such forcible entrie then if the partie grieued or other lawfull man will affirme that the entry was made in such forcible manner the Chancellor of England may graunt to the partie greiued a speciall Assise And if the disseisor be attainted of such forcible disseisin he shall be one yeare imprisoned and pay to the partie grieued his double dammages and also dammages for his goods And one of the Iustices of the one Bench or of the other or the chiefe Baron of the Exchequer if he be learned in the law shall be named in euery such speciall Assise And no Supersedeas shal be granted to the contrarie of such Assise 5 Wherefore if a man be disseised by force of any lands or tenements by way of maintenance or that his goods be taken or carried away after such entrie made Or that he be put out or disseised of his lands in forcible manner Or that he be put out peaceablie and after holden out with force against a Iustice of peace Or after such entrie any feoffement or discontinuance be made to defraud and take away the right of the possessor then the partie grieued as his case requireth may haue a speciall Assise against the disseisor and recouer his double dammages Seuerall remedies for seuerall offences by force and dammages for his goods and the disseisor shall be one yeare imprisoned according to the foresaid Statute of 4. H. 4. St. 4. H. 4. 8. Or else he may haue an Assise of Nouel disseisin or an action of Trespas against the disseisor and recouer treble dammages and moreouer the disseisor shall make fine and ransom to the King according to the before rehearsed Statute of 8. H. 6. St. 8. H. 6. 9. Or if the plaintife will omit the benefit of recouerie of his dammages he may only craue and vse the assistance of a Iustice of peace to sée and remoue the force to record it to inquire of it and to make him restitution according as the truth of his case shall appeare to the said Iustice vpon his owne sight or be found by inquisition according to the former prouision of the said Statute of 8. H. 6. Or lastly he that is put out or holden out of his lands with force
breue nobis remittentes Teste c. S. Manasse c. 7. When the Shirife or Iustice or Iustices of peace to whom the foresaid writ is directed hath caused thrée proclamations to be made according to the purport of the said writ then he or they may enter and make search in the house houses or place suspected and search whether there bee any force of armour or weapons worne borne or vsed against the said proclamation or otherwise he is warranted by the said writ to inquire thereof by a Iurie And if any such armour or weapons be found he must imprison the offendors and seise and praise their armour and weapons so found with them to the Kings vse And if vpon the proclamation they doe depart in peaceable manner then he hath no warrant by the writ to commit them to prison But by this writ the Shirife or Iustices haue onely authority to remoue the force but not to put the party expelled in possession againe What shal be said to be force 29 Because I haue written of force forcible entry and forcible detaining of possession it is conuenient that I should somewhat declare what the law doth accompt to be force and what acts and in what manner done to be forcible This forcible entry or forcible detaining of possession which the statutes before rehearsed do prohibite must be done with some weapons either offēsiue or defensiue as with swords bucklers pykes iauelines bills clubs pitchforkes staues halberts bowes arrowes crossebowes gunnes harneys casting of stones or blocks pouring of hot coales scalding water or lead or with any other thing wherewith one man may hurt the person of another Force by number of seruants And further if a man doth enter vpon the possession of another 10. H. 7. 11. or doth kéepe a possession taken with more seruants or attendants then he doth cōmonly maintaine it is force and it shal be adiudged in him a forcible entry or a forcible detaining of possession And so it is if diuers do come with bowes bills gunnes or other weapons to a ground or to a house and enter without the disturbance of any this is an entry by force for the words of the statute of 5. R. 2. be Sta. 5. R. 2. 7 That none shall enter with multitude of people but only in a peaceable manner And in like sort if a man doe enter peaceably into a house Force by nūber of weapōs and after doth bring into the same more weapons then he and his ordinary family do commonly vsually weare besides those weapons that he doth find in the house whereof hée must make no vse to defend his possession it is a forcible detaining of possession And moreouer if complaint be made to a Iustice of peace that one hath entred forcibly into a house and doth detaine the same with force and the said Iustice of peace doth goe thither and findeth the dores shut and him or those within denying him to enter this is a detayning of possession with force though there be no weapon shewed or vsed and though there be but one person within the house for in this case the offendor doth vse the dore as his buckler to keepe the possession If the Iustice of peace doe find in the house any great number of people or any persons in harneis or hauing harneis lying by them this is a detainer with force Wherefore in all the cases aforesaid the Iustice of peace may take the power of the County breake open the dores commit the offendors to prison 11. Ass p. 25 And if a man do mowe reape sheare or sickle corne or grasse or by such other labor which cannot be done without the hands of man wherunto he hath no title this shal be adiudged an entry disseisin with force If a man do kéepe his beasts by force in another mās seueral ground 27. Ass p. 30 claiming common therein whereas he hath no common there this is a disseisin of the land by force 30. Ass p. 50 And if a man do enter into the possession of another mans land and after doth fell or lop wood there this is a disseisin by force If a man do enter into another mans house or land 11. H. 4. 16. disseise or expel him thereof after doth carry away certaine goods of the disseisées this is a disseisin with force arms and the disseisor shal be imprisoned for it 16. Assis p. 7. 14. Ass p. 18. 12. H. 4. 22. 22. Ass p. 33. 30 A woman couert may commit a disseisin with force Who may cōmit a forcible entry and be imprisoned therfore and so may an infant of the age of 18. yéeres or aboue commit a disseisin by force be imprisoned But if he be of tender age he shal not be adiudged a disseisor with force nor be imprisoned 31 Though force being opposed against the law What force is lawfull to the persons of mē is a professed enemy to the peace of the Realme yet being vsed in the maintenance of the law it is a principall protector of the same peace for the law doth put the sword of iustice into the kings hand to protect himselfe and euery of his subiects from the violēce and oppression of others and to relieue each one that hath iust cause of complaint and thereby to yeeld him peace Wherefore force is to be resembled to fire which being abused may consume the whole house and being wel guided is a meane to yeeld sustenance and comfort to euery person therein And so force may be lawfully vsed by all the kings Officers Ministers and Subiects thereunto deputed with the helpe of all others to assist them when need shall require to execute or aduance iustice or the iudgements of the Law It is lawfull force wherby all offendors in Treason Felony other great crimes be apprehended 7. E. 8. 16. caried to prison brought to their answers receiue condigne punishments inflicted vpon them for their offences It is lawful force wherby the Shirife his Vndershirife Baylifes or Deputies doe with strength apprehend any person by vertue of the kings writs to answere or satisfie the purport of the same writs St. 8. H. 6. 9. It is lawfull force whereby Iustices of peace doe remoue those vnlawfull Entries or vnlawfull detainings of possession which one man doth make into another mans land contrary to the Laws and Statutes abouesaid and whereby they doe put him againe in possession who was wrongfully disseised or expelled thereof And it is lawfull force which Iustices of peace Shirifes Coroners Constables Tithingmen Headboroughes Boroughholders al other charged and authorized to preserue the peace together with their assistants deputies or assignées shall vse in apprehending or committing to prison such as doe attempt to disturbe or breake the peace within their iurisdictions or being commanded wil refuse to put in sufficient sureties for the keeping of
the land be seuerall yet their possession touching the profit thereof is ioynt And this Action is founded vpon the possession And whereas both the Statute of 1. H. 5. and 5. Eliz. doe ordaine that the partie and parties grieued shall and may at his and their pleasure haue and sue this Action of forger of false déedes in this case both the Ioyntenants and tenants in common be the parties grieued for that their land is molested troubled recouered or charged by this forged déed Fitzh Forger 5. But if there be two Ioyntenants or tenants in common of certaine land and one of them doth forge a false Release or other Déede whereby the whole land is intended to be conueied to himselfe in this case the other Ioyntenant or c. may haue an Action of forger of false déeds against his said ioyntenant or c. for that forged and false déede was made to the intent that the right or title of the forgers companion in estate should be molested troubled defeated or recouered And in this case he is the partie grieued to whose onely disherison the said forgery doth trench 21. H. 6. 4. 21 In an Action of forger of false déedes One sealeth a déed by an others commandement the Defendant pleaded that the Plaintife being seised of certaine land did couenant with a stranger to enfeoffe him of the same land whereupon the same stranger came to the defendant being a Clerk and requested him to make a déed of feoffment of the same land which he did and after by the plaintifes commaundement he sealed the same déede and after did reade the déede at the time of the liuerie and seisin which is the same forgerie and proclamation and that was adiudged a good Plea for when the defendant sealed the feoffement by the plaintifes commaundement and in his presence it was the plaintifes owne act and déede and his owne sealing and not the defendants for the plaintife did vse the defendants hand but as his instrument therein as men vnlearned doe vse an other mans hand to helpe or direct them to subscribe their names to a Deede 9. H. 6. 26. 7. H. 6. 34. 22 If the father do forge a déede and after dieth One forgeth and another doth publish and then his sonne doth find the same déede and doth pronounce publish or shew forth in euidence the same déede knowing the same to be false and forged to the intent the estate of fréehold or inheritance of any person of in or to any lands c. should be molested troubled defeated or recouered this is forgerie in the sonne and he shall be punished according to the foresaid Stat. of 5. El. And the same law is if one man do forge a déed or c. and an other man knowing thereof shall publish it to any of the intents aforesaid this is forgerie prohibited by the same statute for the same stat of 5. Eliz. is in the disiunctiue viz. if any person shall forge or publish Forgerie by antedating of a deed 23 If a man doe make a feoffement to one person of certaine land 27. H. 6. 3. and doth deliuer possession therof accordingly and after he doth make a feoffement to another person of the same land bearing date before the first feoffement but doth not deliuer it this last feoffement is not the feoffors déed But yet if hée do publish it to be his déed the first feoffée may haue an action of forger of false déeds against him for when he had made the first feoffement of the land hée then had nothing left in him of the same land And therefore when hée made the second antedated déed of that land it was a false and forged déed and then after publishing pronouncing or shewing it forth to be his déed it was with intent to molest trouble defeat recouer or charge the land of the first and lawfull feoffée and so he is punishable according to the foresaid stat of 5. El. as hée was before by the stat of 1. H. 5. 24 Though the foresaid two statutes of 1. H. 5. and 5. Eliz. were ordained to punish those who should forge any false déed or c. to the intent to molest trouble charge or recouer the right or title of any person in his lands tenements or hereditaments or to the intent that any person should claime any lease for yeares or annuitie or should forge any Obligation Bill obligatorie Release Acquitance or other discharge of any debt account action suit demaund or other thing personall yet was there no prouision in either of them to punish those who should get into their hands any money goods cattels iewels or things of any other persons by colour of a false token or forged or counterfeit letter for the redresse whereof by a statute made anno 33. H. 8. St. 33. H. 8. 1 it was enacted That if any person or persons of what estate or degrée soeuer hee or they be Getting of other mens goods by counterfeit tokens or letters shall falsely and deceitfully obtaine or get into his or their hands or possession any money goods cattels iewels or other things of any other person or persons by colour or means of any false tokē or counterfeit letter made in another mans name that then euerie such person persons so offending being thereof lawfully conuict by witnesses taken before the L. Chauncelor of England for the time being or by examination of witnesses or confession taken in the Star chamber before the K. honorable Counsel or before the Iust of Assise in their circuits for the time being or before the Iust of peace within any part of the K. dominions in their generall Sessions or by action in any of the K. courts of record shal haue suffer such correction punishment by imprisonment of his body setting vpō the pillorie or otherwise by any corporal pain except pain of death as shal be vnto him or them limited adiudged or appointed by the person and persons before whom he shal be so conuicted of the said offences or any of them Suspected persons called before the Iustices 25 As wel the Iust of Assise for the time being as also ij St. 33. H. 8. 1 Iust of peace in euerie countie whereof one to be of the Quorū shal haue power authoritie to call and conuent by proces otherwise to the said Assises or generall sessions any person or persons being suspected of any of the aforesaid offences to cōmit him or thē toward or to let him or thē to baile vntil the next Assises or general sessiōs there to be examined and further to be ordered by their discretions as is abouesayd Prouided alwayes that the Iustices of peace within euerie Citie Borough Towne and Franchise within this Realme or other the kings dominions shall haue like iurisdiction power and authoritie at their generall Sessions and otherwise to do and execute all and euerie
thing and things in all points as other Iustices of Assise in their circuits or Iustices of peace in the Counties by vertue of this Act be limited and appointed to do and execute for the punishment and correction of like offendors as beforesaid is limited Sauing to the partie grieued by such deceit such remedie by way of action The remedie of the partie grieued or otherwise of for the same money goods cattels iewels or other things so obtained as he might haue had if this Act had neuer bin made Any thing in this Act c. notwithstanding 26 Forgerie of writings hath béene alwayes so hatefull in this realme that our law-makers haue pursued the practisers therof with sharpe and bitter punishment though in some cases the same was not put in vse to molest or euict any man of his land lease annuitie debt account action suit or other demaund nor to get into his hands any others goods cattels or iewels but only to escape the ordinance and censure of the law As by a statute made anno 5. Eliz. it is established St. 5. El. 7. That no person retained in husbandry or in certain inferior arts or faculties in the said statute mentioned shal depart out of one citie towne or parish into another nor out of the Lathe Rape Wapentake or Hundred nor out of the County or Shire where he last serued to serue in another Citie Towne Forging of a testimoniall c. vnlesse he haue a Testimoniall of the said Citie or town corporat from whence he departed or of the Constable or other officer c. And if any such person shall be taken with any counterfeit or forged testimoniall then he shal be whipped as a vagabond ⧠Periurie Subornation of witnesses Truth tried by the othes of men 1 THe Law of the Realme desirous to trie out truth in all causes called in question before her to the end she might procéed in iudgement and execute iustice accordingly hath in all ages prooued it to bee the best meanes to search out this truth by the othes of honest lawful and indifferent persons intending that the man who doth professe God to bee his Creator Redéemer and Sanctifier and hopeth to be saued by his blood when hee doth come in the presence of that God and his people and doth aduisely sweare that he will declare the trueth according to his knowledge in that matter in question as God shall help him which is to say as he will expect the blessing of God in this life and eternall saluation in the life to come is void of all partialitie and priuat affection in all respects to be credited and will tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth And therefore an othe is aptly termed Sacramentum a holy band or sacred tie or godly vow The credit of an othe some do call it firmamētum veritatis the foundation ground of truth and some other vinculum pacis a meane of the knot or lincke of peace And if it be taken and found by a whole Iurie consisting vpon twelue persons or aboue it is called veredictum viz. a presentment of truth And others doe hold it a ceremonie instituted by God wherein himselfe is a partie and therefore he will see it verified or sharply punished Wée know that the proofe of most of our acts déeds and writings doe depend vpon the othes of others and whatsoeuer men do for their owne particular account most certaine is altogether in most cases vncertaine vnlesse it may be iustified by the othes of others As if one doe commit murder rape burglarie robberie or other offence whatsoeuer and it be denied and cannot be prooued by the othe of some other the offendor shall escape vnpunished for it And likewise if a man do buy land of another if the feoffor doe make him a déed of feoffement thereof do seale and deliuer it and giue him possession and after will denie it vnlesse it can be prooued by the othe of some other the feoffée shall loose his land and money And so it is of leases annuities releases acquitances obligations bargaines contracts couenants promises offences entries disseisins and other matters in fait if they be denied trauersed and called in question the proof and validitie of them doth depend wholly vpon the othes and testimonie of others And there is no case so plaine which commeth in question betweene partie and partie but one of the parties to the sute may pleade such a plea as shall come to be tried by the othes of others 2 Therefore as the Lawe doth reuerently respect the othes of men What sorts of persons are to be deposed taketh her intelligence of matters in fait from them doth cleaue leane vnto them and giueth such credite and approbation vnto them that shée doth found and build her iudgements in most cases of greatest importance vpon them So shée retaineth a vigilant and carefull eye that those othes be taken by men of sinceritie of life and maturitie of iudgement persons not stained with Periurie or other gréeuous or foule offences men indifferently affected and such as will in swearing respect the trueth of their knowledge and not the face of the person for if shée espie any of those defects in him she doth either wholly reiect his othe or else shée giueth little or no credite vnto it and further inflicteth condigne punishment vpon him according to his desert Mag. Char. 9. H. 3. 29. 3 And because the King himselfe at his Coronation is sworne that iustice shall be solde deferred or denied to no man nor that any man shall be condemned but by lawfull triall and euery of his Iudges be sworne that hée shall doe equall Lawe and execution of iustice to all the Kings Subiects Sta. 18. Ed. 3 rich and poore without hauing regard to any person All the parties to the execution of iustice sworne Therefore the law hath deuised that those Iudges before whome any cause is called in question and is brought to an issue shall be informed of the trueth of that issue by the othes and verdict of twelue Iurors who are impannelled returned and sworne to trie that issue to the end the same Iudges may ground their iudgement thereupon and so doe equall iustice to the parties according to their oathes and also that the saide Iurors shall be ascertained of the veritie of the fact by the Othes of witnesses or other euidences that they may giue their verdict thereupon according to their Othes And séeing those Iurors being the greatest number of persons that be vsually sworne for the furtherance and execution of iustice be returned by the Shiriffe of the Countie where the cause dependeth in question his vndershirife or the Bailife of some Libertie or for some default in them by the Coroners Therefore the Lawe hath further ordained that the saide Shiriffe Vndershiriffe or c. shall be indifferent persons of themselues and also deale vprightly
Iurors to enquire of riots rout or vnlawfull assembly shall be committed which shall be returned by the Sherife to enquire thereof shall haue lands and tenements within the same shire to the yearely value of xx s. of Charter land or freehold or twentie sixe shillings eight pence of copiehold or of both aboue all charges But in that case by the Statute of Anno 2. H 5. St. 2. H. 5. 8. if they be returned by the Coroners then euery of them shall haue lands and tenements or rents to the yearely value of tenne pounds at the least By the Statute of Anno 1. St. 1. R. 3. 4. R. 3. it was enacted That no officer shall returne in any panell to be taken or put in Iurors in the sherifs Turne or vpon any inquisition or inquirie before the Sherife in his Turne other than such which bee of good name and fame and which haue lands or tenements of freehold within the same countie to the yearly value of xx s̄ at the least or else copyhold lands to the yearely value of xxvj s̄ viij d. at the least aboue all charges By the Statute of An̄ 8. H. 6. Sta. 8. H. 6. 9 it was prouided That euery person which shall be returned to inquire of any forcible entrie into lands Iurors to inquire of forcible entrie or detayning of lands by force shall be a sufficient indifferent person and shall haue lands and tenements to the cléere yearely value of xl s̄ By the Statute of An̄ 1. H. 8. it was established Sta. 1. H. 8. 8. That euery Iuror which is returned before any escheator Iurors returned before Escheators or commissioner to inquire of lands or tenements or some other to his vse shall haue lands or tenements of the yearely value of xl s. aboue all charges in the same shire where the inquirie shall be made St. 11. H. 7. 21. 23. H. 8. 3. 37. H. 8. 5. And by the stat made An̄ 11. H. 7. An̄ 23. H. 8. An̄ 37. H. 8. The Iurors returned vpon an attaint in London or els where shal be of more or greater ability in lands tenements goods or cattels then is before specified 16 The law hauing first vsed al good deuises to cause shirifes vndershirifes Bailifes of liberties coroners al others authorized to return impannel Iuries to be indifferent to returne the said Iuries Iurors without al partiality that they shal be no furtherers maintainors nor assistors to periury subornation or embracery also hauing prouided that all those Iurors which be so returned vpon Enquests to try issues betwéen party party may again one by one be sifted tried examined whether they standing vnsworne be indifferent or not She doth then expect to receiue from those Iurors Veredictū a true tale that is to say a true verdit or presentment of such things as be giuen them in charge according to their euidence But if the same Iurors will decline from truth and make a false presentment contrarie to their euidence then is it not to be termed Veredictum but Periurium and it will be returned to them as Maledictum for by the common Law they being attainted by the verdict of xxiiij other Iurors shall receiue a cursed and villanous iudgement therefore viz. the said Iurors shall loose the fréedom of the Law their wiues children shall be thrust out of their houses Fit Ass 396. 46. Ed. 3. 23. 42. Ed. 3. 26 6. Assi◠p. 7. 30. Ass p. 24 40. Ass p. 20. 41. Ass p. 18. Li. Int. fo 92 The iudgement in an at the common law of a Iury proued periured their houses shall be pulled downe to the ground their orchards gardens shall be supplanted their trées shall be digged vp by the roots their meadowes shall be eyred vp All the goods cattels which they had at the time of the Attaint brought or at any time after shal be forfeited to the King The King shall haue all the profits of their lands during their liues And they shall be committed to perpetuall prison Which iudgement was deuised many yeres put in execution to the intent it might be knowen how much the common Law did detest and punish wilfull Periurie and falshood in those who shée trusted in place of justice and from whom shée accompted to receiue truth 17 But sithence by the Statute of An̄ 11. H. 7. and An̄ 23. H. 8. the said iudgement against a petit Iurie attainted is in some cases altered and qualified Sta. 11. H. 7. 21. for by the Statute of 11. H. 7. it is ordained That the party grieued by any false verdict giuen in any of the Courts of the Citie of London shall and may sue Attaint by Bill in the Hustings of London The iudgement in Attaint in London holden for common Pleas before the Maior Aldermen of the same Citie And if the graund Iurie sworne in the same Attaint find that the petit Iurie haue giuen an vntrue verdict then the iudgement shal be against the defendant as is vsed in attaint sued by writ at the common Law And the iudgement shall be against the petit Iurie that euery of them shall loose xx li. or more by the discretion of the Maior and Aldermen of the said Citie kéeping the Hustings to such vses as other issues and penalties béen forfeited in any action or plaint commenced before the Mayor and Aldermen of the said citie and his bodie to bee imprisoned there to remaine without baile or mainprise vj. moneths or lesse by the discretion of the Mayor and Aldermen and to be disabled for euer to be sworn in any Iurie before any temporall Iudge But the iudgement in such Attaint shall not extend to any lands or tenements St. 23. H. 8. 3 An. 13. El. 25. ne to other punishment of the petit Iurie And by the before mentioned Statute of Anno 23. H. 8. it was enacted That vpon euery vntrue verdit giuen betwéene partie and partie in any suit plaint or demaund before any Iustices or Iudges of Record where the thing in demaund and verdict thereupon giuen extendeth to the value of fourtie pounds An attaint where the thing eetendeth to xl l. and concerneth not the ieopardie of mans life the partie grieued by the same verdict shall haue a writ of Attaint against euery person so giuing an vntrue verdict and euery of them and against the partie which shall haue iudgement vpon the same verdict And euery one that shall passe in the same Attaint shall haue lands and tenements to the value of twentie markes by yeare of fréehold out of auncient demesne And if the graund Iurie find that the petit Iurie gaue an vntrue verdict then euery of the said petit Iurie shall forfeit twentie pounds whereof one halfe shall be to the King and the other halfe to him that sueth to be leuied by Capias ad satisfaciendum fieri facias
graine or to abate or diminish the Rents or yearely value of any Mannors Lands or Tenements or the price of any victuals corne or graine or any other thing vsuall for the sustenance of men and béeing required and commaunded by any Iustice of Peace or by the Sherife of the Countie or by the Maior Bailife or Bailifs or other head Officers of any Citie or Towne Corporat where such assembly shall bee had by Proclamation to bée made in the Quéenes name to retire or returne in peaceable manner to their places and houses from whence they came and they or any of them notwithstanding such Proclamation shall remaine or make their abode or continue together by the space of one whole houre after such commaundement or request made by Proclamation or after shall in that forcible manner doe or put in vre any of these things last before mentioned then as well euerie such abode or continuing together as euerie such act that after such commaundement or request by Proclamation had or made shall bée done practised or put in vre by any persons béeing aboue the number of twelue shall bee adiudged Felonie and the offendors therein shall be adiudged Felons and shall suffer onely execution of death as in case of Felonie If any person or persons vnlawfully and without authoritie Raising of vnlawful assemblies by some act or words by ringing of any Bell or Bells sounding of any Trumpet Drumme Horne or other instrument whatsoeuer or by firing of any Beacon or by malitious speaking or vttering of any words or making of any outcrye or by setting vp or casting of any bills or bill or writing whatsoeuer or by any other déed or act shall raise or cause to bée raysed or assembled any persons to the number of twelue or aboue to the intent that the same persons should doe or put in vre any of the acts or things abouesaid and that the persons to the number of twelue or aboue so raysed and assembled after request or commaundement had or giuen in forme aforesayd shall make their abode or continue together as is aforesayd or vnlawfully and in forcible manner perpetrate doe commit or put in vre any of the acts or things abouesayd then all and singular persons by whose speaking déed act or any other the meanes aboue specified any persons to the number of twelue shall bée raysed or assembled for the doing committing or putting in vre any of the acts or things aboue mentioned shall bée adiudged for his so speaking or doing a Felon and shall suffer execution of death as in case of Felonie Reléeuing them which be assembled If any wife or seruant of any of the same persons or any other person whatsoeuer shall willingly and without compulsion bring send deliuer or conuey any Money Harneyes Artillerie Weapons Meat Bread Drinke or other Victuall to any person or persons so being assembled as is aforesayd during such time as hée or they shall bee so assembled together in forcible manner as is aforesaid then euerie wise seruant or other person so bringing or conueying c. any of the foresayd things to the same persons so béeing assembled together in forcible manner or to any of them and not departing to their houses or dwelling places vpon request or commaundement made vnto them as is aforesaid shal be adiudged a felon and shall suffer execution of death as in case of felonie Vnlawful assembly by xl and more If any persons to the number of fortie or more shall assemble together in forcible manner vnlawfully and of their owne authoritie to the intent to execute doe or put in vre any of the things aboue specified or to do other felonious or rebellious act or acts and so shall continue together by the space of thrée houres after Proclamation shall bée made at or nigh the place where they shall bée so assembled or in some Market Towne thereunto next adioyning and after notice thereof to them giuen then euerie person so willingly assembled in forcible maner and so continuing together by the space of thrée houres after such Proclamation made and notice thereof giuen shal be adiudged a felon S. Riots c. 32. c. 32 By the Statute made Anno 39. Eliz. it was enacted St. 39. El. 17 That all idle and wandring Souldiers or Mariners Wandring souldiers and mariners or idle persons which now are or hereafter shall bée wandring as Souldiers or Mariners shall settle themselues in some seruice labour or other lawfull course of life without wandring or otherwise repaire to the places where they were borne or to their dwelling places if they haue any and there remaine betaking themselues to some lawfull trade or course of life vpon payne that all persons offending contrarie to this Act to bée reputed as Felons and to suffer as in case of Felonie without any benefit of Cleargie to bee allowed And euerie idle and wandring Souldier or Mariner which comming from his Captaine from the Seas or from beyond the Seas shall not haue a Testimoniall vnder the hand of some one Iustice of Peace of or néere the place where hee landed setting downe therein the place and time where and when hée landed and the place of his dwelling or birth vnto which he is to passe as aforesaid and a conuenient time therein limited for his passage or hauing such testimoniall shall wilfully excéed the time therein limited aboue fouretéene dayes And also as well euerie such idle and wandring Souldier or Mariner as euerie other idle person wandring as a Souldier or Mariner which shall at any time hereafter forge or counterfeit any such Testimoniall Forging a Testimoniall or haue with him or them any such Testimoniall forged or counterfeited as aforesayd knowing the same to bée counterfeited or forged in all these cases euerie such act or acts to bée Felonie and the offendors to suffer as aforesayd without any benefit of Clergie It shall and may bée lawfull for the Iustices of Assises Iustices of Gaole deliuerie and Iustices of Peace of euerie Countie and for all Iustices of Peace in Townes Corporat hauing authoritie to heare and determine Felonies to heare and determine all such offences in their generall Sessions and to execute the offendors which shall bée conuicted before them as in cases of Felonie is accustomed Except some honest person Retaining an offendor into seruice valued at the last Subsidie next before that time to tenne pounds in goods or fortie shillings in lands or else some honest Freeholder as by the sayd Iustices shall bee allowed will bee contented before such Iustices as such person shall bee arraigned of Felonie to take him or them into his seruice for one whole yeare then next following and before the sayd Iustices will bee bound in Recognisaunce of tenne pounds to bee leuied of his lands goods tenements and cattels to the vse of the King if hée kéepe not the sayd person or persons for one whole yeare and bring him
to the next Sessions for the Peace and Gaole deliuerie next ensuing after the sayd yeare And if any such person retained depart within the yeare Departing without licēce without the licence of him that so retained him then to be indicted tried and iudged as a felon and not to haue the benefit of his Clergie 33 By a Statute made Anno 31. Elizab. St. 31. El. 4. it was established Imbeciling the K. Armor c. That if any person or persons hauing at any time hereafter the charge or custodie of any Armour Ordnance Munition Shot Powder or Habiliments of Warre of the Quéenes her heires or successors or of a Victuals prouided for the victualing of any Souldiers Gunners Mariners or Pioners shall for any lucre or gaine or wittingly aduisedly and of purpose to hinder or impeach her Maiesties seruice imbecile purloyne or conuey away any the same Armour Ordnance Munition Shot or Powder Habiliments of Warre or Victuals to the value of twentie shillings at one or seuerall times then euerie such offence shall bée adiudged Felonie and the offendor and offendors therein to be tried procéeded on and suffer as in case of Felonie The suit within a yere after the offence But none shall bée impeached for any offence against this Statute vnlesse the same impeachment bée prosecuted or begun within a yeare next after the offence done And this Act nor any attainder or attainders of any person or persons for any offence made felonie by this Act shall in any wise extend or bée interpreted to make the offendor or offendors to forfeit any lands tenements or hereditaments any longer than during his or their life or liues or to make any corruption of blood to any the heire or heires of any such offendor or offendors No corruptiō of blood or forf of dower or to make the wife of any such offendor to loose or forfeit her dower or title of dower of or in any lands tenements or hereditaments or her action or interest to the same Proofe in discharge of the offendor any thing in this Act c. notwithstanding And such person or persons as shall be impeached for any offence made felonie by this Statute shall by vertue of this Act bee receiued and admitted to make any lawfull proofe that hée can by lawfull witnesse or otherwise for his discharge and defence in that behalfe any law c. notwithstanding Cutting downe of Powdike 34 By a Statute made Anno 22. H. 8. and reuiued Anno 2. 3. St. 22. H. 8. Ph. Mar. it was ordained That euerie peruerse and malitious cutting downe and breaking vp of any part or parts of the dike called new Powdike in Marshland in the Countie of Norffolke and the broken dike otherwise called Oldfield dike by Marshland in the isle of Ely in the Countie of Cambridge or of any other banke béeing parcell of the Rinde and vttermost part of the causey of Marshland aforesaid made for the defence and saluation of the sayd countrey of Marshland at euerie time and times from henceforth committed and done otherwise than in working of the sayd bankes or dykes for the fortifying repayring and amending of the same shall bee taken reputed and adiudged Felonie And the offendors and doers of the same and euerie of them shall bée adiudged and reputed felons And the Iustices of Peace of the sayd Counties of Norffolke and Cambridge within the sayd isle at euerie of their Sessions within the same isle and Counties to be kept shall haue power to cause inquirie to bée made of euerie such offence so at any time in forme aforesayd hereafter to bée done and committed and to award like Proces against euerie of the sayd offendors with like iudgement and execution of the same if they or any of them bée found guiltie by verdict or otherwise as the sayd Iustices haue vsed to do vpon other felonies being felonie by the common law Taking the othe for the Kings title 35 By a Statute made Anno 3. Iac. 4. it was enacted St. 3. Iac. 4. That euerie subiect of this Realme that after the tenth day of Iune next comming shall goe or passe out of this Realme to serue any forreine Prince State or Potentate or shall after the sayd tenth day of Iune passe ouer the Seas and there shall voluntarily serue any such forreine Prince State or Potentate not hauing before his or their going or passing taken the othe viz. That our Soueraigne Lord King Iames is lawfull and rightfull King of this Realme c. before the officer thereunto appointed shall be a felon And if any Gentleman or person of high degrée or any person or persons which hath borne or shall beare any office or place of Captaine Lieutenant or any other place charge or office in Campe Armie or Companie of Souldiers or Conductor of Souldiers shall after go or passe voluntarily out of this Realme to serue any such forrein Prince State or Potentat before that he and they shal become bound with two such suerties as shall be allowed of by the officers by this Act limited to take the said bond vnto the K. his heires or successors in the summe of xx.l. of currant English money at the least bound not to be reconciled nor to make conspiracie with condition to the effect following he shall be a felon viz. That if the within bounden c. shal not at any time thē after be recōciled to the pope or sea of Rome nor shal enter into or consent vnto any practise plot or conspiracie whatsoeuer against the Kings Maiestie his heires and successors or any of his or their estate and estates realms and dominions but shall within cōuenient time after knowledge therof had reueale disclose to the K. Maiestie his heires and successors or some of the Lords of his or their priuie Counsell all such practises plots and conspiracies then the said Obligation to be void St. 43. El. 13 36 By the stat made Anno 43. El. it was ordained Forcible carrying any person out of Cumberland c. That whosoeuer shall at any time hereafter without lawfull authoritie take away any of the K. subiects against his or their will or wils and carrie them out of the counties of Cumberland Northumberland Westmerland and the Bishopricke of Durham or to any other place within any of the said Counties or detaine force or imprison him or them as prisoners or against his or their wills to ransome them or to make a prey or spoyle of his or their person or goods vpon deadly fewd or otherwise Or whosoeuer shal be priuie consenting aiding or assisting to any such taking detaining or carrying away of any such person or persons as aforesaid Or whosoeuer shall take receiue or carrie to the vse of himselfe or wittingly to the vse of any other any money corne cattell or other consideration commonly called Blacke mayle for the protecting or defending of him or
a statute made Anno 1. Ed. 4. it was ordained That vpon all Indictments and Presentments which shall bée taken before any of the Shirifes of Counties for the time béeing their Vndershirifes Clerkes Baylifes or Ministers at their Turnes or Law-daies they nor any of them shall haue power or authority to arrest attach or put in prison or to leuy any fines or amerciaments of any person or persons so indicted or presented by reason or colour of any such Indictment or Presentment taken before them or any of them or to leuy or take of any such person or persons so indicted or presented any fine or ransome But the said Shirifes vndershirifes Baylifes or Ministers shall bring present and deliuer all such Indictments and Presentments taken before them or any of them in their Turnes or Law-daies to the Iustices of the Peace Indictments taken in the shirifes Turnt shal be deliuered to the Iu. of peace at their next Session of the Peace which shal be holden in the County or Counties where such indictments and presentments shal be taken And if any of the said Shirifes Vndershirifes Clerkes Baylifes or Ministers doe not bring deliuer or present all such indictments or presentments so taken before them and euery of them in their Turnes or Law-daies as is aforesaid to such Sessions of the peace before the said Iustices then the said Shirifes Vndershirifes Clerkes Baylifes and their Ministers and euery of them which shall faile of the bringing deliuering or presenting of such Indictments or Presentments shal forfeit to the king forty pounds so often as they or any of them shall doe the contrarie And the said Iustices of peace shal haue power and authority to award proces vpon such Indictments and Presentments as the Law doth require Proces vpon Indictments awarded by I. of peace and in such like manner as if the said Indictments and Presentments had bin taken before the said Iustices of Peace in the same County or Counties and also to arraigne and deliuer all person and persons so indicted and presented before the said Shirifes Vndershirife their Clerkes Baylifes or Ministers or any of them in their Turnes or Lawdaies and to set such fine vpon euery person or persons indicted or presented of Trespas as it shall séeme good to their discretions And the Estreats of the same fines and amerciaments shall be inrolled and by Indenture deliuered to the said Shirifes Vndershirifs Clerks or Ministers or to some of them to the vse and profit of him which was shirife of the County at the time of the taking of such indictments or presentments And if any of the said Shirifes Vndershirifes Clerkes Bailifes or ministers shall cause to be arrested attached or put in prison or shall cause to be raised or taken any fine or ransome or leuy any amerciament of any person or persons so indicted or presented by reason or colour of any such indictment or presentment before him taken at his foresaid Turne or Law-day before they haue proces from the said Iustices of Peace or Estreats deliuered out of the said indictments or presentments so brought deliuered or presented vnto them then the shirifes which doe so shall forfeit an hundred pounds wherof the one moitie shal be imployed towards the expences of the kings house and the other to the party or parties that shal be endaÌ„maged And he or they shal haue an action of Debt at the common law and like proces as is vsed in an action of Debt at the common law wherein the defendants shal not be essoined wage their law Indictments in London nor haue any protection But this Ordinance shall not extend or be preiudiciall to the shirifes of the city of London touching indictments or presentments to be taken before them in the said city Neither shall this ordinance extend or be preiudiciall to any person or persons that haue graunt of any fines or other amerciaments by any letters patents of the king or of any of his progenitors or predecessors bearing date before the x. day of December next after the beginning of this Parliament being An. Dom. 1461. B This statute doth giue authority to Iustices of peace to award proces vpon all indictments taken in the shirifes Turne when they be brought and deliuered vnto them But yet it is alwaies intended That those Indictments shal be lawfull The shirife inquiring of things not inâ—uirable in 〈◊〉 Turne and containe matter whereof the Shirife hath iurisdiction in his Turne and power to make inquirie For if the Shirife in his Turne will make inquiry of the statute of Liueries 4. E. 4. 31. 8. E. 4. 5. or indict one who did feloniously rauish a woman or such other matters which be not inquirable in the shirifes Turne although he wil bring the indictments before the Iu. of peace and deliuer them according to the foresaid stat of 1. Ed. 4. yet they ought not to award proces vpon them for they were taken coram non iudice and so void 7 And for that Enquests were sometimes taken without being duly returned by the shirife of such persons as were outlawed before Iustices of Record and of some such as were fled to sanctuary for Felony or Treason to haue refuge by whom sometimes not only offendors were indicted but also seueral of the kings liege people not guilty by the conspiracie abbetment and false practise of others for their owne speciall aduantage and priuat gaine for the auoiding whereof there was a statute made Anno 11. H. 4. which doth enact St. 11. H. 4. 9 That no indictment shal be made by any such persons but by enquests of the kings liege people as it hath bin vsed in the time of the kings progenitors duly returned by shirifes or bailifes of Franchises without any maner of denomination before made to the said shirife or bailifes of Franchises by any person of the names of those who shal be impanelled by him Iurors in indictments shal be returned by the shirife without denomination vnlesse it be by the officers of the said shirifes or bailifes of Franchises knowne or sworne thereunto and other ministers to whom it appertaineth by the law of England to make the same And if any indictment be made in any point to the contrary the same shal be void reuoked and of no force According to this statute some haue béen discharged of their Indictments B. because certaine of the Indictors were before that outlawed of Felony This statute of Anno 11. H. 4. is altered by the next statute of Anno 3. H. 8. for so much onely as doth concerne denomination to be made by the Iustices 11. H. 4. 40. St. 3. H. 8. 12. for the reformation of Panels returned before them by the Shirifes when the said Iustices will haue the same Panels reformed But for all the residue it continueth in force 8 The whole authority of returning of Enquests to make Indictments without the denomination of
any person before made béeing by force of the foresaid statute of 11. H. 4. in shirifes and bailifes of Franchises seuerall great extortions and oppressions were done in diuers Counties of this Realme by subtilty and vntrue demeanor of shirifes and their ministers to many persons by making and returning at euery Sessions holden within the said Counties for the body of the shire names of such persons as for the singular gaine of the said shirifes and bailifes would be wilfully forsworne by the sinister labour of the said shirifes and their ministers By reason whereof by their couin and falsehood many true and substantiall persons were diuers times wrongfully indicted of Murthers Felonies and other misbehauiours to the vtter losse of their liues goods and lands and sometime also by the labor of the said shirifs great Felonies and Murthers were concealed and not presented by the said persons partially returned by the same shirifs or their ministers to the intent to compell the offendors to make fines and giue rewards to the said Shirifes and their ministers For the preuention of which enormities by a stat made Anno 3. H. 8. it was established St. 3. H. 8. 12 That all panels to be returned which bée not at the suit of any party Panels for indictments reformed by the Iustices that shall be made and put in by euery shirife and their ministers before any I. of Gaole deliuery or I. of Peace whereof one to be of the Quorum in their open Sessions to inquire for the king shal be reformed by putting to and taking out of the names of the persons which so be impanelled by euery shirife and their ministers by the discretion of the same Iustices before whom such panels shall be returned And the same Iustice and Iustices shall commaund euery shirife and their ministers in his absence to put other persons in the same panels by their discretions And the same panels so reformed by the said Iustices be good and lawfull And if any shirife or any of their ministers at any time do not returne the same panels so reformed then euery such shirife or minister so offending for euery such offence shall forfeit xx l. the one halfe to the king and the other to him or them that will sue for the same by action of Debt at the common law or Bill c. wherin no W.E. or P. shal be allowed and the kings pardon shall be no barre against the party or parties that shall sue the same 9 It is to be thought that by force of the statutes before rehearsed sufficient honest and indifferent Iurors were returned by the shirifes of Counties or that the Panels by them returned were reformed by the Iustices so that if any defect were committed in Indictments or in concealing of offences or offendors then the same was in the Iury which were charged for the body of the Shire to make inquirie for the searching forth of the truth whereof and for the punishment of the said offendors according to their demerites by a statute made Anno 3. H. 7. it was ordained St. 3. H. 7. 1 That the Iustices of peace of euery Shire of this Realme for the time being may doe to take by their discretion an enquest Enquest to inquire of concealments whereof euery man shall haue Landes and Tenements to the yearely value of forty shillings at the least to inquire of the concealements of other Enquests taken before them and before other of such matters and offences as are to bée inquired and presented before Iustices of Peace whereof complaint shall be made by Bill or Bils as well within Franchise as without and if any such concealement be found of any Enquest had or made within the yeare after the same concealement euery person of the same Enquest shall bée amerced for the same concealements by the discretion of the same Iustices of Peace the said amerciaments to bée assessed in plene Sessions 10 For as much as seuerall persons vpon great grounds of vehement suspitions as well of high Treasons petit Treasons and misprision of Treason as of Murthers were many times sent for from diuers Shires and places of this Realme and other the Kings Dominions to the Kings great charges to be examined before the Kings Councell vpon their offences to the intent that conuiction or declaration of such persons should spéedily ensue as the merits of their cases should require And albeit that after great trauaile taken in the examination of such persons it appeared to the said Councell by confession witnesse or vehement suspect that such persons were rather guilty of such offences whereof they were examined then otherwise yet neuerthelesse such offendors so examined by the course of the common Lawes of this Realme must be indicted within the Shires or places where they committed their offences and also tried by the inhabitants and fréeholders of such Shires and places although by their confessions or by sufficient witnes their offences were certainely knowne to the Kings Councell By reason whereof besides the trauaile of the Kings Counsell the King was often put to great charges in remaunding such persons to the countries where they offended there to bée indicted and tried of their offences And sometimes the inhabitants and fréeholders of the Shires or places where such offences were done were compelled to appeare out of their shires or places for such causes to their great charges for the triall or declaration of such offences And sometime by occasion of the charges for remaunding such offendors to be indicted and tryed by the course of the common Law such offendors did lye still in prison and were forgotten whereby many times by the helpe of their confederats they escaped vnpunished to the great courage and euill example of euill doers For the reformation whereof by a statute made Anno 33. H. 8. it was enacted St. 33. H. 8. 23. That if any person or persons being examined before the Kings Councell or thrée of them vpon any manner of Treasons misprision of Treasons or Murthers doe confesse any such offences or that the said Councell or thrée of them vpon such examination shall thinke any person so examined to be vehemently suspected of any Treason misprision of Treason or Murther then in euery such case by the Kings commaundement his Maiesties Commission of Oyer and Terminer vnder his great Seale shal be made by the Chancellor of England to such persons Indictments and trials where the king will and to such Shires and places as shall bée named and appointed by the Kings Highnesse for the spéedie triall conuiction or deliuerance of such offendors Which Commissioners shall haue authoritie to inquire heare and determine all such Treasons misprisions of Treasons and Murthers within the Shires and places limitted by their Commission by such good and lawfull persons as shal be returned before them by the Shirife or his ministers or any other hauing power to returne Writs and Proces for that
shal take an oath which is his abiuration The oath of abiuration in this manner viz. Heare you this Master Coroner Bracton Britton That I A.B. am a théefe of two beasts or a killer of a man and a felon of the kings of England and because I haue committed many offences and thefts in this Realme I doe abiure the Kingdome of our Soueraigne Lord King Iames And I must make haste towards the port of S. which thou hast giuen mee And I must not goe out of the high waie and if I doe then I yéeld to bee taken as a théefe and felon of our Soueraigne Lord the Kings at the port I will diligently séeke passage and will not tarrie there but one flowing and ebbing if I may haue passage And if I cannot haue passage in this time I will go euery day vp to the knées into the sea assaying to passe ouer And if I cannot do it within fourtie daies together I will returne to the Church as a thiefe and felon of our soueraigne Lord the King So helpe me God c. And notwithstaÌ„ding the words of the said oath the offendor not the Coroner ought to make the election of the port whither he will goe where he will make his passage and he must make his abiuration at the dore of the Church-yard Fi. Cor. 407 Britton 11 He that doth abiure the Realme must haue vpon him but his coate The attire of an abiured person his shirt and his bréeches and his head shal be vncouered he must carrie a crosse in his hand which as Polidore saith is a token that his life is saued by religion and whatsoeuer he hath beside is forfeited to the King and neither the Coroner nor any of his seruants shall take any thing of the offendors for their fée St. 9. E. 2. 10 12 By the Statute of Lincolne made anÌ„ 9. E. 2. The vsing of persons abiured They they that abiure the Realme so long as they be in the high way shal be in the Kings peace and bée troubled of no man And whilest they be in the Church their kéepers shall not tarie in the Church-yard except necessitie or perill of escape doe require it and so long as they be in the Church they shall not be compelled to depart but may haue those things which be necessarie for their liuelihood and may go forth to discharge nature 7. H. 7. 7. Fi. Cor. 14 But if an abiured person be molested in the high way and drawne out of the way and imprisoned yet that will not excuse him when he is againe at libertie if he doe not within conuenient time after his libertie returne to the way leading him to the port or place whereunto vpon his abiuraration he made choice to goe But if he doe goe out of the high way vpon ignorance or to ease nature that shall not hurt him so that he doe returne to the high way in conuenient time or doe his good will to returne 13 After abiuration if the offendor doe any thing contrarie to his oath After abiuration broken death viz. contrary to his abiuration he shal be put to execution vnlesse he be a Clerke and in that case shal be saued from death by his Clergie because the Prelates and Clergie did complaine in Parliament that though a Clerke ought not to be iudged by a temporall Iudge nor any thing may be done against him that concerneth life or member neuerthelesse temporall Iudges caused Clerks flying vnto the Church and confessing their offences to abiure the Realme and for that cause admitted their abiurations although hereupon they cannot bée their Iudges and that so power was wrongfully giuen to Laie persons in the punishment of such Clerks And if such should chance after to returne into the Realme the said Prelates and Clergie desired such remedie to bee prouided therein that the immunitie or priuiledge of the Church may be preserued vnbroken St. 9. E. 2. 15 Vpon which request by a Stat. made anÌ„ 9. E. 2. intituled Articuli cleri it was enacted That a Clerke flying to the Church for felonie to obtaine the priuiledge of the Church shall not be compelled to abiure the realme but yéelding himselfe to the law of the realme shall enioy the priuiledge of the Church according to the laudible custome of the Realme heretofore vsed Which said Statute being but a rehersall restoring and confirmation of the common law is thought not to be repealed by the words of the foresaid stat of 1. Iac. â—â— 1. Iac. 25. And so it appeareth by this stat that if he which doth flie to a Church will say that hée is a Clerke A Clerke need not abiure he shall not be compelled to abiure and if he doe abiure of his own good will and thereby doth lose his lands yet to saue him from execution hee shall haue his Clergie S. St. 28. H. 8. 1. Clergie 5. Where no felonie no abiuration for felonie 14 A maried wife béeing desirous to bee deliuered from her husband Fi. Cor. 425 did flie to a Church and acknowledged a felonie where she neuer had committed any felonie and desired to abiure and her husband vnderstanding of it came to her and then shée fled out of the Church and escaped and towne or person were amerced for this escape for there could no felon escape where no felonie was committed Neither can there be any abiuration where no felonie is committed And therefore an offendor cannot abiure for petit larcenie Br. Cor. 182 The abiured pleadeth that he is not the same person 15 He that doth abiure and is taken againe and arraigned Fi. Cor. 124 may plead that he is not the same person which did abiure and then that shal be tried by the Coroner who tooke his abiuration Or hee may plead the Kings pardon The Kings pardon granted to him of the felonie and abiuration 9. E. 4. 28. for if the pardon make no mention of the abiuration it is not good S. Pardon 7. A Recusant vsing conuenticles shall abiure the realm 16 By the statute of anÌ„ 35. El. it was ordained St. 35. El. 1 that if any person or persons aboue the age of sixtéene yeares which shall offend against the said Acte in persuading others to impugne the Quéenes Ecclesiasticall lawes shall not within thrée moneths after they shall be conuicted for their said offence conforme themselues to the obedience of the Lawes and Statutes of this Realme in comming to Church to heare diuine Seruice and in making such publike confession and submission as in the said Act is expressed béeing thereunto required by the Bishop of the Dioces or any Iustice of the Peace in the same countie where the said person shall happen to be or by the minister or Curat of the Parish In euery such case euery such offendor béeing thereunto warned or required by any such Iustice of
and Terminer Nisi prius for the defendant in appeale 4 Although by the common Lawe a Nisi prius is grantable for the king but not grantable against the king where he is partie to the suite or where the matter in question doth touch the kings right or where he is party thereunto but by aide praier vnlesse his Atturney will assent thereunto yet in an appeale of felonie when the appellant and appellee be at issue the Defendant may haue a Nisi prius to pursue the same issue 21. H. 7. 34 if there be any default in the Plaintife that he doth not pursue it with effect though the K. be in a sort party to that suite for otherwise the appellée should continually remaine in prison to his vtter vndoing and neuer haue remedy Neither the Defendant in an appeale shall not haue a Venire facias with a prouiso 14. H. 7. 7. 15 H. 7. 9 21. H. 6. 36 vntill hée hath assigned some default in the Plaintife in the pursute of it And yet the Plaintife may at his pleasure stay the Defendant in procéeding further with his processe in praying a Tales vpon the Defendants processe Remaunding of prisoners out of the K. Bench to be tried in the Countrie 5 Because diuers felons and murderers vpon vntrue surmises did oftentimes remooue as well their bodies as their Indictments by Writte and otherwise before the King in his Bench and could not by the order of the Lawe be remaunded and sent downe to the Iustices of Gaole deliuerie or of the peace nor other Iustices or Commissioners to proceede vpon them after the due course of the common lawe for that a Record which is once remoued into an higher Court can not by the common Lawe be sent backe to a more base and inferiour Court For the redresse whereof by a statute made An̄ 6. H. 8. it was ordained St. 6. H. 8. 6 That the Iustices of the K. Bench for the time being haue authoritie by their discretions to remaund and send downe as well the bodies of all felons and murderers brought and remoued or that shall be remoued or brought before the king in his Bench as their indictments into the counties whereas the same murders or felonies haue béen committed or done and to commaund all Iustices of Gaole deliuery Iustices of Peace and other Iustices and Commissioners and euery of them to procéed and determine vpon all the foresaid bodies and indictments so remoued after the course of the common law in such maner as the same Iustices of gaole deliuerie Iustices of peace and other Commissioners or any of them might or should haue done if the said prisoners or indictmēts had neuer bin brought into the said K. bench St. 4. Iac. 1. 6 By a stat made Anno 4. Iac. it was enacted Triall of felonies committed by English men in Scotland That all offences of coniurations witchcraft dealing with euill and wicked spirits murder manslaughter felonious burning of houses and corne burglary robbing of houses by day robberie theft the detestable vice of buggerie committed with mankind or beast and rape heretofore done and committed since his Maiesties comming to the crown of England or hereafter to be done or committed by any his Maiesties naturall borne subiects of this realme of England or the dominions of the same within the realme of Scotland or the dominions thereof and the accessories of and to the same shal be from henceforth inquired of heard and determined before his Maiesties Iust of Assise or his Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer or Gaole deliuery being naturall borne subiects within this realme of England and none other by good and lawfull men of the Counties of Cumberland Northumberland Westmerland or any of the said counties at the election of the said Iust of Assises or Commissioners in like maner and forme to all intents and purposes the alterations hereafter in this Act expressed only excepted as if such offences had béene done and committed within the same Shire where they shal be so inquired of heard and determined as is aforesaid At which trials for the better discouerie of the truth Witnesses allowed to him that is arraigned and for the better information of the consciences of the Iurie and Iustices there shall bée allowed vnto the party so arraigned the benefit of such witnesses only to be examined vpon othe that can be produced for his better cléering and iustification as hereafter in this Act are permitted and allowed St. 4. Iac. 1. 7 Euery Iustice of peace of the counties aforesaid The prosecutors and witnesses bound to giue euidence vnto whom complaint shal be made shall haue full power and authoritie by vertue of this Act to bind ouer by recognisance in a conuenient summe taken to his Maiesties vse as well the partie prosecuting as any witnesses which he shall desire to produce so as the said witnesses may haue their reasonable charges first tendred vnto them to prosecute and giue in euidence before such his Maiesties Iustices as aforesaid as the case shall require St. 4. Iac. 1. 8 Euery commander procurer counsellor abettor comforter receiuer The accessory tryed though the principall be not or other accessorie of or to any the offendors or offences aforesaid so committed in Scotland as aforesaid offending within the realms of England or Scotland shal be produced withall indicted tried iudged and executed without delay notwithstanding the principals or any of them be not conuicted or attainted And that no such offendor either accessorie or principall shall be allowed the benefit of his clergy No clergie No peremptorie challenge aboue v. The words of the Indictment nor admitted to his peremptory chalenge of aboue the number of fiue And that euery indictment of any of the offences aforesaid so committed as aforesaid shal be adiudged of as good force in law notwithstanding the words contra pacem coronam dignitatem nostras be omitted as if the said words had béen therein contained Euery Iuror must haue v. l. of fréehold 9 No Sherife Vndersherife or other Minister to whom it appertaineth St. 4. Iac. 1. shall returne any Iuror to enquire of or try any of the offences aforesaid so committed as aforesaid except euery such Iuror shall haue fréehold in possession to the value of v. l. by the yeare in the county where such inquirie and triall shall be vpon pain to forf for euery Iuror that shal be returned contrary to this Act the summe of xl l. to the K. and I. to be recouered by A. of debt B. P. or I. in any of the K. courts at West wherein no E.P. or W. c. And the offendor shall or may challenge any Iuror that shall passe vpon his life for want of such fréehold as aforesaid The offendor shall forf no lands 10 No naturall subiect of his Maiestie of the realme of England St. 4. Iac. 1. or of the dominions
4. H. 7. St. 4. H. 7. 13 for by the common law if a man had once enioyed the benefit of his Clergie for felonie and after committed felonie againe yet he should haue had the priuiledge of his Clergie againe and so often as hée had committed felony vntil the said statute did restraine him by these words viz. Where vpon trust of the priuiledge of the church diuers persons haue bin the more bold to commit murder rape robberie theft and all other mischiuous déeds because they haue béen continually admitted to the benefit of their clergie as oft as they did offend in any of the premisses In auoidance of such presumptuous boldnesse it is ordained That euerie person not being within orders which once hath bin admitted to the benefit of his Clergie eftsoones arraigned of any such offences be not admitted to haue the benefit or priuiledge of his clergy and that euery such person so conuicted for murder How the conuict shal be marked to be marked with an M. vpon the brawne of the left thumb if it be for felony the same person to be marked with a T. in the same place of the thumb these markes to be made by the gaoler openly in the court before the Iudge before such person be deliuered to the Ordinarie Prouided alwayes if any person at the second time of asking his clergie because hee is within orders hath not there ready his letters of his orders or a certificat of his Ordinarie witnessing the same that then the Iustices before whom hee is so arraigned shall giue him a day by their discretion to bring in his said letters or certificat And if he faile and bring not in at such a day his said letters nor certificat then the same person to loose the benefit of his clergie as he shall doe that is without orders By which stat it doth appeare that he that is within orders is excepted and that he may haue his clergie the second time vpon the shewing of his letters of orders or his Ordinaries certificat of the same this statute notwithstanding But after by the statute made Anno 28. H. 8. 32. H. 8. St. 28. H. 8. 1 32. H. 8. 3 it was enacted How offendors that be within orders shal be vsed That all such persons as be or shall be within holy orders which by the lawes of this Realme ought or may haue their clergie for any felonies and shal be admitted to the same shal be burned in the hand in like maner and forme as lay Clerkes béene accustomed in such cases and shall suffer and incurre after all such paines damages and forfeitures and bee ordered and vsed for their offences of felony to all intents and purposes as lay persons admitted to their clergie be or ought to be ordered and vsed by the lawes and statutes of this Realme Any lawes statutes prouisions customes c. notwithstanding The force and effect of part of which said statutes of 28. H. 8. 32. H. 8. is in some sort attenuated by a braunch of the stat of Anno 1. Ed. 6. St. 1. E. 6. 12 S. Br. 24. as some do conceiue it which doth ordaine That in all other cases sauing such as be mentioned in the sayd Act all and singular person persons which shall be arraigned or found guiltie vpon his or their arraignement or should confesse the same or stand mute or would not answer directly should haue and enioy the priuiledge and benefit of his and their clergie the libertie and priuiledge of Sanctuarie in like manner and forme as he or they might or should haue done before the foure and twentieth day of Aprill Anno 1. H. 8. at which time a man within orders should haue had the priuiledge of his clergie seuerall times And by this Statute he shall not be burned in the hand as a lay man shall But yet in all those cases wherein a man is put out of his Clergie by the Statute of Anno 1. Ed. 6. and also in all other cases wherein Clergie is taken away by any Statute made sithence Anno primo Edw. 6. a man within orders is as well put out of his Clergie as a lay man euery of those Statutes being generall and without exception 42 Because diuers persons haue béene in times past indicted arraigned and some of them Clerkes conuict and some of them Clerkes attainted and some of them outlawed for Murder Burglarie Robberie and other Felonies before Iustices of Peace Iustices of Gaole deliuerie and Iustices of Oyer and Terminer within diuers Cities Counties Franchises and Liberties within this Realme The records of which attainders outlawries and conuictions many times by the negligence of the Clerke of the Crowne Clerke of the Peace Clerke of Assise and such other as haue had the order rule kéeping and gouernance of the same Records haue béene imbeciled and not readie to be obiected against such persons as haue béen newly arraigned before the King in his Bench or before other the Kings Iustices for the like and such other offences by them committed or done And for that it hath not béene knowne certainely whither to resort for the same Records because they were not certified into any place certaine by reason whereof sometimes such persons and like offendors which haue béene newly arraigned as is aforesayd haue had the benefit of his or their Clergie where they ought not ne should haue had the same if the said Records had béene then present in the same place where such person or persons were so newly arraigned or else certified into some other place certaine where the same Records might haue bin séen sent for or written for to haue béene obiected against such person or persons so newly arraigned whereby as well the King as also all other persons haue many times lost their Escheats and other aduantages and forfeitures that they should haue had by meane of the sayd attainders to the great losses of the King and other persons and also the sayd offendors haue had their Clergie where they ought not to haue had to the great boldnesse and encouragement of like offendors For the reformation whereof by a Statute made Anno 34. 35. H. 8. St. 34. 35. H. 8. 14. it was enacted That the Clerke of the Crowne Certificat into the K. bench of outlawries attainders conuictions Clerke of the Peace and Clerkes of Assise for the time being where any such attainder outlawrie or conuiction shall so bée had shall not onely certifie a Transcript briefly and in few words containing the tenor and effect of euerie such indictment outlawrie or conuiction and Clerke attainted before them so to be had made or pronounced that is to say the name sirname and addition of euerie such person and persons as shall be so indicted and thereupon outlawed conuicted or Clerke attainted and the certaintie of the sayd felonie or other offence whereupon he or they shal be so outlawed
conuicted or Clerke attainted and the day and place of his outlawrie conuiction and attainder and the day and place where and when the said felony or other offence whereupon the said person or persons shal be so indicted outlawed or Clerke attainted shall be made and done before the K. in his bench at West in the county of Midd. there to remaine of record for euer among other the K. records there within xl daies next after any such attainder conuiction or outlawrie shall be had made or procured if the terme be thē if not within xx dayes next after the beginning of the terme next following the said xl daies but also shall deliuer a transcript of euerie such indictment whereupon the said person persons shal fortune hereafter so to be conuicted or Clerkes attainted to the Ordinary to whom the body of the said person or persons shall be committed at the time that the sayd person or persons shall bee committed the sayd Ordinarie paying to euerie such Clerke as shall write the sayd Transcript for euerie copie of such indictment twelue pence for his paines vpon paine that euery Clerke of the Crowne Clerke of the peace and Clerke of Assise for the time being before whom such Indictment Attainder Outlary or Conuiction shal be so had made pronounced or remaine for the non-certifying of euery such record and deliuering of the copy of such Indictment to the said Ordinaries according to this statute to loose and forfeit forty shillings the one moity thereof to be to the king and the other moity to him that will sue for the same by action of Debt Bill Information or otherwise in any of the kings Courts of Record wherein no Wager of Law Essoine or Protection shal be allowed and the clerke of the Crowne in the kings Bench shall receiue the said certificats and transcripts at such time as they shall be tendered and profered vnto them by the said clerkes of the Crowne clerkes of the peace and clerkes of assise or by their deputy or deputies without taking any thing for the same vpon paine of forfeiture of forty shillings for euery such certificat by him refused Prouided alwaies that if there be any more persons contained and named in any such Indictment other then such person so attainted conuicted or outlawed that then such clerke of the crowne clerke of assise or clerke of peace with whom the record of such attainder outlary or conuiction shall remaine shall within the time before in this act limitted certifie the transcript of such indictment outlarie or conuiction onely concerning such person or persons so indicted and attainted outlawed or conuicted into the kings Bench at Westminster as is aforesaid which transcript so certified shall be had and taken as good effectuall and auaileable in the Law to all intents and purposes against such person and persons against whom it shall be so obiected alledged or pleaded as if the very record thereof whereupon he or they were so indicted were there present And be it enacted c. That the said clerke of the crowne in the kings Bench for the time being shall at all such times as the Iustices of Gaole Deliuerie or Iustices of Peace in euery County within this Realme of England doe write vnto him for the names of such persons which be so attainted by Outlarie or clerkes attainted or conuicted and certified into the said Bench shall incontinently without delay certifie the said names and surnames of the said persons with the causes why and wherefore they were conuict or attainted vnto the Iustices of Gaole deliuery or Iustices of Peace vpon paine and penalty to forfeit for euery name of such persons which shall be so written for and not certified by the said Clerk of the Crowne in the Kings Bench to the said Iustices fortie shillings Prouided that this Act nor any thing therein contained shall not extend to the Clerkes of the Crowne Clerkes of the Peace Clerkes of Gaole deliuerie neither to any of the Prenotaries within the Counties of Wales and Chester or within the Counties Palantine of Lancaster and Duresme or any of them to make any transcript of any such attainder conuiction or outlawrie of any person or persons conuicted attainted or outlawed before the Kings Iustices of his Counties of Wales nor Chester or Countie of Lancaster Duresme or any of them but that the same Records shall and may remaine and be in the custodie and kéeping of the sayd Clerkes and Prenotaries in such maner and wise as they are at this day this Act or any thing therein contained to the contrarie notwithstanding 43 Though the deliuering of him to the Ordinarie who hath the benefit of his Clergie and making of purgation bée taken away the Statute of 18. Eliz. 6. yet because both deliuering to the Ordinarie and making of purgation were vsed by the space of many generations in this realme and seuerall lawes statutes and some prouinciall councells were made and ordained touching the ordering direction and gouernance of those which as Clerks conuict or attaint were committed to the Ordinary and were to make purgation or not I will therefore briefly set downe the effect of some of those laws as antiquitie did retaine them He which had the priuiledge of his Clergie and was deliuered to the Ordinarie that did demaund him was not set at libertie to goe wandring vp and downe the Countrie but was safely and straitly kept in the Bishoppes prison In what sort a clerke deliuered to the Ordinarie was vsed hauing for foode vppon the Sonday bread ale and pease and vpon all the other daies courser bread and small drinke once in the day onely or in the Kings prison if the Bishop would haue it so vntill hée had purged himselfe of the crime wherewith hée was charged or otherwise had failed of his purgation and could not make it And if the Bishop would not admitte him to make his purgation then the King would direct his Writte to the Bishoppe commaunding him to suffer the same prisoner to make his purgation 15. H. 7. 19. or the King at his pleasure might pardon the prisoner or cause him to be set at libertie without making any purgation And when a Clerke was to make his purgation the King was to be made priuie thereunto who did direct his Writ to the Shirife of the countie where the offendor was prisoner commaunding him to make proclamation through his Countie that if any man could shew cause why such an offendor viz. A. B. prisoner in the Kings or Bishoppes prison should not make his purgation that then he should appeare such a day and in such a place and shew the same cause And in London the Preacher at Paules Crosse did likewise notifie that A. B. The manner of making purgation prisoner in such a prison was to make his purgation in such a Diocesse at such a place vpon such a day at which day assigned whether any crime or not to giue
not yéeld to be iustified and tried by the Law but will either kill himselfe or giue cause to other men to slay him Fi. Cor. 289 290 312. S. Br. 5. for resisting and not submitting his obedience to the Law then he shal forfeit his goods so that this offence be found and presented by twelue men before the Coroner or some Iustices after his death for in this case the default is in the offendor and not in the Law that he came not to lawfull triall of his offence for the law requireth no more but that the supposed offendor shal be safely kept sub custodia legis by imprisonment or maineprise vntill it be tried whether he be an offendor or not But though the person thus slaine shall for his disobedience forfeit his goods béeing not attainted either of treason or felonie yet in the like case he shall not forfeit his lands if hee bee slaine in arresting or after arrest or otherwise die before he be attainted St. 34. E. 3. 12. as it appeareth by the Stat. of an̄ 34. Ed. 3. 12. which hath established That for forfeitures of dead persons not attainted nor adiudged in their liues their heires or land-tenants shall not be impeached or challenged nor of any other forfeiture except the forfeitures in old time adiudged after the death of the persons by presentment in Eyre or in the Kings bench or of felons of themselues or others And yet some doe affirme if a man doe leuie warre or open rebellion against the King or is assistant to his enemies in the field and then is slaine in battell he shall forfeit his lands goods And others doe adde thereunto that the same his Treason and manner of death must also after his death be found by a Iurie super visum corporis Co. li. 4. 57 Pl. Com. 262. 263. before the chiefe Iustice of England being the soueraigne Coroner of the realm and he must returne it into the Kings Bench and make a Record therof and then that person shall forfeit his lands and goods And vpon those words of the sayd Statute of 34. Ed. 3. viz. Except the forfeitures in old time adiudged after the death of the persons by presentment in Eire or in the Kings Bench or c. some doe inferre that if a presentment in Eire or in the Kings Bench be made of such an open rebellion and battell thereupon foughten and of those that manifestly shewing themselues to bée open enemies or rebels to the King were slaine therein that by the words of the same Statute they shall forfeit their lands But if a man bée arrested for counterfeiting the K. great or priuie Seale for forging of his money or for a priuy conspiracie of the death of the King or c. and is slaine in resisting the said arrest or for a rescous attempted before or after the sayd arrest hee shall forfeit his goods but not his lands And if he bée arrested for any of the sayd offences and committed to prison for the same and after doth dye in prison before he bee attainted of any of the sayd offences he shall neither forfeit lands nor goods though he be taken with the manoure viz. found hand hauing and backe bearing for though it is a mischiefe that a man committing high Treason shall forfeit neither life lands or goods yet the law doth rather beare with that mischiefe than to suffer such an inconuenience that a man onely accused or but only a supposed offendor should bée attainted and forfeit his lands and goods where being preuented by death viz. by the hand of God hee cannot come to answer and defend himselfe and by that meanes cannot bée condemned by such lawfull tryall which is meant and specified in the before rehearsed Statute of Magna charta But for the auoiding of questiō and doubt in the case aforesaid they which haue béene knowne parties to such open and manifest rebellions St. 29. H. 6. 1 St. 12. El. 16 St. 29. El. 1 St. 35. El. 5. St. 3. Iac. 2. haue béen of late yeares attainted by Act of Parliament and their lands and goods giuen as forfeit to the King As it appeareth by the stat of Anno 29. H. 6. 13. El. 29. El. 35. El. 3. Iac. The forf of the yeare day and wast 31 There is another forfeiture besides the losse of life lands annuities Fi. Cor. 310 290. 327. and goods wherewith the law hath deuised to punish those that doe commit petit Treason or Felonie and be attainted thereof which is called in Latine the forfeiture of Diem annum vastum the forfeiture of the yeare day and wast which is executed vpon the houses and lands of the offendor that be holden of any other sauing of the king That is the felons houses and lands shall bée seised into the Kings hands where they shall remaine by the space of a yeare and day and then the houses shall be throwne downe to the ground the trées shall be pulled vp by the roots the medowes shal be ploughed vp and all things which the felon did build or plant shal be cast downe digged vp Fitz. Cor. 358. and supplanted Which punishment was ordained in despight of offendors and to shew to others how much the law doth detest murderers committers of burglarie robberie and other felonies and as much as may be to terrifie and discourage others to attempt or practise the like 32 It appeareth by Bracton that by the common law the King should haue had but onely the wast of a Felons lands viz. the benefit to pull downe his houses root vp his trées plough vp his medowes and such other commodities as he could haue raised by spoyling and wasting of the felons houses trées and lands and that then the land so wasted should haue béene presently deliuered to the Lord of the fée of whom the same lands were holden which wast and spoyle was then made without redemption And after by a composition made betwéene the King and the Lords it was agréed By what means the K. came by the yere day and wast That the King should haue the benefit of the felons lands a yeare and a day to redeeme the spoyle and wast which hée might make of the sayd felons lands And the K. graunt by the great Charter made Anno 9. H. 3. St. 9. H. 4. 3 22. tendeth to the same effect viz. Wee will not hold the lands of those that bée conuict of felonie but a yere and a day and then they shall bée deliuered to the Lords of the fées And so it séemeth that King Henrie the third and King Edward the first did hold themselues satisfied with the yeare and day of the felons lands without taking the wast thereof St. 17. E. 2. 16 But after Anno 17. Ed. 2. the Kings Prerogatiues royall béeing expressed or enacted by Parliament amongst others it is ordayned That the King shall haue all the goods of felons which be
Felon both dwell and therefore vpon a fugam fecit presented before the Coroner 22. As p. 96. the goods ought to be seised by the Shirife and praysed by an Enquest and the appraisement must bée inrolled in the Coroners Roll and the goods shal be deliuered to the towne to answere to the king for them Fi. Cor. 366 and though the goods be not deliuered to the towne yet if the goods were in the Felons possession at the time of his conuiction or flying the towne shall answere for them And some do affirme that the shirife and the Dozeners may seize Felons goods into the kings hands and the shirife shall deliuer those goods to the towne to answere to the king at the comming of the Iustices in Eyre But if neither the Shirife nor the Dozeners doe seize the same goods yet the towne shall answere to the king for them at the comming of the Iustices in Eyre For as soone as a fugam fecit is found before the Coroner Fi. Forf 32 the towne shal be presently charged with the goods of him that did flye away And though it be presented before the Iustices that a Felon was deliuered to the shirife with the manoure and with all his goods yet the towne shal be charged with the said Felons goods though the same was found and presented with intent to ease or discharge the same town And in like sort notwithstanding it doth appeare by the Coroners Roll Fi. Cor. 300 that the goods of a Felon were deliuered to one man of the town yet the king shall leuy those goods of the whole towne But when the shirife doth come to leuy those goods of the town by the shirifes consent they may be leuied of him only who had them in custody Fit Co. 181 One that was indicted of Felony appeared at the Exigent and pleaded and was acquit and his goods being forfeited because he did not come in before the Exigent awarded were praised by the Enquest which acquitted him at forty shillings and the same Enquest found what towne was charged with them which said presentment of the Enquest was inrolled and it was adiudged that the same towne may seize the same Felons goods in what place soeuer they can find them And because the towne where the Felons goods be shall answere for them therefore they which doe take into their possession any of the same Felons goods and other goods which do belong vnto the king as Deodands and such like are to be amerced by the Iustices in Eyre if the same goods be not deliuered vnto them by the towne which hath the charge of them for that the same towne hath the custody of them But by a Statute made Anno 31. Ed. 3. St. 31. E. 3. 3 the towne shal be eased of this charge if they can shew what other person hath detained those goods and that they could neuer haue possession of them the words of which statute be If any man or towne be charged in the Exchequer by the Estreats of the Iustices of the goods of Fugitiues and Felons and he will alledge in discharge of himselfe another that is chargeable he shal be heard and right shal be done And therfore if it be found by office before the Escheator that the goods of a man attainted of Felony be in the custody of such a person in this case a Scire facias shal be awarded vpon the same office against the said person to shew if he hath any thing to say why he should not answer those goods But if it be found by the Enquest which did attaint the Felon before Iustices of Gaole deliuery Iustices of Oier and Determiner or Iustices of Peace that any person doth detaine the goods of a Felon attainted the said Iustices cannot award proces thereupon against the party that doth detaine the same goods but they must send their Estreats into the Exchequer and the officers of the exchequer will award proces against the same party to leuy the same goods And yet if he that is presented to detaine the same goods do find himselfe grieued therewith he cannot haue a Trauerse in the Exchequer to that which is found by the Iury because the court of Exchequer hath not the record before thē neither can he trauerse the same before the Iustices of Gaole deliuerie Iustices of Oyer and Determiner or Iustices of peace for that they cannot award a Supersedeas to the Barons of the Exchequer to surcease their Proces But his onely remedie in this case is to procure a Certiorari to remooue the Record into the Kings Bench and there to tender his trauerse and auerrement and to haue a Supersedeas from thence to the Barons of the Exchequer to surcease their Proces And the same law is if the like thing be found by an Enquest in the Kings Bench after they haue deliuered their Records thereof into the Exchequer And a man which was indicted for the taking of goods of one that was attainted of Treason was put to the answer thereof So that sithence the sayd statute of 31. Edw. 3. others haue béene charged with felons goods as well as townes But the Sherife was alwayes charged with the profits of felons fugitiues lands Fi. Cor. 39◠according to the extent thereof The Sherife charged with felons lands and not any towne And so he was charged with goods cōfiscat as where vpō an indictment of felonie Fitz. Cor. 355. 368. the manoure is brought into the Court and the partie indicted doth disclaime therein by this disclaimer the King shall haue the manoure and the Sherife shall be charged therewith And the same manoure shall be praysed by the Enquest that doth trye the felonie and if it be found by the same Iurie that it was impaired by the Constable or any other who had the same in kéeping the Sherife shal be commaunded to leuie so much in value as it was impaired by the said Constable or other And in some cases the Sherife shall be charged with a felons goods Fitz. Cor. 290. 308. and not the towne where the felon did dwel or where his goods remained but that must be by agréement betwéene the said Sherife and the towne To whom the forf of lands for high treason shal accrue 47 In High treason the King shall haue the forfeiture of the offendors lands of whom soeuer they be holden and that by the common law for the offence committed is not to any subiect but to the Soueraigne gouernour himselfe his Crowne and Realme which is an offence of so high a nature that it cannot be recompenced with all that the offendor hath and then it should bée lesse counteruailed if any other should bée partaker with the King therin And the meane Lords shall receiue no losse thereby for they had nothing in the land but a Seigniorie out of it And if they hold ouer of the King by the like seruices then haue they lost
the appeale of the plaintife and then it shall be inquired by the Visne where the Felony was committed by the people of that County where the appeale is brought except it bee brought in London for London hath such a priuiledge that they shall not bée drawne to appeare vpon Iuries out of the Citie and the Kings Iustices cannot goe into the Citie and take the same by Nisi prius because it is but an Enquest of Office 1. H. 4. 5. 2. R. 3. 12. and therefore in that case they doe inquire of it by people of the County where the Felon was taken and from thence shall the Visne come But first the Court is to inquire of the Defendant in the appeale Fit Forfeit 15. if hée doe clayme any propertie in the goods or not and if hée clayme nothing therein then it must enquire if the goods were the plaintifes at the time of the Robbery committed and moreouer inquire of the Fresh suit 5 By the common Law there was no helpe for the party robbed by indictment of the Felon to recouer his goods againe or to haue restitution of them Restitution vpon attainder by indictment for although the enquest which tried the Felon vpon his arraignment would after they had found him guilty of the Felony Fi. Cor. 460. haue said that the party robbed had made Fresh suit yet that would not haue auailed to haue procured him restitution of his goods And therefore to redresse that enormitie there was a statute made Anno 21. H. 8. by which it was enacted St. 21. H. 8. 11. That if any Felon or Felons hereafter doe robbe or take away any money goods or cattels from any the Kings Subiects from their person or otherwise within this Realme and thereof the said Felon or Felons be indicted and after arraigned of the same Felony and found guilty thereof or otherwise attainted by reason of euidence giuen by the party so robbed or owner of the said mony goods and cattels and that as well the Iust of Gaole deliuery as other Iustices before whom any such Felon or Felons shal be found guilty or otherwise attainted by reason of euidence giuen by the party so robbed or owner or by any other by their procurement haue power by this act to award from time to time Writs of Restitution for the said money goods or cattels in like manner as though any such Felon or Felons were attainted at the suit of the party in appeale And so by force of this Statute the party robbed shall haue restitution of his stolne goods vpon euidence giuen by him or by any other by his procurement against the Felon though he neuer made any fresh suit S. Euidence 3. 4. Appeales 55. ⧠Dammages in Appeale 1 IVstice and reason doe require that when a mans life his fame and credit his lands his goods the disheritance of his posterity the corruption of his blood and all that he hath in this world to forfeit hath bin put in hazard and brought into question and triall without iust desert or other ground but only vpon the malicious accusation of some one or moe persoÌ„s and that he is found a true and lawfull man duly acquit by the country of the offence whereof he was appealed that he should haue recompence for it against his false accusor and if his accusor be not sufficient then against him or them that did procure or abet him to pursue the appeale And therefore the common law did giue dammages to the defendant in an appeale 48. Ed. 3. 22 and assigned him a meane to recouer them when he was acquit of the felony But because the dammages which were to be recouered against the procurors or abettors were to be recouered by writ originall viz. by a writ of Conspiracy and not otherwise which was not so spéedy a remedy as the great malice and wickednesse of the offence required the stat of West 2. was made for the quicker redresse thereof AnÌ„ 13. Ed. 1. the words whereof be these St. 13. E. 1. 12 viz. For as much as many through malice intending to grieue others do procure false appeales of homicide and other felonies to be sued by appellants hauing nothing wherewith to satisfie the king for their false appeale nor to answer to the party damages It is ordained that when any which is appealed of felony imposed vpon him doth acquite himselfe in the K. Court in due manner either at the appellants suit or the kings The punishment of the appellant and abettors wheÌ„ the appellée is acquit the Iustices before whom the said appeale shal be heard and determined shal punish the appellant by one yeres imprisonment and neuerthelesse such appellant shall yéeld to the appellée damages by the Iust discretion hauing respect to the imprisonment or arrest that the party hath sustained by reason of such appeale and to the slander which he hath receiued by the imprisonment or otherwise also he shal pay a grieuous fine to the K. And if the appellants be not able to recompeÌ„ce the damages inquiry shal be made by whose abetmeÌ„t the appeale was maliciously coÌ„menced if the appellée desire it And if it be found by the same Enquest that any man is aâ—ettor through malice he shal be distrained by a iudiciall writ to appeare before the I. at the appellées suit and if he be lawfully conuict of such abetment by malice he shall be imprisoned and restore dammages as is aforesaid of the appellant In an appeale of the death of a man there shall no Essoine lie for the appellant for any cause No Essoine for the Appellant in appeale of death in whatsoeuer court the appeale shal be determined The appeale must be commenced vpon malice 2 And whereas the words of the foresaid stat of West 2. be St. 13. E. 1. 12 For as much as many through malice it doth thereby appeare that if the defendant in an appeale be to recouer dammages it ought to be in respect that the appeale was grounded rather vpon malice then vpon good matter 40. Ed. 3. 41. 22. Ass p. 39 32. H. 6. 2. And therefore if the defendant were indicted of that Felony wherof the appeale was sued before the suit of the appeale although the def be after acquit thereof yet he shall not recouer dammages because it shal be intended that the indictment induced him to bring the appeale and not malice But the law is méere contrary if he were not indicted vntill after the appeale commenced Or if there be any such variance betwéene the appeale and the indictment that the acquitall of him vpon the one is not the acquitall of him vpon the other as if he be indicted as principall and appealed as accessory vel e conuerso And yet it is otherwise 14. H. 7. 2 if the variance be not in a matter of substance for such a variance shal not so preiudice but that the acquitall
man be slaine within the K. house verge That all Inquisitions vpon the view of persons slaine within any of the Kings Palaces or houses or any other house at such time as he shall bee abiding in his royall person viz. within Edifices Courts places gardens orchards or houses within the Porters ward of any of the house or houses aboue rehearsed or within any gardens priuie walkes orchards tylt-yards wood-yards tenice playes cocke fights bowling allyes neere adioyning to any of the houses aboue rehearsed and being part of the same or within two hundred foot of the standard of any outward gate or gates of any of the houses aboue rehearsed commonly vsed for passage out or from any of the house or houses aboue specified shal be taken by the Coroner of the houshold of the King or his heires without adioyning of any other Coroner of any Shire by the othes of twelue or more of the Yeomen officers of the Kings c. houshold returned by the two Clerkes Comptrollers the Clerkes of the Checke Clerks Marshall or one of them for the time being of the foresayd houshold to whom the sayd Coroner shall direct his Precept which Coroner c. shall be assigned by the L. Steward for the time being And the said Coroner shall from time to time for euer without delay certifie vnder his Scale and the Seals of such persons as shal be so sworne before him all such Inquisitions Indictments and Offices vpon the view of all dead bodies which shall bee slaine within any of the K. Palaces or houses or other house aforesaid before the sayd L. Steward and in his absence before the Treasurer Comptroller and Steward of the Marshalsey or before two of them whereof the said Steward of the Marshalsey to be one And such Inquisitions and Offices so certified shal be taken as good to all intents as any Inquisition taken vpon the view of the bodie of any person being dead by any Coroner of any countie of this Realme hath béene or shal be adiudged St. 28. E. 1. 3 18 Whereas the foresaid stat of 28. E. 1. hath ordained One man Coroner of the K. house and of the county That if the death of a man doth chance in any county where the K. house is and within the Verge the Coroner of the same countie shal be commanded with the Coroner of the K. house to execute his office and to inroll it But if a murder or manslaughter be found within the countie of M. within the Verge by an Inquisition taken before one which is then both one of the Coroners of the county of M. and also Coroner of the K. house Co. li. 4. 46. and then there one is indicted of the same murder or manslaughter this is a good indictment for the intent and meaning of the said stat of 28. Ed. 1. is performed though not by two persons yet by one man hauing two offices and also the mischiefe recited in the said Act is auoyded for though the Court doth remoue yet the Coroner of the county may procéed ⧠Who shall be Iudge of Treason and Felonie 1HAuing written at large of Treasons and Felonies and shewed what sorts and how many of either of them there be and which of those were deliuered vs by the common law and which ordained by statute And declared who be principals and who be accessories in the said crimes how the offendors therein vpon a pricke and guilt of conscience doe ofttimes breake prison and indeuor to escape and how by Huy and cry and other means they be apprehended and brought to be tryed by the iustice of the law how they be accused by Appeals or Indictments in what sort they shal be restained and kept sub custodia legis in prison or by mainprise or bail vntil they haue answered their said offences And also hauing expressed what pleas the partie accused hath to plead for himselfe or other helps to defend himselfe by whom and what means those pleas shal be examined and what fauours bee affoorded him in the tryall therof and what iudgement execution forfeitures the law doth inflict vpon those that in contempt of her do commit the said capitall and most grieuous offence And further hauing dilated how a true man being vpon malice and falsly charged with felony by an Appeale or Indictment shall in some satisfaction of his discredit and losses recouer damages against the appellant his abettors or the conspirators And hauing laid open the authority duty of the Coroner who is a most antient officer of trust in this Realm a speciall preseruer of the peace of the King and the kingdome I am now lastly to write who shall bee Iudge in the foresaid Treasons and Felonies and shal inflict punishment vpon euerie transgressor of the said lawes according to his desert Wherein is to be considered that the dead letter of the common or statute law cannot be that Iudge to inquire of felons examine them commit them to prison indict them arraigne them allow them their lawfull triall examine their causes and yéeld them iustice according to their seueral demerits by acquital or condemnation but it must be Lex loquēs viz. That Iudge must be a man of learning and vprightnesse which by his mouth will speake and attribute to euery person that which the wisdome and integritie of his heart doth conceiue to be iust lawfull and due vnto them And though that Iudge ought so to be countenanced and protected by the regall authoritie that he shall not néed to feare the face of any man for doing of iustice and shall be enabled to crush and suppresse all offences within his iurisdiction yet the king himselfe cannot be that Iudge The K. cannot be Iudge in Treason or Felonie nor sit in iudgement in causes of treason or felonie because he is one of the parties to the iudgement for al treasons felonies be done be supposed to be done contrary to the peace crowne dignitie of the K. And further the escheates and other forf of lands leafes goods and cattels which do come by the attainder of any person of treason or felonie do for the most part by the law accrue to the king And so if the King might be Iudge hee should bee Iudge in his owne cause which Ius gentium doth not permit But the King by his Commission may commit that authoritie to others who may iudge betwéene him and the supposed offendor What sort of men ought to be Iudges And the King ought to make choyce of such a man to be Iudge as is wise and doth feare God who hath truth in his mouth and no couetousnesse in his heart who will neither decline from the troden path of iustice to the right hand nor to the left for the hope of prosperity or feare of aduersitie nor will draw the Kings sword to reuenge his owne wrongs who will denie iustice to none neither himselfe will expect or
hath possession sueth a Writ of Forcible Entry 21 Forcible entry of a Rent or Common 22 Forcible entry to the vse of another Forcible detaining by words onely 23 Iointenants or Tenants in common expelling each other by force 24 Who may bring a Writ of Entry vpon the Statute of 5. Richard 2. 25 Turning a water-course by force 26 The plea of not guiltie in Forcible entry The finding of the speciall matter doth charge or discharge the defendant of force Presentment of Forcible entry 27 One action for entring and detaining with force 28 A writ vpon the Statute of North-hampton 29 What shal be said to be force Force by number of seruants Force by number of weapons 30 Who may make a Forcible entry 31 What force is lawfull to the persons of men 32 Where the house of a man may be broken by force where not 33 A particular person may defend himselfe and his by force 34 The Writ of Vi laica remouenda 35 Where force shal be remoued for the K. Incumbent where not Forgerie Fol. 43. 1 Forgerie Periurie and Maintenance doe tend to the breach of the Peace 2 The enormitie of Forgerie A repeale of former Statutes of Forgerie 3 Forging of deeds whereby anothers landes shall bee troubled 4 Forging a deed whereby a lease or annuity may be claimed 5 Seuerall remedies against a forger 6 A forger not twice punished for one offence 7 The plaintifes release of forgerie shall only discharge his own remedy 8 The punishment for the second offence of forgery 9 The Iustices of Assise shall heare and determine forgery 10 Forging of deedes before the statute of 5. El. Pleading of a forged deed made before the said statute 11 Persons not chargeable of forgerie by the said stat of 5. El. 12 Forging of a customarie booke 13 The proces to leuie costes and damages of a forger 14 The kings pardon of forgerie 15 Forging of a Testament 16 Inserting more in a wil then is directed 17 Pleas in barre of forgerie 18 Where one shall haue an action of Forgery though he hath but a right to the land 19 Where no title to land lease c. no action of forgery 20 Forging of a deed touching iointenants lands 21 One sealeth a deed by anothers commaundement 22 One forgeth a deed and another doth publish it 23 Forgery by antedating of a deed 24 Getting of other mens goods by forged letters or tokens 25 Suspected persons of that kind of forgerie called before the Iustices 26 Forging of a Testimoniall Periurie Subornation Fol. 48. 1 Truth is to be tried by the oathes of men The credit of an oath 2 What sorts of persons are to be deposed and what not 3 All the parties to the execution of iustice sworne Causes of suspition in Sherifes in impanelling of Iurors 4 Euery Iuror ought to be an honest and lawfull man Challenges of Iurors suspected 5 A witnesse cannot be a Iuror 6 Periury suspected by deliuery of his verdict before hand 7 Periury suspected by lying at the charge of one of the parties 8 Periury suspected by beeing an arbitrator in the cause in question 9 Periury suspected by combination 10 Periury suspected if one of the parties and a Iuror bee in suit of law 11 Periury suspected for that the Iuror passed against him before 12 Periurie suspected in respect of subiection or gouernement 13 Periurie suspected in respect of alliance kinred or profit One godfather to the others child 14 Periury suspected in respect of ignorance of the cause Want of Hundredors Want of the View 15 Periurie suspected in respect of the pouertie of the Iurors 16 The iudgement in an Attaint at the common law against a Iury proued periured 17 The iudgement in an Attaint in London An Attaint where the thing in question amounteth to 40. poūds and where not 18 The meaning to commit Periurie punished Decies tantum Embraceors 19 The punishment of Periurie committed by an Enquest in Wales 20 Periury committed by witnesses A witnesse vpon proces serued shall appeare 21 The penalty for procuring of vnlawfull Periury 22 The penalty for committing of wilfull Periury 23 In what Courts Periurie shal be punished 24 Proclamation of the statute of Periury 25 Periury punished in the spirituall Court 26 Periurie punished in the Starre-chamber 27 Periurie punished in Bankrupts Periury committed by witnesses for Bankrupts 28 Periury committed vpon an indictment of Riot Periury vpon an indictment of Felony 29 Periury in prouing a Suggestion for a prohibition 30 A suit vpon Periury in the Chauncerie 31 Where Periury shall be punished in the temporall court and where in the spirituall Maintenance Champertie Embracerie and buying of Titles Fol. 56. 1 What Maintenance is and the enormitie thereof 2 Maintenance by men of authority 3 Maintenance by combination Maintenance by Noblemens officers 4 Maintenance by champerty Who be champertors Pleaders may giue counsell for their fees The punishmēt of champertors 5 What is Champerty and what not 6 Maintenance by Embracery Maintenance by Iurors The penalty of maintenance in Iurors and Embraceors 7 Maintenance punished by the writ of Decies tantum 8 Maintenance by Ambidexter 9 Maintenance of suits in law and the penalties thereof 10 Maintenance by buying of pretenced Titles 11 What is selling of a pretenced Title What is a pretenced Title 12 Maintenance by giuing of liueries and retaining of seruants or officers 13 The publishing inquiring of and punishment of Maintenance 14 Why the pursuing of maintenance is left out of the statute of 18. Eliz. 15 Assurances to haue maintenance void Lands gotten by force assured to haue maintenance 16 What maintenance is punishable and what iustifiable 17 It is no maintenance in a Iuror for giuing of his verdict Maintenance in a Iuror by suing for iudgement 18 What is Maintenance in a Iuror and what not 19 Maintenance by speaking of words Maintenance by comming to the barre with one of the parties 20 Maintenance by giuing of money to labour a Iury. 21 What is maintenance in witnesses and what not 22 Maintenance by procuring of an Indictment 23 What is maintenance in a Mainpernor 24 Maintenance in respect of his interest in the land Maintenance in respect of his possibility to haue the land Maintenance in respect of his warranty 25 Maintenance in respect of his rent A Lord may maintaine his tenant 26 Maintenance in respect of his debt 27 Maintenance in respect of his title to goods Maintenance by detaining of a writing deliuered in trust 28 Maintenance in respect of his ioint estate with others Maintenance by all the inhabitants of a parish 29 Maintenance of the poore in their suits Clerkes Counsellours and Atturneyes assigned to aid the poore 30 Maintenance in respect of kinred or alliance Vnlawfull maintenance is continuall during that suit Maintenance in respect of Gossiprie 31 Maintenance in respect the party could not speake English 32 Maintenance in a professor of the Law 33 Maintenance by an Atturney 34
any other priuat person who intrudeth himselfe without warrant to be a censor of manners rather séeketh the discredite of the partie then the reformation of his faults for this secreat searching into sifting of other mens conditions dyuing into their offences divulging them to their discredites doth conuince the offendor to be a man of lewde disposition to haue made shipwracke of his conscience doth brand him during his life with the name of an infamous Libeller or slaunderous backbiter And therefore by Gods owne commandement it is specially giuen in charge to euery of his people Non maledices principi populi tui Non fasias calumniam proximo tuo Psal 100. And king Dauid saith Detrahentem secreto proximo suo hunc persequebar And God doth threaten that he himselfe will take reuenge of the slaunderer Psal 49. saying Sedens aduersus fratrem tuum loquebaris aduersus filium matris tuae ponebas scandalum haec fecisti tacui exictimasti inique quod ero tui similis sed arguam te et statuam contra faciem tuam And as infamous libelling secret defaming be oft times the causes of grudges séeking of reuenge and thereby of quarrels in like sort words of slaunder or spéeches of disgrace openly published to the face of an other or behind his backe be also firebrands of variance dissention fighting and the shedding of bloud and so be speciall meanes of the breach of the peace Action vpon the case for slaunder is contra pacem As it may partly appeare by the words of the kings writ alwayes inserted in an action vpon the case brought by one person against an other for speaking of slaunderous words in which writ it is supposed that the words were spoken Ad graue damnum ipsius querentis contra pacem nostram And the same is further proued by the words of the statute of An̄ 2. St. 2. R. 2. 5. R. 2. whereby it is ordeined That because publishing of false newes tales and lyes of Prelates Dukes Earles Barons Slaundering of Noble men or great Officers other noble and great men of the Realme or of the Chauncellor Treasorer Clerke of the priuie Seale Steward of the Kings house Iustice of the one Bench or of the other or of other great Officers of the Realme debate discord or matter of discord or slaunder may rise betwéene the Lords commons whereof great perill may come to the Realme and spéedy subuersion destruction of the same therefore it was enacted by the said statute That if any do commit the before specified offence he shall be taken imprisoned according to the statute of Westm̄ 1. St. 3. E. 1. 34. vntill he hath brought forth him which did speake the same St. 12. R. 2. 41. And further by an other statute made An̄ 2. R. 2. it was moreouer enacted That when the said offendor is taken imprisoned and can not find him that spake the words then he shall be punished by the aduise of the Councell And to the intent that such euill disposed persons which by their lewde spéeches slaunderous words or reports do indeuor to breake or disquiet the peace of the Realme Sta. 1. 2. P. M. 3. might the sooner be inquired of found out punished By a stat made An̄ 1. 2. P. M. it was further established That the Iustices of peace in euery shire citie towne corporat within the limits of their seuerall commissions shall haue full power to examin heare determine the causes abouesaid in the said 2. acts of 3. E. 1. 2. R. 2. specified to put the said 2. stat euery branch in them conteyned in due execution that condigne punishment be not deferred from such offendors And besides the before mentioned penalties assigned to be inflicted vpon transgressors by the foresaid stat euery noble man or great officer of the realme against whom any scandalous words 11. El. Dy. 285. Co. li. 4. 12. false newes or lies be spoken may prosecute against the offendor an action De scandalis magnatū recouer damages against him And in like sort may euery inferior person for any such like words of infamie spoken against him pursue an action vpon his case against the offēdor recouer his damages And further if one person shall exhibit a bill in the Starre chamber against an other amongst other things charge him with murder piracy robbery or other felony or to be a procurer thereof or accessory thereunto or with any other offence which is not examinable in the said court the defendāt in the said bil may prosecute against the complainant therein an action vpon the case recouer his damages for this bil was exhibited of malice by the complainant to remaine of record in the said court to the infamie slander of the defendant not to punish him for the said offences suggested in the sāe bil by a course of justice séeing the court of Starre chamber hath no authoritie to inquire of or punish the same offences But if the complainant doth suggest in his said bill of complaint any matter against the defendant which is examinable in the said court then no action vpon the case is maintenable against him by the defendant therefore though the matter surmised be méerely false for it is done in a course of justice Et sub iudice lis est whether the matters suggested be true or false vntil they be proued And in former ages spéeches tēding to the reproch of others were so odious that K. Edgar ordeined that his tongue should be cut out which did speake any infamous or slaunderous words of an other Edg. Lex 4. But though it be true as is aforesaid that infamous libels secret defamations or publick slanders or reproches be oft times more offensiue to the party taxed therby then open menaces and threates of violence are Yet séeing for the most part menaces springing out of distemperat cholericke humors do more hastilie break forth into further fury extremities tending to the breach of the peace then libelling secret defamation doe which must haue a breathing time to be inquired of bolted forth and then to be punished Therefore I will omit to write any further of libelling or defamation goe forward with menaces c. tota sequela sua 2 Menaces assaults batteries be things of seuerall natures yet for the most part they tend to one effect viz. to hurt him against whom they are bent menacing is a threatening of some hurt to be done or procured by the speaker or some other by his meanes to the person of the hearer or his wife seruant tenant or other The differēce of menace assault and battery whereby he receiueth losse or hurt Assault is an attempt to execute the thing menaced by force violence Battery is the performing of the thing before threatened viz. the beating
did loose his seruice it is a good plea for the defendant to say that he was not the plaintifs seruant or that he was the defendants seruant and not the plaintifs or that he was farmor tenant neighbor or soiourner with the plaintife and not his seruant or that the partie beaten was the plaintifs wife And in the said action of trespas of assault and batterie for the beating of his seruant 22. H. 6. 43. he néed not declare of the retainer of the same seruant for if he did but serue his master at his pleasure yet the master shall haue an action of trespas for the losse of his seruice 14 As the law doth allow a man to beat another in defence of his person Battery in defence of his goods from extreame peril so doth she tollerate one man to beat another for the preseruation of his goods from rapine and spoile for as it standeth not with the peace of the realme that one man without some lawful cause should beat another so it standeth not with the iustice of the realme that one man should take anothers goods iniuriously from him And he that will attempt by force and violence to take away another mans goods wrongfully from him 9. E. 4. 28. 19. H. 6. 31. 65. Kel p. 92. may iustly by force strong hand be resisted And if in that case he that shall make an assault to take those goods be in the encounter beaten by the owner of the same goods the law will excuse the owner therin protect him to defend those goods wherof he hath a lawfull propertie And the same law is if a man hath no propertie in goods but onely a possession by the bailement of another to bee redeliuered when they shall be required if in this case a stranger will assay by force to take the same away Lib. Intr. 553. he that hath the possession of the same goods though it be but a bloodhound may defend the same by force And if the said stranger shal be hurt or beaten in that assault he shall haue no remedy by action of trespas or otherwise against him that had the said possession for he may iustifie the defence of the goods so bailed vnto him in respect that he hath the lawful possession of thē and standeth chargeable to redeliuer them or the very value of them to him the bailed them vnto him whensoeuer he shall be required Battery in defence of his land lease or way And so it is if one hath a mill whereunto a riuer or spring of water doth run 3. H. 4. 9. and hath run time out of the remembrance of man and another would stop the course of that water turne it another way the owner of the mill doth disturbe him therein wherupon that other doth assault and attempt to beat him In this case if the owner of the mill for his owne safegard and for the defence of his auncient water course doth beat him againe it is iustifiable for this beating was not an intended breach of the peace but to defend him from violence offered to his person Lib. Intr. 554. 11. H. 6. 33. 10. E. 4. 6. and iniurie to his fréehold or terme And the same law is in euery case of batterie of another who doth menace or assault the right owner and attempt to beat him for the lawfull defence of his owne fréehold or terme or from his lawfull high way 9. E. 4. 3. 15 If one man do make assault vpon another attempting to beat him Battery inresisting a Iustice of peace so to breake the peace if a Iu. of peace do command him that maketh the assault to kéep the peace to surcease his assault he wil not do it or wil answer that he will not the Iust of peace may lay his hands vpon the offendor arrest him to find sureties of his good behauiour and if the offendor doe make rescue and resist the arrest by force and then be beaten hee shall haue no remedie against the same Iustice of peace who hath done nothing but that which belonged to his office and dutie and the offendor first in breaking the peace and after in resisting the Iustice of the Law being beaten by the Iustice of Peace or any other in his company hath worthily tasted the due reward of his owne disobedience And also the Iustice of peace may in this case commit the offendor to prison vntill he hath found sureties to kéep the peace A Iustice of peace may arrest one to find suretie of peace 21. H. 7. 22. 9. E. 4. 3. and though he doth let the same partie after to goe at libertie without finding suretie of peace yet he shall haue no action or other remedy to punish the same Iustice because he is Iustice of Record A schoolemaster beateth his scholler 16 In an action of trespasse of assault and batterie 21. E. 4. 6. Li. Intr. 555 it is a good plea for the defendant to plead that he is a schoolemaster and a teacher instructer of children and that the plaintife put himselfe to be scholler with him to be taught instructed in his booke and because the plaintife was carelesse and negligent in learning of that whereof he was instructed or did beat abuse other schollers his schoole-fellows the defandant did beat him with a rod as it was lawfull for him to doe A master beateth his prentice 17 And likewise in an action of trespasse of assault and batterie it is a good plea for the defendant to plead that he is a free man of the citie of London 21. E. 4. 6. 53. occupying the trade of a draper that the plaintife beeing aboue the age of xiiij yeares put himselfe apprentise vnto him to serue him in that trade by the space of vij yeares And because the plaintife was negligent in learning his trade he did strip him and beat him with a rod as it was lawful for him to do and if he did not sufficiently beat him for his offence at one time hee may beat him againe And in like sort if a villaine wil not be iustified by his Lord nor obedient vnto him it is lawfull for the Lord to chastise and beat him or to imprison him or to inflict any reasonable punishmēt vpon him so that he do not maihem or kill him for in the foresaid cases the schoolemaster master and Lord haue a ciuill power and authoritie ouer the scholler seruant and villaine Some doe hold that if an apprentice or seruant be aboue the age of xxj years and then do his seruice negligently that his master ought not to beat him therefore but to haue an action of couenant against him But note the forme of the Indenture of an apprentice touching chastising him And it appeareth by the Statute of 33. H. 8. 12. that the master may strike his seruant with his hand fist Stat. 33.
H. 8. 12. small staffe or sticke for correction and though he do draw blood S. Br. 28. Beating of a man that is franticke 18 If a man be franticke furious or mad 22. Assise p. 56. 22. E. 4. 45. and attempteth being at liberty to burne an house or to doe some other mischiefe or to hurt himselfe or others it is lawfull for his parents kinsmen and other friends to take him put him into an house to bind him and to beat him with rods to doe any other forcible act to reclaime him or to kéep him in a house or place alone where he shal do no hurt And he shall haue not action of trespasse of assault and batterie action of false imprisonment nor other remedie against them for in this case and the others before rehearsed the peace of the realme was not broken but a lawfull punishment was inflicted vpon those who had deserued it to the end they should be reformed and hereafter doe their duties the better Beating of one that will not yéeld to arrest 19 If one man do enter a plaint against another in a court hauing iurisdiction to hold plea of that suit 2. E. 4. 6. 21. H. 7. 39. and the Sergeant of the court doth arrest the defendant and the defendant will draw his sword to defend himselfe and after doth run away with intent to escape from the Sergeant if in this case the Sergeant and he that did enter the plaint do pursue him beate hurt him if he will not be apprehended and yéeld to the arrest they may iustifie the same in an action of Trespas of assault and batterie for they haue not broken the peace nor offended the Law in séeking to iustifie him who doth attempt to flie from the justice and indifferent triall of the law But if the partie had not béen arrested the Sergeant nor any other with him could haue iustified the beating of him 38. H. 6. 25. 20 In an action of Trespas of assault and batterie the defendant pleaded Beating of a seruant departing out of his seruice that the plaintife was his seruant retained departed out of his seruice and that he laid hold vpon him and led him home to his house to doe his seruice But this was adiudged no plea for it is not lawfull for the Master in this case to beate or forciblie to compell his seruant against his will to returne and do his seruice but to require him to do it and if he will not then the Master may haue an action of Couenant against his seruant and recouer so much in dammages as he hath receiued hinderance by the losse of his seruice But by the statute made AnÌ„ 5. Sta. 5. El. 4. Eliz. it is ordeined That if any seruant retained to serue in husbandry shall depart from his master mistresse or dames seruice before the end of his terme vnlesse it be for some reasonable and sufficient cause to be allowed by a Iustice of peace of the Countie or the Maior or other head officer of the Citie borough or towne corporat wherein the said Master mistresse or dame inhabiteth Or if any seruant at the end of his terme depart from his master mistresse or dames seruice without one quarters warning giuen before the end of his terme and before two lawfull witnesses Then vpon complaint made by the said Master c. to two Iustices of peace of the Countie or to the Maior or head officer of the citie borough c. they or any of them shall haue power to heare and examine the matter and finding the said seruant or the partie so refusing faultie in the premisses vpon such proofes and good matter as to their discretions shall be thought sufficient to coâ—mit him toward there to remaine without baile or mainprise vntill he shall be bound to the partie to whom the offence shall be made to continue with him for the wages limitted by this statute and then to be discharged vpon his deliuerie without paying any fée to the Gaoler where he shall be so imprisoned And as the Master cannot by beating nor by force compell his seruant 38. H. 6. 25. 21. Ass p. 85 to serue him against his will No more can a Lord compell his ward A Gardian may not beat his ward by beating or by force to come vnto him or to tarie with him against his will But if he doe depart from him then his Lord is to haue his action against him 22. Ass pla 59. 27. Ass p. 4. Fitz Trespas 238. 21 H. 6. 39. 21 If A. commaund procure or hyre B. to smite Commaundement of batterie or beate C. and he doth assault and beate C. in the presence of A. In this case C. may haue an action of Trespas of assault and batterie against A. and recouer dammages against him or against A. and B. together for here the peace was broken and wrong done to C. by the meanes and perswasion of A. And B. had not striken with his weapon if A. had not first striken with his tongue And the same law is if A. go to fight with C. and desireth B. to go with him and after doth méete with C. and doth assault and beate him In this case C. may haue an action of Trespas against A. and B. together or against B. alone though B. did not assault C. nor giue him any blowe and recouer dammages against him because he came in company with one that intended to breake the peace and to doe an vnlawfull act Hurting at some exercise 22 If two or more doe agrée together to runne at tilt iuste barriers Fitz. barre 244. or to play at backsword bucklers footebal or such like one of them doth beat bruise or wound an other the party grieued shal not haue an action of Trespas of assault batterie against the other for that it was a combate by consent put in practise to try their strength valour or agilitie not to break the peace But if the same day or some other after that the pastime is at an end they departed a sunder one will assault or beate an other in respect of some wrong conceiued to be receiued in the time of the said play then an action of Trespas of assault battery may be pursued by him that is so beaten against the trespassor Whipping of a Vagabond 23 In an action of Trespas of assault battery it is a good plea for the defendant to plead that the plaintif was by the stat made An. 39. St. 39. El. 4. El. intituled an Act for punishment of Rogues Vagabonds sturdy beggers declared to be a Rogue Vagabond or sturdy begger that he was taken begging vagrant misordering himselfe at L. in the County of N. that vpon his apprehension by the appointment of A. B. one of the Iustices of peace of the said County of N. or of the Constable Headborough or
Charter of pardon which is allowed he may haue an action of Trespas against the offendor for the assault batterie made before the Outlawrie for the said outlawrie shall not extinguish his action nor cause that offence which before was punishable to be vnpunished And if the partie beaten should not haue his Action the iniurie done vnto him should be vnpunished for the King shall haue no remedy to recouer damages for this batterie done to the person of him that was outlawed 29. Ass p. 47 63. as he might haue had if any debt had béen owing or any goods had béen taken from the outlaw before his outlawrie And the Law doth expect that for the peace broken and the wrong done to the partie grieued the same partie shall vpon his action of Trespas brought be recompenced by the recouerie of his dammages and the king satisfied for his peace broken by a fine 11. H. 4. 65. 9. H. 6. 60. 27. Ass p. 57 33 In an action of Trespas of assault and batterie A man first indicted of batterie and after sued for the same trespas the defendant pleaded not guiltie the plaintife replied that the defendant was before that time indicted before the Iustices of Peace of the same Countie of the said assault and batterie and thereupon proces was awarded against him for the kings fine who then appeared and pleaded that the hurt which the plaintife receiued was by his owne assault and thereupon they were at issue and before the verdict the defendant appeared and confessed the Trespas and submitted himselfe to the Kings fauour and made his fine and demaunded iudgement if he should be allowed to plead not guiltie contrarie to his owne confession and this was adiudged a good Replication and an Estoppell of the said plea in barre And then the defendant pleaded that the hurt which the plaintife receiued was by his owne assault vpon which plea the plaintife demurred séeing the defendant before had pleaded that plea against the King And then he also waiued that plea and confessed the trespas whereupon a writ was awarded to inquire of dammages And so for this assault and batterie the king was first intituled to a fine by the Indictment and after the partie grieued recouered dammages by an action of Trespas 34 Imprisonment is where a man is arrested by force against his will and is restrained of his libertie What imprysonment is and put in a common Gaole or other gaole Lib. Intrac fol. 319. in a cage or in the stockes or otherwise kept in the high streete or open field if he be in restraint and cannot go at libertie when he will but is bound to become obedient to the will of the Law and is in the custodie of the Law And in all the cases aforesaid the partie so restrained is said to be a prisoner so long as he hath not his liberty fréely to go at all times when he will without baile mainprise or other restraint And therefore if one person do arrest imprison or otherwise restraine an other person of that libertie without sufficient and lawfull cause the partie grieued may haue an action of False imprisonment or an action of Trespas against him that doth so arrest An action of False imprysonment or imprison him and recouer damages against him And the King shall also haue a fine of him for that his law is contemned and his peace is broken in that one of his subiects presumeth to imprison an other without sufficient warrant of him or his law seeing imprisonment of an other by only act will or commaundement without offence of the Law is one of the kings most royall prerogatiues and only annexed to the maiestie dignitie and imperiall Crowne of this Realme For by the Statute of Magna charta it was specially ordeined Stat. 9. H. 3. 29. That no man shall be taken or imprisoned or disseised of his fréehold or liberties or frée customes or be outlawed or exiled or any other wayes destroyed neither shall any passe or fit in iudgement vpon him but by lawfull iudgement of his Péeres or by the Law of the land And by the statute of AnÌ„ 28. Ed. 3. it was enacted Stat. 28. Ed. 3. 3. That no man shall be put out of his land or tenement nor imprysoned nor disherited nor put to death without being brought in aunswere by due proces of the Law And therefore whereas the Maior and Burgesses of a towne corporate being before authorized by the Kings letters patents to make ordinances for the good gouernment of the same Towne did condiscend amongst themselues Co. Lib. 5. 64. to leuie a summe of money for the charges of a lawfull and necessarie act to be done in the same Towne and did further agrée that if any of them did refuse to pay his part of that contribution money so assessed to be paied that then he should be committed to pryson vntill he had paid it and after one of the Burgesses of the Towne which before had agréed to the same assessement ordinance Voluntarie consent no cause of imprysonment refused to pay the money which he was by the residue assigned and assessed to pay whereupon the Maior of the same Towne committed him to pryson against whom the same Burgesse brought his action of False imprisonment and recouered dammages against the same Maior for though the same Burgesse all others of the same Corporation might haue submitted himselfe to haue paid a summe of money to haue béen leuied by distresse or action of debt if he or they had not performed the same order paid his part of that contribution yet the libertie or impriâ—onment of his bodie resteth in the censure iudgement of the Law and not in his owne disposition As if B. do promise C. or be bound by Obligation vnto him that if he do not paie vnto the same C. xx li. within sixe monethes that then C. shall take and impryson him vntill he hath paid it notwithstanding B. do not pay to C. the same xx l. at the time assessed C. may not imprison B. for it though it was his owne promise agréement or bond for that B. is not iudged by his péeres or condemned by the law of the land according to the foresaid statute of Magna Charta Neither is he brought to answere by due Proces of the law according to the purport of the before specified statute of An 28. E. 3. 35 But in many cases one person may arrest ImprisonmeÌ„t by the commaundment of the King his Iustices c. imprison and restrayne an other of his libertie and no action of false imprisonment action of Trespas or other remedie will be had against him As first it is a lawfull imprisonment which is done by the absolute commaundement of the King the chiefe Soueraigne head of the common weale by his owne mouth or by the priuie Councell which speake and direct by his Authoritie or by
purport of it but of his owne wrong But if the Sherifes Baylie doe arrest the man 11. H. 4. 58. 21. H. 7. 22. and the Sherife doth not retorne the writ the partie arrested shall not haue an action of false imprisonment against the Bailie for the Sherifes offence shall not preiudice the Baylie and the Baylie can not compell the Sherife to returne the writ for a Shirife or a Bailie errant which is knowen and sworne may arrest a man without shewing his warrant A knowne officer may arrest without shewing his warrant for euery man is bound to take knowledge of them But where the Sherife doth make a precept to an other to arrest he must shew his warrant 21. H. 7. 22. 11. H. 4. 36. And if a Capias be awarded to the Sherife without an originall to take a man and he doth take him yet the partie grieued shall not haue his action of false imprisonment against the Sherife for that he did it by warrant of the Kings writ Arresting a man by a Capias without an originall for it is a good plea in an action of False imprisonment to say that he is Shirife of the Countie of M. and that he did arrest the plaintife by force of a Capias directed to him which is the same imprysonment 22. E. 4. 47. Arresting vpon suspicion of felony 46 In an action of False imprisonment 7. H. 4. 35. 27. H. 8. 23. it is no plea for the defendant to plead that it was told him that the plaintife had brought cattell to the towne and put them in a blind corner and that there was great cause of suspicion that the plaintife had stollen them whereupon he did arrest him for suspicion only without a felony committed is no cause to arrest an other But if a felonie be done in those parts and one doth suspect an other to haue committed the same felony then he may arrest him for a Iustice of peace can not arrest an other of suspition of felonie 14. H. 8. 16. vnlesse he himselfe doth suspect him to haue committed felonie And somuch an other may doe that doth suspect one to haue committed felony viz. if he himselfe doth suspect him to haue committed the felony The common voice fame of the countrey cause of suspition The common voyce and fame of the Country is a great cause of suspition of felony where a felonie is committed 2. H. 7. 15. 5. H. 7. 4. 11. E. 4. 4. And therefore in an action of false Imprisonment the defendant pleaded that there was a felonie committed and the common voyce and fame of the Countrie was that the plaintife was a man of euill behauiour and had done the same felony whereupon he that was robbed came to the Constable and requested him to arrest the plaintife and the Constable came to the defendant and desired him to assist him to arrest the plaintife the which he did and they arrested him And this was allowed a good iustification and sufficient cause to arrest the plaintife séeing there was a Robbery committed and the common voyce and fame of the Countrie accused the plaintife thereof 5. H. 7. 4. And in like sorte in an action of false imprisonment the defendant pleaded that I. S. was poysoned and that the common voyce and fame of the Countrie was that the plaintife had poysoned him whereupon the defendant apprehended the plaintife Suspected of poysoning and committed him to prison as it was lawfull for him to doe And this was also adiudged a good Plea in barre of the said action for séeing a felony was committed and the common voyce and fame of the Countrie had accused the plaintife thereof euery person who him selfe hath suspition that the plaintife hath committed the same felony may arrest him thereof And so it is if in an action of false imprisonment the defendant doe pleade that before the imprisonment A. B. was slaine at C. and the plaintife was in the company of those who killed him at the time of the felony committed 7. Ed. 4 10. 7. Eliz. Dy. 236. Suspected of Manslaughter and the common voice and fame of the Countrie at C. was that the plaintife was partie to the felonie whereupon the defendant found the plaintife at C. and arrested him for suspition of felonie and committed him to the Sherife which is the same imprisonment And this was allowed a good and sufficient Plea and not double though the defendant did alledge the common voice and fame of the country and the being in company with those that killed A. B. for where a man doth iustifie for suspition of felonie he may shew as many causes of suspition as he can And it is a good cause of suspition to say Causes of suspition that huy and crie was leuied after a felony committed and that the plaintife was a man suspected Or to say that the plaintife was a vagarant exercising no trade to get his liuing by and no laborer Or to pleade that parcell of the goods stollen were taken in the possession of the plaintife 38. Ed. 3. 6. 10. H. 7. 20. 47 In an action of false imprisonment Arresting vpon doubts of Manslaughter the defendant pleaded that the plaintife had so beaten and wounded an other man that he was in great perill and daunger of death and that vpon the same huy and cry was leuied whereupon the defendant being Constable did arrest and imprison the plaintife foure dayes vntill it might be knowen whether the partie wounded were like to liue or dye and when he perceiued that the partie beaten was like to liue he did let the plaintife go at libertie and this was adiudged a good plea in barre 24. Ed. 3. 9. And in the like case in an action of False imprisonment brought against one the defendant pleaded that the King had directed a Commission to certaine persons to apprehend those that were notoriously slaundered for felonies or great trespasses notwithstanding they were not indicted thereof and that the plaintife had most dangerously wounded I.S. whereupon the Commissioners directed their warrant to the defendant to apprehend the plaintife which he did accordingly And this was allowed a good iustification and the plaintife was barred of his action for in both these cases the peace was broken and at the time of the arrest it was vncertaine whether the offence would proue felonie or not A Iustice of peace warrāt to arrest a felon 48 In an action of False imprisonment the defendant iustified 14. H. 8. 16. for that a Iustice of peace directed a warrant vnto him to arrest the plaintife for felony which he did And it was holden that a Iustice of peace cannot make a warrant to arrest a Felon vnlesse he be indicted for he is a Iudge of record and he must haue a record whereupon hee doth award his proces But if a Bailife serue his warrant it is a
of a Iust of peace threaten to kill maihem wound or beate an other or to burne his house or in his presence do offer to strike or beate an other the Iustice of peace may commaund him by word to find suertie of peace Or if one man will demaund of a Iustice of peace the suertie of the peace against an other man who is then in the presence of the said Iustice of peace and will then and there be sworne that he is affraid of him the Iustice of peace may by word commaund the same partie to find suertie of peace or otherwise he may commaund the Shirife Bailife or some knowen officer or his owne seruant being then present to arrest the same partie and to bring him before him to find suertie of peace But if the partie against whom the peace is demaunded or the Shirife or Baylife be absent and not at that time in the presence of the Iustice of peace Then the same Iustice must make a warrant or precept in writing to the Constables Boursholders Tythingmen c. or to any other man though he be no Officer to arrest the same partie and to bring him before him or some of his fellow Iustices to find suertie of peace In which Precept must be conteined the cause why the peace was graunted and at whose suit to the intent that the partie to be bound may prouide his suerties ready and take them with him to the Iustice of peace Suertie of peace commaunded by writing And the warrant ought to beare date of the place where it was made 14. H. 8. 18. to the intent that if an action of False imprisonment be brought against him that made the same arrest by force of that warrant the defendant in his plea must shew the place where it was made If suertie of peace be required of a Iustice of peace of one County which at that time remayneth out of the Countie where he is Iustice against a man of the Countie where he is Iustice the same Iustice may graunt a precept to be serued in the Countie where he is Iustice A Iustice remayning out of the countie But when the partie shall be warned to find suerties Plow Com. fol. 37. 13. Ed. 4. 8. the officer must not carrie him out of that Countie to the Iustice that made the precept but to some other Iustice of that Countie for a Iustice hath no authoritie but in the Countie where he is Iustice The seruing of proces for the peace 74 If a Precept be made by a Iustice of peace either as he is a Iudge or as he is a minister to two men to arrest a man to find suertie of the peace yet one of them alone may do it If it be directed to the Shirife he may commaund his Vndershirife Bailife or other sworne or knowen officer to serue it Who may serue a warrant without writing who not without any precept by writing But if he will commaund an other man that is no knowen officer to serue it he must deliuer him a precept in writing for otherwise he doth if not by sufficient warrant so a writ of False imprysonment will lie against him for the arrest And if a Iust of peace do direct his warrant to the Shirifes Bailife his owne seruant or to a stranger to arrest one for to find suertie of the peace the partie to whom that warrant is made must serue it himselfe for he can commaund none other to do it either by precept or word A sworne knowen officer be he Shirife Vndershirife or Bailife Who may serue a warrant without shewing of it and who not c. 8. E. 4. 14. 20. H. 7. 13. néed not to shew his warrant to a man when he commeth to serue it vpon him for his knowen office doth authorize him But if a Iustice of peace will direct his warrant to his seruant or to an other stranger to serue he must shew his warrant to the partie if he will demaund it or otherwise the partie may make resistance and néed not to obey it And if the party against whom the suertie of the peace is graunted Refusing to obey the Iustices warrāt will vpon the seruing of the Iustices precept refuse to come to be bound to the peace the partie to whom the warrant is directed may commit him to the gaole of the same Countie there to remaine vntill he will find suerties A warrant for the peace Buck. The forme of which warrant for the peace is this viz. Anthonius Greenway Miles vnus Iusticiariorum domini Regis nunc ad pacem in Comitatu praedicto conseruandam assignatus vicecomiti comitatus praedicti Nec non omnibus singulis Balliuis Constabularijs ceterisque Dn̄i Regis ministris tam infra libertates quam extra in eodem com̄ salutem Quia A. B. de Bechampton in comitatu praedicto Taylor venit coram me sacramentū praestitit corporale quod ipse sibi metuit damnum vel malum de vita mutilatione membrorum per R.C. de Stonistratford in comitatu praedict ' Butcher vel per alium per eius procurationem ficri Ideo vobis cuilibet vestrū exparte dicti Domini Regis mando quod capiatis seu vnus vestrum capiat p̄fatū R. C. ita quod habeatis seu vnus vestrū habeat corpus eius coram me vel aliquo sociorum meorum Iusticiaor̄ dicti dn̄i Regis ad pacem in p̄dict Comitur conseruandā assignatur quā cito capi possit ad inueniendā sufficientē securitatē quod ipse aliquod malum vel damnum de vita seu mutilitatione membrorū dicto A. B. non faciet nec fieri procurabit quouismodo Et si hoc facere recusauerit tunc ipsū R. C. Gaole dicti dn̄i Regis in comitatu p̄dict ' duci faciatur seu vnus vestrum duci faciat ibidem moraturum quousque hoc gratis facere voluerit Et qualiter hoc praeceptū fuerit executum scire facias dictis Iusticiarijs ad proxima generalem Sessionem pacis in com' paedict ' tenendam habeas ibi tunc hoc preceptum Dat. apud Lecomstead c. 21. H. 7. 21. Co. li. 5. 59. 75 If a Iustice of peace doe direct his warrant to a Constable or other officer to arrest one and to bring him before the same Iustice To which Iustice of peace the partie arrested is to be brought or some other of his companions to find suertie of the peace and he doth arrest him accordingly but will not bring him before such a Iustice of peace as the partie arrested will nominate but before some other yet notwithstanding the party arrested shall not haue an action of false Imprisonment or an action of the case nor other remedy against the same Constable or officer for it is in the discretion of the same Constable or officer to bring the party arrested before which Iustice of peace of that
County that he will so that he dwell within a conuenient distance and not too farre from the parties owne habitation But if a Supplicauit of the peace be directed to the Iustices of the peace the Iustice to whom the writ is first deliuered shall only make the precept to apprehend the partie to find suerty of the peace and that precept shall be retornable before him only and he only shall take the suerties and only make the retorne without the others Co. lib. 5. 59 And a Iustice of peace may if he will make a warrant to the Constable to bring the partie before himselfe 5. Ed. 4. 12. 76 If a Iustice of peace doe direct his warrant to the Constable A warrant to find suertie to keepe the peace or some other to cause A.B. to finde suerties to kéepe the peace The same Constable or c. must first require the same A.B. to find suerties to kéepe the peace and if he doe refuse it then he may arrest the same A. B. for if A. B. will finde suerties then the said Constable may not arrest him because the purport of the precept is performed which is if he refuse so to doe that then he shall conuey him to the Gaole And if the Constable shall arrest A. B. after that he hath found suerties according to the precept the same A. B. may haue an action of false imprisonment against him for that he hath arrested and imprisoned him without warrant or cause And likewise if the Constable do arrest A. B. and doe not carrie him before some Iustice of peace 5. E. 4. 6. to find suerties to kéepe the peace or if he resist or refuse so to doe then if he doe not carrie him to the Gaole A.B. may haue an Action of false Imprisonment against the Constable The partie must offer his suerties And when the partie commeth to the Iustice of peace by force of a warrant he must offer suerties to the Iust of P. or else he may commit him to prison 14. H. 7. 5. for the Iust néedeth not to demaund suertie of him Suerty of the peace dieth with the king 77 The suertie of peace is discharged by the kings death 1. H. 7. 1. for the band is to obserue the peace of the King and when he is dead it is not his peace So doth the death of the recognisor so doth also the death of him at whose suit it was taken discharge the suertie of the peace if in those cases it were not forfeited before The Iustices authoritie dieth with the King And in like sort when the King by his commission doth appoint Iustices of peace and after dieth or giueth ouer his crowne the Authoritie of the same Iustices doth cease for he maketh them Iusticiarios suos and therefore when he dieth their authority endeth The suertie for the peace must be named 78 When a Iustice of peace doth take suerties for the peace 2. H. 7. 4. it is not sufficient to say that I. N. hath found sufficient suertie for the peace without naming the names of the suerties but he must name their names and surnames He that is vound to the peace must appeare c. 79 If a man doe finde suerties to kéepe the peace 39. H. 6. 26. and hath day vntill a time prefixed he must appeare the same day although he who demaunded the peace doe not appeare or otherwise he shall forfeit his band But it is otherwise where a suit is betwéene party and party and the defendant being taken by a Capias is bound to appeare vpon a day appoynted 80 When the suertie of peace is graunted against a man by a Iustice of peace he will sometime rather desire to be bound to the peace by an other Iustice then by him that graunted the same and made the warrant And therefore he may offer himselfe to become bound to the peace to some other Iustice of peace of that County if he will A Supersedeas for the peace then procure a Supersedeas from that other Iustice before whom he is bound to all other Iustices of that Countie to be discharged of any other arrest to be made of him for the law doth not require that he should be seuerall times bound for one cause And this Supersedeas is sufficient although it neither name the suertie nor contein the summes wherin they are bound but yet it is a better forme to expresse them both as the Chauncerie and Kings Bench doe And when a man doth heare of such a precept awarded or granted against him by a Iust of peace of the County where he dwelleth he may go eyther giue suertie of the peace in the K. Bench or els in the Chancery thereupon may procure a Supersedeas from the court where he is bound to restrain the Iust of peace of the County to take any suertie of peace of him And then the Iustices of peace of that County must forbeare to make any warrant for the peace against the partie and if any of them haue awarded it A precept awarded by force of a Supplicauit he must make a Supersedias to discharge it But a Iust of peace of the county by a Supersedeas cannot discharge a precept that is awarded by his felow Iust by force of a Supplicauit directed to him out of the Chancery or the K. Bench to take the suertie of peace of one resident in that County If any officer hauing a warrant from a Iust of P. to arrest a man to find suerty of the peace shall receiue a Supersedeas out of the Chancery or the Kings Bench or from any Iustice of the Kings Bench or from any Iustice of peace of that County where he is commorant to discharge the same suerty of peace wil neuertheles vrge that partie against whom the same warrant is granted to find new suertie for the peace he may refuse to giue it And if the said officer will therupon vnder the color of his warrant commit him to prison the party imprisoned may haue an action of false impris against him for the the said warrrant is discharged by as great authoritie or greater as it was made and the thing for the which it was made is effected The forme of which Supersedeas graunted by a Iustice of the peace is this viz Thomas Denton Miles Buck. vnus Iusticiariorum dn̄i Regis nunc ad pacem in Comitatu p̄dicto conseruandum assignatur Vicecomiti comitatus praedicti A Supersedeas for the peace Nec non cibus singulis Balliuis Constabularijs ceterisque dicti dn̄i Regis ministris tam infra libertates quam extra in eodem Con̄i Salutē Quia A. B. de Poundon in com̄ praedict ' Laborer venit corā me in venit sufficientē securitatur qd'ipse comparebit ad proximā generalē Sessionē pacis in com̄ praedicto tenend ' Et quod ipse interim pacē dicti
persons vnlawfully assembled Then euery person which so being able and required doth willingly and obstinatly refuse so to doe shal suffer imprisonment for one yeare without baile or mainprise And as in al the cases aforesaid euery able person is bound vpon request to assist the Iustices shirifes other the Kings officers to pursue apprehend arrest and imprison Manquellors robbers felons or other disturbers of the peace and so to do his whole endeuor to be a conseruator of the peace of the Realme Euerie person must assist to execute the K. Writ In like sort is euery able person bound by the common law and by the Stat. of Westm̄ 1. Westm̄ 2. to be attendant vpon the Shirife St. 3. E. 1. 17. S. 13. E. 1. 39. or vndershirife in the execution of the kings writs and by that meanes to be a supporter of the justice of the Realme These offēces punishable in the Starre Chamber 86 Menaces assaults batteries imprisonments and maihems committed by some persons to some persons at some times in some places in some manner forme sort and with some circumstances besides the penalties aforesaid inflicted vpon the offendors therein are also punishable in the Kings high Court of the Starre chamber as other offences hereafter mentioned be as it doth more at large appeare in Oppressions 35. ¶ Of Riots Routs vnlawful and rebellious Assemblies RIots Routs The enormitie of Riots vnlawfull Rebellious assemblies haue bin so many times pernitious fatal enemies to this kingdom the peace tranquillity thereof haue so often shaken the foundation and put in hazard the very forme and state of gouernment of the same that our lawmakers haue béen enforced to deuise from age to age one law vpon an other one stat after another for the repressing punishing of them haue endeuoured by all their wits to snib the sprouts quench the very first sparkes of them as euery man may easily perceiue there was cause thereof who will looke back and call to his remembrance what that small Riot begun at Dartmouth in Kent in the raigne of King Richard the second betwéen the collector of a subsidy and a Tyler and his wife about the payment of one poore great did come vnto which being not repressed in time did grow to so great a rebelliō that after it put in hazard the life of the K. the burning of the Citie of London the ouerthrow of the whole Nobility gentlemen and all the learned of the land and the subuersion of this goodly Monarchy and forme of gouernment Or if they will call to mind the small Riot or quarrell begun in the raigne of King Henry the sixt between a Yeoman of the gard and a seruingman of Richard Neuils Earle of warwick which so farre increased for want of restraint that it was the roote of many wofull tragedies and a meane to bring to vntimely death first Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke proclaymed successor to the Crowne and the chiefe pillar of the house of Yorke and after him King Henry the sixt and Prince Edward his sonne the heires of the house of Lancaster and to ruinate with the one or the other of them most of the Péeres great men and gentlemen of the realme besides many thowsands of the common people West 1. 3 E. 1. 32. Sta. 7. Ed. 1. St. 13. E. 1. 6. And therefore King Edward the first did well ordaine That no Shirifes shall suffer Barretors or maintainers of quarrels in their Counties And that to all parliaments Treatises and other assemblies each man shall come peaceably without any armor and that euery man shall haue armor in his house according to his ability to kéepe the peace And King Edward the third prouided Statutes ordained to preuent forces or Riots that no man shall come before the Iustices St. 2. E. 3. 3. St. 5. E. 3. 14. nor goe or ride armed And that suspected lewd and riotous persons shall be arrested and safely kept vntill they be deliuered by the Iustices of Gaole deliuery St. 34. E. 1. 3. Sta. 2. R. 2. 6. And that Iustices of peace shall restraine offendors riotors and all other Barretors and pursue take and chasten them according to their Trespas and offence Sta. 5. R. 2. 6. St. 15. R. 2. 2 St. 7. R. 2. 13 King Richard the second did prohibit Riots Routs and forcible entries into lands that were made in diuers counties and partes of the Realme And that none from thenceforth should make any Riot or Rumor And that no man shall ride armed 20. Rich. 2. 1 nor vse Launcegaies And that no laborer seruant in husbandry or Artificer St. 12. R. 2. 6 or victualer shall weare any buckler sword or dagger And that all the Kings officers shall suppresse and imprison such as make any Riots Routs St. 17. R. 2. 8. or vnlawful assemblies against the peace King Henry the fourth enacted That the Iustices of peace the Shirife shall arrest those which commit any Riot Rout or vnlawfull assembly shall enquire of them and record their offences St. 13. H. 4. 7 King Henry the fift assigned commissioners to enquire of the same Iustices Shirifes defaults in that behalfe St. 2. H. 5. 8. and also limited what punishment offendors attainted of Riot should sustaine King Henry the seauenth ordained Sta. 19. H. 7. that such persons as were returned to enquire of Riots should haue sufficient fréehold or copihold land within the same Shire And that no maintenance should hinder their Inquisition And in the Raigne of Quéene Mary Sta. 1. M. 12. there was a necessary Statute established to restrain and punish vnlawfull and rebellious assemblies raised by a multitude of vnruly persons to commit certaine violent forcible and Riotous acts 2 As the said Lawes Statutes were deuised in seueral ages by the wisedom of the Realme to enquire of and restraine Riots Routs vnlawfull and rebellious assemblies and to checke violences and forces before they should grow to a head So haue our prouident forefathers erected the most honorable Court of Starre chamber The Court of Starre chambers authoritie to punish Riots c. to examine and punish those and other offences when they breake out to extremities viz. to great and haynous Riots or such like enormities thereby to kéepe euery person in awe and so the whole Realme in peace As appeareth by the Statute of Anno 3. H. 7. whereby it is inacted That the Chauncellour and Treasorer of England for the time being and the President of the Kings Councell St. 3. H. 7. 1. Stat. 21. H. 8. 22. and the kéeper of the Kings priuy seale or two of them calling to them a Bishop and a Temporall Lord of the Kings most honorable priuy Councell the two chiefe Iustices of the K. Bench and common place for the time being or other two Iust in their absence vpon bill or information put to
assemble for any of the sportes before mentioned but when the taking of parte with those that did quarrell beganne And therefore they onely who made themselues parties to that quarrell shall be punished as Riotors and none other And so it is if a Iurie be charged to trie an Issue if some of them fall out and fight this is no Riot in the residue assembling to a lawfull end 22. H. 6. 37 3. H. 7. 1. 10. St. 17. R. 2. 8. St. 1. M. 12. 8 St. 3. H. 4. 17 Sta. 8. H. 6. 9. St. 3. Ed. 1. 9. And it is lawfull for the Sheriffe Vndersheriffe or Bayliffe to take the power of the Countie what number they shall thinke good to execute the Kings processe And so may any Iustice or Iustices of Peace and the Sheriffe and the Vndersheriffe take any power of the Countie to represse Riots Routes vnlawfull or Rebellious Assemblies Or to remooue such persons as by Inquisition are found to haue made forcible Entries into other mens possessions or to detaine them with force And so may a Iustice of Peace Sheriffe or Constable take of the Countie any number that they will to pursue and apprehend Traytours Murderers Robbers or other felons or such as doe breake or goe about to breake or disturbe the peace For though in the cases last specified there be three or aboue assembled together yet it is to execute the iustice of the Lawe and by that meanes to preserue peace And it is a lawfull assembly which is gathered together to runne at Tilt Iusts or Barriers by the Kings commaundement for the cause beginning and end thereof doe tend to obedience the laudable exercise of true valour and manhood and to the encouragement and enabling of the actors therein to defend the Realme and the peace thereof 7 And though by the before specified Statute of Anno 34. Edw. 3. it is ordained that Iustices of Peace shall restraine offendors Riotors and all other Barrators and pursue take chasten imprison and punish them according to their trespasses and offences to the intent that the people bee not by such Riotors troubled or indammaged nor the peace broken nor any passengers by the way disturbed or put in perill Yet by force of that Statute the Iustices of Peace could not require the helpe of the Sherife nor commaund the power of the countie to helpe to assist them St. 17. R. 2. 8. to represse the said Riotors Whereupon by the before mentioned Statute of Anno 17. R. 2. it is defended That none shall make assemblies riot or rout against the peace in any wise And if any such assembly be begun as soone as the Sherifes Disturbing of riotors and other the Kings ministers may haue knowledge thereof they with the power of the countie where such case shall happen shall disturbe such malice with all their power and shall apprehend all such offendors and put them in prison vntill due execution of the law be made of them and all Lords and other liege people of the Realme shall attend with their whole strength and power the Sherifes and ministers aforesaid 8 But because the said Statute of 17. R. 2. or any other Statute or Law before that time made doth not enable the Iustices of Peace and Sherife to record that which they shall find done in their presence against the law nor to make enquirie thereof nor to heare and determine the same nor to make certificat thereof to the King and his counsell if the truth cannot be found Nor doth assigne what Proces shall bee awarded against the offendors nor doth inflict any penaltie vpon the Iustices which shall not execute the law Therefore by the before rehearsed Statute made Anno 13. St. 13. H. 4. 7 H. 4. it was established that if any riot assemblie or rout of people against the law be made in any part of the Realme the Iustices of peace three The Iustices and sherifs shall arrest Riotors or two of them at the least and the Sherife or Vndersherife of the shire where such riot assembly or rout shall be made shall come with the power of the countie if néed bée to arrest them And the Iustices Sherife or Vndersherife shall haue power to record that which they shall find done in their presence against the law And the same trespassors and offendors shall bee conuict by the Record of the same Iustices Sherife or Vndersherife in manner and forme as is contained in the Statute of forcible entries The forme of Recording of which riot is this Buck. Recording of a riot viz. Memorandum quod primo die Martij anno regni regis Domini nostri Iacobi dei gratur c. tertio Nos Franciscus Goodwin miles Alexander Hamden miles Iusticiarij domini Regis nunc ad pacem in comitatu praedicto conseruandam necnon c. assignati Richardus Ingolsby miles adtunc vicecomes eiusdem comitatus ad querimoniam A. B. de Wadsdon in comÌ„ praedicto yeoman in proprijs personis nostris accessimus ad domum mansionalem ipsius A.B. apud Wadsdon praedictur ibidem inuenimus quosdam C. D. E.F.G. alios malefactores pacis dicti domini Regis perturbatores ignotos ad numerum octo personarum modo guerrino arraiatos viz. cum gladijs baculis arcubus sagittis riotosè illegitimè aggregatos eandem domum sic custodientur in magnam perturbationem pacis dicti domini Regis populi sui terrorem contra formam statuti in Parliamento domini Henrici nuper Regis Angliae quarti Anno Regni sui decimo tertio tento editi Et ideo nos praefati F. G. A.H. corpora pÌ„dictoruÌ„ C.D.E.F.G. ad tunc arrestauimus ac proxime Gaole dicti domini Regis in Com' pÌ„dicto duci fecimus ê‘ recordum nostrum de transgressione praedicta conuictos in praesentia nostra ibidem moraturos quousque finem dicto domino Regi ê“ transgressione sua praedicta fecerunt In cuius rei testimonium huic recordo nostro sigilla nostra apposuimus Datur apud Wadsdon praedict ' die Anno praedictis 9 By the same Statute of 13. H. 4. it is further ordained St. 13. H. 4. 7 That if it happen such Trespassors and offendors be departed before the comming of such Iustices Inquirie of a Riot by the Iustices c. and Shirife or vndershirife the same Iustices thrée or two of them shall diligently inquire within a moneth after such Riot assembly or Rout of people so made and the same shall heare and determine according to the lawes of this Realme And because the said Iustices of peace Shirife c. are by this braunch of the Statute to make inquiry of the Riot which must be done by a Iury returned by the Shirife the forme of the said Iustices precept to the Shirife to returne the said Iury is this Buck. viz. Henricus Longuile miles Willihelmus Anderous miles Iusticiarij Domini
Regis nunc ad pacem in Comitatu praedicto conseruandam A precept to the Shirife to returne a Iurie to inquire of a Riot nec non ad diuersas felonias transgressiones et alia malefacta in eodem Comitatu audiendum terminandum assignati vicecomiti Comitur praedicti salutem Ex parte dicti Domini Regis tibi praecipimus firmitèr iniungentes quod non omittas ê“pter aliquam libertatem in Balliua tua quin eam ingrediaris venire facias coram nobis apud Cauluerton in Comitatu praedicto 10. die huius mensis Ianuarij 24. ê“bos legales homines Comitatur praedicti quorum quilibet habeat terras tenementa infra dictuÌ„ Comitatum liberi tenementi per chartam ad valoreÌ„ viginti solidorum aut per Copiam Rotulorum curie ad valorem 26. s. 8. d. aut de vtroque vltra omnes reprisas ad inquirendum pro dicto dnÌ„o Rege de quodam Riotto apud C. in comitatu pÌ„dicto nuper commisso vt dicitur qd'suê‘ quemlibet IuratoruÌ„pÌ„dictoruÌ„ tunc returnes in exitibus xx s. Et hoc nullatenus omittas sub pena xx.li. quam noueris te incursurum si in executione pÌ„missorum tepidus seu remissus fueris Et habeas ibi hoc praeceptum Testibus nobis pÌ„fatis H.L. W. A. quarto die Martij AnÌ„ regni dnÌ„i nostrÌ„ Regis Iacobi dei gratia c. tertio And when the Shirife hath returned his precept at a day and place then two Iustices of peace at the least without the Shirife who is not to sit vpon the Inquisition are to make enquiry by the same Iury returned the forme of which Inquisition is this Buck. Inquisitio pro Domino Rege capta apud Wynslowe in Comitatu praedicto primo die Octobris Anno Regni dicti domini nostri Regis Iacobi c. quinto coram Roberto Dormer milite Anthonio Tiringham milite adtunc Iusticiarijs dicti Domini Regis ad pacem in Comitatu praedicto conseruandam necnon ad diuersas felonias c. assignatis super sacramentum A. B. C. D. E. F. G. c. The forme of an inquisition of a Riot Qui dicunt super sacramentuÌ„ suum quod H. I. K. L. M. N. de Addington in Comitatu praedicto husbandmen c. simul cum alijs malefactoribus pacis dicti Domini Regis perturbatoribus ignotis ad numerum decem personaruÌ„ vi armis modo guerrino arraiati viz. cum gladijs Bacculis Arcubus Sagittis vicesimo die Septembris Anno quinto supradicto inter horas septimam vndecimam ante meridiem eiusdem diei domum mansionalem cuiusdam S. T. de Wynslowe praedictur fregâ—runt intrauerunt in ipsum S. T. adtunc ibidem insultum fecerunt ipsum verberauerunt vulnerauerunt maletractauerunt ita qd ' de vita cius desperabatur in magnam perturbationem pacis dicti domini Regis populi sui terrorem ac contra formam statuti de Riotis Routis illicitis congregationibus in parliamento domini Henrici nuper Regis Angliae quarti Anno regni sui decimo tertio aediti St. 13. H. 4. 7 10 By the foresaid Statute of 13. H. 4. it is moreouer established that if the truth cannot be found in maner aforesaid then within a Moneth next after the same Iustices thrée or two of them and the said Shirife Certifying a Riot or Vndershirife shall certifie before the King and his Councell of the whole fact and the circumstances thereof which certificat shall be of the same force that a presentment by twelue men is Vpon which certificat the said trespassors and offendors shall be put to aunswere and they which shall be found guilty shall be punished by the discretion of the King and his Councell And if the same trespassors and offendors do trauerse the matter so certified Trauerse of a Certificat the same certificat and trauerse shall be sent into the Kings Bench there to be tried and determined according to the order of the Law St. 13. H. 4. 7 11 The same Statute of 13. H. 4. hath also prouided that if the said trespassors and offendors do not come before the King and his Councell Proces against offendors or into the Kings Bench at the first precept then an other precept shall be deliuered to the Shirife of the Shire to take the said trespassors and offendors if they may be found and to bring them at a certaine day before the King and his Councell or into the Kings Bench And if they cannot be found the Shirife or Vndershirife shall make proclamation in his full Countie next insuing the said second precept that they shall appeare before the King and his Councell or in the Kings Bench or in the Chauncerie in the time of vacation within thrée wéekes then next following And if the offendors do not appeare as is aforesaid and the proclamation be made and returned they shall be attainted and conuicted of the Riot Assemblie and Rout aforesaid St. 13. H. 4. 7 12 By the said Statute of 13. H. 4. it was lastly enacted The forfeiture of the Iustices which do not inquire of Riots that the Iustices of peace which dwell néerest in euery County where such Riot of people shall be together with the Shirife or Vndershirife of the same Coâ—ntie And also the Iustices of assise for the time that they shall be in their Sessions in case any such Riot assemblie or Rout be made in their presence shall doe execution of this Statute euery one vpon paine of C. li. to be paied to the King as often as they shall be found in default of execution of the same Statute 13 Because it was not prouided by the foresaid Statute of 13. H. 4. A commission to inquire of the Iustices c. default that the partie grieued should haue any other remedie if default should be in the said Iustices Shirife or Vndershirife where such Riot assemblie or rout should be made nor at whose costes the same riot should be repressed neither was it limitted what punishment the parties attainted of such Riots should suffer St. 2. H. 5. 8. Therefore by an other Statute made Anno 2. H. 5. it was established That if default be found in the said two Iustices of peace or Iustices of Assise and the Shirife or Vndershirife of the Countie where such Riot assemblie or rout shall be made touching the execution that they ought to make by vertue of the said statute of 13. H. 4. and whereof the said Statute maketh mention Then at the instance of the partie grieued the kings commission shall be awarded vnder the great Seale to inquire aswell of the truth of the case and of the originall matter for the partie complaynant as of the default or defaults of the said Iustices Shirife or Vndershirife in this behalfe supposed to be directed to sufficient and indifferent
case of felony Relieuing them which be assembled 35 If any wife or seruant of any of the same persons 1. M. 12. or any other person whatsoeuer shall willingly and without compulsion bring send deliuer or conuey any money harnesse artillerie weapon meat bread drinke or other victuall to any person or persons so beeing assembled as is aforesaid during such time as he or they shall so be assembled or be together as is aforesaid then euery wife seruant or other person so bringing or conueying c. any of the foresaid things to the same persons so beeing assembled together in forcible manner or to any of them and not departing to their houses or dwelling places vpon request or commandement made vnto them as is aforesaid shall bee adiudged a felon shal suffer execution of death as in case of felonie Vnlawful assemblies aboue two and vnder twelue 36 If any persons aboue the number of 2. and vnder the number of 12. 1. M. 12. beeing assembled together shal intend goe about practise or put in vre with force of armes vnlawfully of their owne authoritie to murder kill or slay any of the kings subiects or to ouerthrowe cut breake or cast downe or dig vp the pales hedges ditches wall or other closure of any parkes or parke or other ground inclosed or the bankes of any fish-pond or poole to the intent that the same or any of them from thenceforth should remaine open not inclosed or void or to haue common or way in the same parks or parke or other grounds or ground inclosed or in any of them or to destroy any parkes or parke or fish-pond or poole or any warrens or warren of conies or any doue-houses or to pul or cut down any house barne or mil or to burne any stacke of corne or graine or to alter defaulke or abate the rents or yearely value of any mannors lands or tenements of any of the Kings subiects or the price of any victual corne or graine or any other thing vsuall for the sustenance or apparell of men and being required or commanded by any Iustice of peace or the sherife of the countie or by any mayor bailife or bailifes or other head officer of any citie or towne corporat where such assembly shall be had by Proclamation to be made in the Kings name to retire or returne to their habitations places or houses and they so required by such proclamation shall not so do but after that shall in forcible manner in forme aforesaid attempt to do or put in vre any of the things last aboue mentioned then euery of the same persons beeing aboue the number of two and vnder the number of twelue shall suffer imprisonment of his or their bodies by the space of one whole yeare without baile or mainprise The remedie of the parties grieued And also if any person or persons shall be damnified or hurt by the doing committing or putting in vre of any vnlawfull act or thing aboue mentioned then all and singular persons so damnified and hurt shall recouer and haue dammages with the costs of their suit sustained in that behalfe trebled against the offendors therein 1. M. 12. 37 If any persons aboue the number of two shal vnlawfully of their own authoritie assemble together to the intent with force and armes to do practise Raising of power to suppresse vnlawful assemblies or put in vre any of the things aboue mentioned Then it shall be lawfull to euery Iustice of peace to euery Sherife in any countie beeing within the K. dominions and to euery mayor bailife and other head officer of any citie or towne corporat for the time he shall be in office or any other person or persons hauing the K. commission or Letters from his highnes as wel to raise and assemble the kings louing subiects in maner of warre to be arraied in such great number as he or they then shall thinke meet or able to the intent by violence of strength to suppresse apprehend and take the said persons that shall bee so vnlawfully assembled And if the said persons so vnlawfully assembled after such cammandement or request by proclamation made shal continue together and not endeauour themselues to returne towards their habitations houses or places from whence they came in as short time as they may conueniently Then it shall be lawful to euery I. of peace sherife and also euery mayor bailife and other head officer of any citie or town corporat to euery other person hauing authoritie as is aforesaid after such commandement or request by proclamation made and to such persons as shal be assembled with any Iustice of peace or sherife or with any mayor bailife or other head officer of any citie or town corporat and with euery other person hauing authoritie as is aforesaid to suppresse apprehend take those persons so vnlawfully assembled which after such proclamation made shall continue together and not endeauour thēselues to returne towards their habitations c. And if the said persons so vnlawfully assembled together or any of them shall fortune to be killed slaine maihemed or hurt in or about the suppressing or taking of them then euery such Iustice Sherife Maior c. and euery other person hauing authoritie as is aforesaid and all and singular persons by him or them assembled shal be frée discharged and vnpunishable as well against the king as against all and euery other person and persons of for or concerning the killing maiheming or hurting of any person or persons so vnlawfully assembled that shall be killed slaine maihemed or hurt about or by occasiō of taking or suppressing of thē c. 1. M. 12. 38 All and euery Copieholder and Customary holder being a yeoman artificer husbandman A copieholder being required refuseth to serue or labourer being of the age of xviij yeares or more vnder the age of lx years not sicke impotent lame maihemed neither hauing any other iust or reasonable excuse or cause to the contrary and beeing required by the sherife Iustice or Iustices of peace or other hauing authoritie by this act or by commission or letters c. they declaring their said authoritie or being required by the immediat Lord or Lords of whom such copie or customary holds then shall be holden to serue the King for any the causes aboue rehearsed and refuse so to doe shall only during the life of such person or persons so refusing forfeit to his Lord or Lords of whom such copie or customarie holds then shal be immediatly holden should be holden during the life of such person or persons so refusing in case he had not refused all their copie customarie holds And it shal be lawful to euery such Lord c. his heirs or assignes of whom such copy or customary holds shal be immediatly holden should haue bin holden in case that such persons or persons had not so refused to enter
may haue a writ directed out of the Chauncerie to the Shirife only or to the Shirife and the Iustices of peace vpon the Statute of Northhampton made AnÌ„ 2. Ed. 3. St. 2. E. 3. 3. commaunding that proclamation may be made vpon that Statute 6 And for that it is conuenient that he who is with force expelled out of his lands or by force detained from the same should not be long kept out of possession thereof but that there should be a spéedie redresse to restore him to his owne and also because it is meant that the inquisition of that force should be made by men of good estate and so the more like to be indifferent of better vnderstanding and to declare the truth in those cases Therefore by the foresaid statute of Anno 8. Sta. 8. H. 6. 9. H. 6. it was moreouer ordained That when the said Iustices or Iustice shall make such inquiries as are beforesaid they shall cause their warrants and precepts to be directed to the Shirife of the same Countie A precept to the Shirife to impannell a Iurie commaunding him on the Kings behalfe to cause to come before them and euery of them sufficient and indifferent persons dwelling next about the lands so entred vpon as before to enquire of such entries whereof euery man that shall be impannelled and may inquire in this behalfe shall haue lands or tenements to the value of xl s. by the yeare at the least aboue reprises and that the Shirife returne issues vpon euery of them at the day of the first precept returnable xx s. and at the second day xl s. and at the third day fiue pounds and at euery day after the double And if any Shirife or Baylife within a fraunchise hauing the returne of the Kings writs be slacke and make not execution duly of the said precepts to him directed to make such inquiries he shall forfeit to the King xx.li. for euery such default Shirifes forfaiture and moreouer shall make fine and ransom to the King And aswell the Iustices or Iustice aforesaid as the Iustices of Assise and euery of them at their comming into the Country to take Assises haue power to heare and determine such defaults and negligences of the said Shirifes and Bailifes and euery of them aswell by bill at the sute of the party greiued for himselfe as for the King to sue by Inditement only to be taken for the King And if the Shirife or Bailife be duly attainted in this behalfe by Indictment or by bill he which sueth for himselfe and for the King shall haue the one moitie of the forfaiture of xx li. together with his costs and expences The proces And the same proces shall be made against such persons indited or sued by bill in this behalfe as should be against persons indited or sued by writ of Trespas with force and armes against the Kings peace 7 The forme of which precept by a Iustice of peace Buck. to the Shirife to returne a Iurie to enquire of Forcible entries is this Edwardus Tirrell miles vnus Iusticiariorum dnÌ„i Regis The forme of a Precept to the Shirife to returne a Iurie ad pacem in Comitatu Buck. conseruandam assignatorum vicecomiti eiusdem Comitatus salutem Ex parte dicti Domini Regis tibi mando quod venire facias coramme apud Thornborough in Comitatu praedicto 10. die Octobris proximo futuro 24. probos sufficientes legales homines de viceneto de Thornborough praedicto quorum quilibet habeat 40. solidos terrarum tenementorum vel reddituum pet annum ad minus vltra reprisas ad inquirendum super sacramentum suum si A. B. de Adstock in dicto Comitatu Buck. blacksmith alij malefactores pacis dicti domini Regis perturbatores in vnum mesuagium 20. acras terrae alia tenementa de C. D. husband de T. praedict ' manu forti super possessionem dicti C. D. ingressi sunt aut eadem cum fortitudine adhuc tenent occupant Et videas quod super quilibet Iuratorum in hoc parte impan nellandorum xx s. ad primum diem returnes hoc nullatenus omittas sub pena xx.li. quam noueris te incursurum si in executione praemissorum tepidus aut remissus fueris Et habeas ibi hoc praeceptum Datur apud Thornton xx die Septemb. Anno Regni domini nostri Regis Iacobi c. tertio 8 The forme of an inquisition or verdit of the Iury which are returned and sworne to enquire of forcible Entrie into lands or tenements or of the forcible detayning of them taken by a Iustice of peace is this Buck. The forme of an Inquisition of forcible entrie viz. Inquisitio pro domino Rege capta apud Buckingham in ComÌ„ praedicto xx die N. Anno Regni domini nostri Regis Iacobi c. quarto super sacramentum A. B. C. D. E. F. G. c. coram Thoma Temple milite vno IusticiarÌ„ dicti domini Regis ad pacem in dicto Comitatu conseruandam assignatorum Qui dicunt quod vbi H. I. de Tyngswicke in Comitur praedict husbandman qui legitime pacifice seisitus fuit in dominico suo vt defecdo de vno mesuagio cum pertinentijs in Tyngswick praedicto possessionem suam sic continuauit quousque L. M. de Maydsmoorton in Comitatu praedicto laborer alij malefactores pacis dicti domini Regis perturbatores xxx die O. iam vltimo elapso vi armis viz. cum baculis gladijs arcubus sagittis fustibus gunnis balistis in mesuagium praedictum c. intrauerunt ipsum H. I. inde expulerunt idem mesuagium c. a praedicto xxx die O. vsque ad diem captionis huius inquisitionis c. cum huiusmodi fortitudine potentia tenuerÌ„ occupauerunt in magnam pacis dicti domini Regis perturbationem contra formam statuti in tali casu editi ê“uisi vbi nullus eorum nec aliquis alius cuius statum ipsi aut aliquis eorum habuerunt aut habuit aliquid in eodem mesuagio c. aut aliqua inde parcella habuerunt aut habuit infra tres annos proximos ante ingressuÌ„ suum praedictuÌ„ nequè aliquo tempore praecedente ad notitiam Iuratorum pÌ„dictorum 9 And for that the said Statute of 8. H. 6. hath ordained That if it be found before any of the said Iustices of peace that any doth contrarie to that Statute then the said Iustices or Iustice shall cause the lands or tenements so entred or holden with force to be reseised and shall put the partie so put out in full possession of the same lands so entred or holden as before they were entred or holden Therefore when the Iustice of peace shall by the said Inquisition be informed or by the view of his owne eye perceiue that any such forcible entrie into any
land without interruption 22. H. 6. 18. Fitz. Na. B. 249. he may kéepe his possession by force against all others And he is neither to be remoued from his possession by a Iust of peace though it be found by inquisition that he held that land by force nor yet by an action of Forcible entry brought against him vpon the said statute of 8. H. 6. Otherwise it is of a disseisor where restitution notwithstanding three yeares possession or of a man that commeth to land by a wrongful and vnlawfull title for if he hath detained the land by force thrée yeares 14. H. 7. 28. or twenty yeares he may be indited by vertue of the statute of 8. H. 6. before a Iustice of peace of forcible detaining of the same land and that being found the said Iustice of peace is to reseise the land and to award restitution to the party disseised or expelled thereof And also the same disseisor shall make fine and ransome to the King cui nullum tempus occurrit whose peace is brokeÌ„ by this long and vnlawfull detaining of the possession of another mans land by force But the party disseised expelled or kept out of possession cannot in this case maintaine an action of Forcible entry vpon the said statute of 8. H. 6. against the said disseisor séeing he hath omitted his time suffered the disseisor to gaine of him thrée yeares possession therby the benefit of the same prouiso contained in the said statute of 8. H. 6. 13 If a man who hath made an Entry vpon the possession of another of any lands or tenements by force or doth hold lands by force 1. R. 3. 4. after a peaceably entry made doe doubt that he shal be thereof indited before a Iustice of peace vpon the statute of 8. H. 6. and that restitution will be thereupon awarded he may haue a Certiorari out of the Kings Bench ready and when the Bill of Indictment is found he may presently deliuer it to the court and that shal be a Supersedeas to stay Restitution A Supersedeas to stay restitution for that by this Certiorari the indictment shal be remoued And though the indictment be found after the Teste of the writ of Certiorari it is not materiall for they be both the Kings Courts And when an indictment vpon the said statute of 8. H. 6. 2. 3. P. M. Dy. 122. is remoued into the kings Bench and that the party indited doth tender to trauerse the same the Iustices of the same Bench may graunt or stay restitution at their discretion according as the truth of the Title shall appeare to them But if a speciall sessions be procured to inquire of a Forcible entry or detaining of possession according to the said statute of 8. H. 6. and the Iustices to whom complaint is made do repaire to the place supposed to be entred vpon or holden with force 2. 3. P. M. Dy. 187. and doe sée the same according to the said statute after they do inquire thereof and that is found and thereupon they graunt restitution no other Iustice of peace can graunt a Supersedeas to stay the same restitution for by the said statute no other Iustice hath authority to graunt restitution but he or they to whom the complaint is made and before whom the force is found the writ shal be graunted vnder the Teste of one of them onely sauing the Iustices of the K. Bench who haue supreme authority and where the law doth intend that the King himselfe doth sit 14 Whereas the words of the foresaid statute of 8. H. 6. be Sta. 8. H. 6. 9. If it be found before any of the Iustices or Iustice of peace that any doth contrary to this statute viz. enter vpon or hold lands with force then the said Iustices or Iustice shall cause the lands or tenements so entred or holden to be reseised and shall put the party so put out in full possession of the same landes or tenements so entred or holden as before they were entred or holden And therefore if the father be put out of possession of lands by force and dieth before or after inquisition thereof his heire shall not haue restitution thereof vpon the said statute of 8. H. 6. for that he was not the same person which was put out And the same Law is if after the death of the father Where force found and no restitution dying seised of certaine lands a stranger doth abate and holdeth the same lands by force against his heire before he had gotten any possession indéed and that force is found before a Iustice of peace by an inquisition the same heire shall not haue restitution by the words of the said statute for that the same heire had but a possession in law and was not in actuall possession of that land neither is hée that party who was put out And so it is if tenant for terme of yéeres of certaine lands be put out of his terme by force and die though after his death the force he fâ—und by inquisition taken by a Iustice of peace his executors shall not be restored to the possession of that land by the same Iustice of peace causa qua supra But yet in the cases aforesaid the offendor shall be punished by imprisonment fine to the K. for by his forcible entry he hath broken the peace St. 15. R. 2. 2. 15 Whereas by the before rehearsed statute of 15. Rich. 2. it is ordayned That when any forcible entry shal be made into lands and complaint thereof come to a Iustice of peace he shall go to the place where the entry was made and if he find any that hold any such place forcibly after such entry made they shal be taken and put into the Gaole c. The forme of which Iustice of peace Mittimus whereby he shall send the same offendors to the Gaole is this viz. Francis Fortescue knight Buck. A Mittimus to send to the gaole such as do hold land by force one of the Iustices of peace of our Soueraigne Lord the King within the county of Buckingham to the keeper of his Ma. Gaole in Aylesbury in the said county and to his deputie and deputies there and to euery of them greeting Vpon complaint made to me by A. B. of Whaddon in the said county husbandman that C. D. E. F. of S. in the said county labourers and other malefactors and disturbers of the Kings peace had forcibly and with strong hand entred into his house c. in Whaddon aforesaid and him expulsed the same yet held with force I went this present day to the said house and there found the said C. D. E. F. holding the said house c. with swords and bucklers bils and staues to the great disturbance of his Ma. peace and against the forme of the said statute in that behalfe ordained And therefore I send you
by the bringers hereof the bodies of the said C. D. E. F. conuicted of the said forcible holding by my record commanding you and euery of you in his Ma. name that you receiue them safely keepe them in your said Goale vntill they shall haue made their fine and ransome to the King and be deliuered thence by the order of the law Hereof faile you not vpon the perill that will fall thereof Dated at Salden the 30. day of I. in the third yere of the raigne of our soueraign Lord K. Iames c. 16 And though the words of the before rehearsed stat of 8. H. 6. be Vpō cōplaint made to the I. of P. or one of thē c. yet those words do not alwais bind a I. of P. to expect the cōplaint of the party grieued or to omit to do his duty in inquiring of repressing punishing of force because the party grieued by the forcible entry or detaining of possessiō is ignorāt in séeking lawfull redres for his receiued iniury or doth intēd to take his remedy by other means but a I. of P. hauing notice of such forcible entry A Iustice may inquire of forcible entries without complaint or detaining of possession by force though it be by others and not by the party grieued may and of duty ought to goe to the place where the same force is committed to make inquisition thereof 7. E. 4. 18. and if the force be found to make restitution to the party expelled or put out by force And so by his meanes the offendor shall be punished according to his desert the partie wronged shal be restored the king shall be intituled to a fine all which without the said Iustices diligence would be omitted An action of forcible entry 17 If a man that is seised of lands or tenements of an estate in fée simple Fitz. Na. B. 248. fée taile for terme of his owne life or for the terme of anothers life be disseised or expelled thereof by force he may haue an action of Trespas of forcible entry vpon the foresaid statute of 8. H. 6. against him or them that did so disseise or expell him thereof and so he may if he be put out 6. H. 7. 12. or disseised of his lands or tenements peaceably and after the disseisor or he that doth expell him 14. H. 6. 1. doth hold them with force And in like sort he may haue the same action 3. E. 4. 19. 10. E. 4. 11. if any doth enter into his said lands or tenements with force after doth defend and hold them by force then he which is so put out and holden out with force may haue this action though the words of the statute be in the disiunctiue viz. disseised with force or disseised quietly after holden out with force for that the intent of the statute was to punish all such forces whether it were vpon the entry disseisin made or vpon the holding and detaining of the land with force in all which cases he who is so disseised or put out may haue an action of forcible entry vpon the said statute of 8. H. 6. and shall recouer his damages and costs to the treble of that which shal be found by the Enquest that he is endammaged 19. H. 6. 6. 22. H. 6. 57. 9. H. 6. 19. hath spent in his suit The writ of forcible entry must be Vi armis as wel for the occupation as for the first entry And it is to be noted that the writ declaration in an action of forcible entry must be that the def entred vi armis and not illicite or by any other such words for if the writ be otherwise it shall abate seeing a writ of forcible entry is alwaies vi armis 37. H. 6. 23. 38. H. 6. 1. and proces of Outlawry lieth in it and the declaration must expresse the certainty of the lands whereupon the defendant did make his forcible entry and which they be and not suggest that he did enter vpon certaine lands in D. And in this action of Forcible entry 35. H. 6. 6. 49. Ed. 3. 2. Co. lib. 3. 12. and in all actions Quare vi et armis a Capias doth lie and where a Capias doth lie in the proces there after iudgement a Capias ad satisfaciendum doth lie and there the king shall haue a Capias pro fine Who may brīg an actiō of forcible entry 18 None can pursue or maintaine this action of Forcible entry Fit Na. B. 248. but he who hath fréehold at the least in the lands or tenemēts so entred vpon for tenant for terme of yéeres or a copyholder cannot maintaine this action for that the words of the said stat of 8. H. 6. be If any person be put out Sta. 8. H. 6. 9 or disseised of any lāds c. and the words of the writ grounded vpon the said statute be Expulit et disseisiuit and tenant for terme of yéeres or a copyholder cānot be disseised séeing disseisin is alwaies of a fréehold which neither of them haue in that land But if tenant for terme of yéeres or a copiholder be put out by force or put out peaceably after holden out with force of land which either of them doth hold by the said estate then vpon cōplaint made by the party grieued to a I. of peace after inquisition thereof by a Iury the same force found the said Iust may reseise the said lands cause restitution thereof to be made to the party so put out for in this case the same cōplaint may be made to the said I. of P. aswell by him in the reuersiō as by the tenāt for terme of yeres or copiholder séeing he in the reuersiō who is disseised of his fréehold by this forcible entry is may as well be termed the party grieued as the tenant for terme of yéeres or the copyholder for their said particular estates And when the Iustice of peace hath made restitution the particular tenant for terme of yeares or copyholder and also he or they in reuersion shall hold and enioy their said seuerall estates in the same lands 4. 5. P. M. Di. f. 142. in such sort as they did before the said Forcible entry made But if tenant for terme of yeares be expelled out of that land which he so holdeth for the terme of yeeres he in the reuersion cannot bring an action of Forcible entry vpon the statute of 8. H. 6. for the same although it be a disseisin to him for that the expulsion is not done immediatly to him Fit Na Br. 248. 9. H. 6. 19. 19 If a man do enter by force into lands or tenements He that hath title entreth by force wherunto he hath right or title to enter doth put out him who hath the freehold of the same lāds in this case he who is so
As one brought an action of Forcible entry vpon the statute of 8. H. 6. and supposed that the defendant with force and armes entred into a messuage c. 15. H. 7. 17. Whereunto the defendant pleaded The finding of the speciall matter doth charge or discharge the def of force That a stranger was seised of the same messuage c. and enfeoffed him thereof by means wherof he entred peaceably without that that he entred by force And the plaintife made a title and trauersed the barre and the issue was found for the plaintife 1. H. 7. 19. and thereupon it was adiudged that the force should not be inquired of For séeing the title is found against the defendant he shall be conuict of the force as on the other side if the barre had béene found for the defendant the force should not haue béene inquired of for that if the title of the plaintife be not good although the defendant doth enter with force the plaintife hath no cause of action and yet in that case he that entreth with force shal be indited thereof and shall pay a fine to the K. therefore And if the defendant doth enter peaceably where his entry is not lawfull he may plead that he did not enter contra formam statuti and by that meanes the force and the disseisin shal be inquired of But if he make a title to the land by pleading in barre as is aforesaid then it shal be adiudged his owne folly As in a writ of Forcible entry when the defendant doth plead in barre yet he must trauerse the force So in a presentment of Forcible entry Presentment of forcible entry before the Iustices of peace 7. H. 6. 13. it was found and presented that A. was seised of the manor of B. in his demesne as of fée vntill C. did enter vpon the said manor and put him out with force and armes against the kings peace And this presentment being remoued into the kings bench and proces being awarded for the king against C. he appeared and pleaded to the force and armes all that is against the peace not guiltie But the court enforced him to plead to his entry and then he iustified his entry by reason of a remainder intailed to his father of the same land and that his father entred and died seised thereof that he as heire to his father did enter And so it is if a man be indited for the taking away of certaine goods by force and armes he shal answer to the taking and if he be found guilty of the Trespas there shal be no inquirie made of the force and armes 19. H. 6. 32. 27 A man brought an action of Forcible entry against diuers others vpon the statute of 8. H. 6. and counted One action for entring detaining with force that they did with force armes enter vpon his land and put him out and so declared according to the statute whereupon they were at issue And it was found by verdict that some of the defendants entred vpon the land with force and armes and did not hold it with force and some others of them did enter peaceably into the same land and held it with force and armes and so the Iurie taxed the dammages seuerally vpon both those points vpon which verdict it was adiudged That the plaintife should recouer treble dammages against those that entred forcibly and also should recouer treble dammages against those that entred peaceably and held with force and the costs of his suite and further that the said plaintife should bée amerced for that he supposed that all did enter with force which was found against him And in like sort if two be indited of Forcible entry and detayning with force and vpon their Trauerse it is found that one of them entred with force and the other detained with force yet restitution shall be awarded to the party put out of possession Fit Na. B. 249. 28 And further if a man do enter by force or detaine by force any lands or tenements the partie grieued may haue a writ out of the Chauncery directed to the Sherife of the Countie onely or to the Sherife and Iustices of peace or some of them Sta. 2. E. 3. 3. vpon the statute made at Northampton anno 2. Ed. 3. The form of which writ is this viz. Iacobus Dei gratia c. vicecomiti Buck. Salutem A writ vpon the statute of Northamptō Quia datum est nobis intelligi quod quamplures malefactores pacis nostrae perturbatores in conuenticulis congregati armati modo guerrino arraiati apud Westburie accederunt et clausuras et domos quorundam legiorum nostrorum ibidem per vim potentiam armati intrauerunt res redditus prouentus ac alia bona sua quaecunque de quibuscunque possessoribus suis ibidem prouenientia capere consenserunt asportare intendunt ad hoc parant in nostri contemptum ac quorundam de populo nostro ibidem terrorē commotionē manifestam ac contra formam statuti apud Northampton de armis contra pacē domini Edwardi nuper Regis Angliae tertij progenitoris nostri non portandis editi contra pacem nostram Nos statutum praedictum inuiolabiliter obseruari idem infringentes iuxta vim effectum eiusdem statuti castigari facere volentes puniri Tibi praecipimus quod apud villam de Westbury et alibi in comitatu tuo vbi necesse fuerit publice proclamari ex parte nostra firmiter inhiberi facias ne quis cuiuscunque status seu conditionis fuerit ibidē armatus cōtra pacem nostram ac contra formam statuti praedicti accedat nec armatam potentiam nec quicquid aliud ibidem seu alibi facere per quod pax nostra seu statutum praedict ' laedi vel populus noster turbari terreri aut indebité grauari poterit quouismodo sub poena amissionis armorum suorum incarcerationis corporū suorum ad voluntatē nostram prout in statuto praedicto plenius continetur Et omnes illos quos post contra proclamationē et inhibitionem p̄dictam inueneris contraria facientes vel per inquisitionem per te modo forma debita capiendam inueneris fecisse vnà cum armis armaturis suis secum inuentis arrestari capi corpora ipsorum arrestatorum in prisona nostra quousque aliud a nobis pro deliberatione sua habueritis in mandatis saluò custodiri et arma armatur̄ praedicta appreciari nobis inde responderi facias Nos verò in Cancellaria nostra sub sigillo tuo de nominibus arrestatorum praedictorum de armis armaturis suis quae cuiusmodi fuerint de pretio de vero valore eorundē ac de toto facto tuo in hac parte reddatis distinctè apertè sine dilatione certiores hoc
the same peace 32 As in the causes aforesaid force may be lawfully vsed to the persons of men so in some other cases forces may be vsed forcible entries may be lawfully made into the lands and tenements of others Where the house of a man may be broken by force and where not As for Treason or Felony or suspition of Felony one may by force breake open a house if the dores be shut to apprehend the Felon 13. E. 4. 9. For as a Felon is an enemy to the Common-wealth so is it for the benefit of the Commonwealth to apprehend him And the King as head of the Cōmonwealth hath interest in felony to punish it and so a house doth not defend an entry to pursue and arrest one that hath committed felony or is suspected therof As if one hath wounded a man 7. E. 3. 16. whereby he is in perill of death and the offendor doth flie into a house the Constable or those that do pursue him may breake open the house to apprehend him if the dores be shut And in like sort if a fray be made or a quarrell be moued in a house whereof the dores be shut whereby the peace is broken or like to be broken the Shirife a Iustice of peace or a Constable may by force breake open the dore of the house to appease that quarrell or to take surety of the offendors to kéepe the peace And if a man be outlawed of Treason or Felony or in a personall action whereby a Capias vtlagatum is directed to the Shirife to apprehend and take him the Shirife may breake open the dores of the house if they be shut apprehend the same Outlaw and commit him to prison And if it be found by an inquisition before a Iustice of peace that one hath entred into another mans house by force or doth detaine it by force after peaceable entry made he may breake open the house by force to reseise the same land and to put the party so put out in possession againe and so may the Shirife doe hauing the Iustices warrant If a man be indited of Trespas and a Capias pro fine is awarded to the Shirife to take him 27. Ass p. 35 the Shirife may breake open the house to take him if the dores be shut And in all cases where the king is party the Shirife may breake the house of the party offēding Co. li. 5. 91. 13. Ed. 4. 9. or the house where he is to apprehend him or otherwise to execute the Kings proces if the dores be not open or that he cannot otherwise enter for where the King hath interest the writ or action is in the nature of a writ of Non omittas propter aliquam libertatem But this is to be obserued that alwaies before the Shirife or other Officer doth breake open the house or dores of any man Fitz. Execution 252. he must signifie the cause of his comming and desire that the dore may be opened vnto him for if there be no default in the owner the law doth condemne the breaking of a house which was prouided for the dwelling and safetie of men And therefore in any of the cases aforesaid if the Shirife doe breake open the house where some of the dores of the same be open whereby he may enter or that he may open the dore by the key or without breaking he is a Trespassor and is chargeable therefore to the owner of the house in an action of Trespas Sta. 3. E. 1. 17 13. Ed. 1. 38. If one man doe distraine another mans cattell and after doe put them into a Castle Fortresse or other strong hold house or place and then the owner of the cattell doth sue a Repleuin directed to the Shirife to make deliuery to him of the same cattell then if the same Castle Fortresse House or Hold be not opened to the Shirife vpon his solemne request when he commeth to make deliuerance of the cattell according to the purport of his writ he may take the force and power of his County and breake downe the same castle fortresse or house c. and make deliuerance of the same cattell for it would tend to the dishonor of the King his Crowne that the Shirife hauing the kings writ should be resisted with force by any of his owne subiects to execute the same and to make deliuerance of the cattell When any house is recouered by one man against another in any reall action Co. lib. 5. 91 or by an Erectione firmae the Shirife hauing the K. writ of Habere facias seisinam or possessionē may breake open the same house if the dores be shut to deliuer seisin or possession to the demaundant or plaintife for after iudgement the house in right by the censure of the law is none of the tenants or defendants But it is not lawfull for the Shirife at the suit of any common person to breake the house of the defendant in the same suit to execute proces though he doe make request and be denied it for thereupon might ensue great inconuenience 18. E. 4. 4. that vpon colour of any fained suit a man should haue his house being his castle of defence broken by day or by night by any Vndershirife or Baylife being many times of small abilitie And therfore if in that case the Shirife breake any mans house to make execution of any proces at the suit of a common person he is a trespassor to the owner of the same house who may haue an action of Trespas against him therefore as against any other person and shall recouer his dammages But notwithstanding the execution which the said Shirife shall then and there make is good And yet the house of a man is a castle and place of priuiledge but for himselfe his wife Co. li. 5. 93 seruants and ordinarie resiants and for his owne goods for it will not protect any other man which will flie into his house or the goods of any other person which shal be brought into his house to preuent lawfull execution and to escape the ordinary proces of the law And therefore in any of those cases if the Shirife hauing proces to doe execution vpon the body or goods of a man do make request to haue the dore opened or to haue the body of the party flying thither or the goods of another brought thither to be deliuered vnto him and it be denied him or that it be not done the Shirife may breake the house and execute the proces 33 As force is to be vsed lawfully where it is for the benefit of the king or to auaile the Commonwealth so euery man being of himselfe a little world his family a small Commonwealth he the head thereof may in diuers cases defend the same Commonwealth by force Cok. lib. 5. 91. 26. Ass p. 23 32. Fitz. Cor. 303. 305. 22. Assise p. 55. St. 24. H. 8. 5
21. H. 7. 39. As In what cases any pâ—rson may deâ—end himselfe and his by force if theeues or robbers do come to a mans house to rob or murther him he may defend his house by force and if he or his seruants do kill any of them they shall receiue no hurt thereby And if a man being in his house doe heare that another will come to his house to beat him he may lawfully assemble his neighbors and friends to assist and aid him in the defence of his person for his house is his castle and place of protection defence where he must dwell But if a man be threatened â—hat if he come to such a Market or Fayre or to such a place that then he shall be beaten in this case he may not assemble his neighbours and friends to go thither in safegard of his person for there is no necessitie that he should go thither seeing it would rather be a meane to seeke a quarrell then to eschew it but in that case he may take his remedy by surety of peace 16. Ed. 4. 17. 9. E. 4. 28. 19. H. 6. 31. 6. H. 7. 1. And if there be an atteÌ„pt made to maihem wound or beat a man his wife father mother or any of his children within age or to disseise him of his land or to dispossesse him of his goods or to disturbe him of his high way or to turne an ancient watercourse from his mill he may lawfully vse force to resist it 34 As the law hath prouided by the before rehearsed statute of 15. R. 2. St. 15. R. 2. 2. that wheÌ„ any forcible entry shal be made into any benefices or offices of the church a Iustice of peace shall take the power of the county and commit the offendors to the gaole So hath it further deuised that if there be debate betwéene two persons for one church and one of them doth enter into the church with a great power of lay men and holdeth out the other by force and armes then he which is holden out The writ of Vi laica remouenda to remoue force shall haue a writ of Vi laica remouenda directed to the Shirife commaunding him that he shal remoue the power which is within the church and the shirife shal be further commaunded that if he doe find any that doe resist he shall take with him the power of the county and attach the bodies of all the resisters and commit them to prison so that he may haue their bodies before the King at a certaine day to answer for their contempt Fitz. Na. B. 55. But by this writ the Shirife ought not to remoue the Incumbent who is in possession of the church be he in possession by right or wrong but only to remoue the force and to suffer the Incumbent to inioy his possession for if he do remoue the Incumbent the same Incumbent shall haue a writ to the Shirife to restore him to it againe Where force shal be remoued for the K. incumbent where not 35 If the King do bring a Quare impedit against the disturber and the Incumbent and the Kings title is found for him Br. force 20 whereupon his clarke is instituted by writ and after the first Incumbent doth enter by force great number of people and doth take the profits the Kings Incumbent shall not haue the Kings writ to the Shirife to remoue the force for that when the iudgemeÌ„t giuen by the court is executed the court hath no more power to deale in that cause But if the defendant had disturbed the Bishop to admit the Kings Incumbent then he should haue had such a writ ⧠Forgerie 1 HAuing vndertaken to write of the great and generall maladies of the Realme and the chiefe impediments of the iustice and peace of the kingdome I shall not farre digresse from my theame by treating of Forgerie Periury Maintenance Deceit Extortion and Oppression wherein though a man be not assaulted by the rapier and dagger pike-staffe or bilbow-blade as he is in a fray forcible entrie or riot yet a forged déed that conueyeth his land from him a false othe which depriueth him of his lease or vnlawfull mantenance that wresteth his credit or goods from him do longer disturbe the peace of his mind stick in his stomacke and infixeth a déeper and more durable impression of sorrow into his heart than a boxe on the eare a dust in the necke or a blow with a cudgell giuen on the sodaine will doe For the griefe of these later stripes is short and doe weare out of mans mind by little and little as his choller ceaseth and his hot bloud cooleth but the discontent and the wants which he receiueth of the former blowes doe continue with him and yéeld him most dislike when he is most patient and best aduised And therefore the wisedome of this Realme hath from age to age taken great care by lawes and statutes to represse them and to inflict vpon the offendors in euerie of them penalties correspondent to their deserts Our lawes doe chastise those that breake the peace by frayes assaults batteries riots or routs with imprisonment of their bodies vntill their hot blouds be cooled and their distemperat humors be qualified but they doe impose sharper and more durable punishments vpon such as doe forge déeds commit or procure periurie Forgerie periurie maintenance do ten 5 to the breach of the peace or bee maintainers of other mens suits or quarels accounting these last offences to tend more and for a longer time to the breach or blemish of the peace or hinderance of the iustice of the Realme than the former doe As hee that committeth forgerie in some cases shall bée set vpon the pillorie loose his eares haue his nostrels slit and pay to the partie grieued his double costs and dammages And in some other cases shall be hanged as a felon He that committeth periurie shall in some cases be one yeare imprisoned be set vpon the pillorie and neuer after be allowed as a witnesse And hee that maintaineth other mens suites shall in some cases be thrée yeres imprisoned and further punished at the kings pleasure And in some other cases sustaine other disgraces And therefore the preamble of the statute of anno 1. St. 1. H. 5. 3. H. 5. doth truely informe vs that forged déeds do trouble and change the lands of good people intending to be in peace And the statute of anno 32. St. 32. H. 8. 9 H. 8. doth teach vs that the suborning of witnesse for to maintain any matter or cause is to the disturbaÌ„ce or hinderance of iustice The enormity of Forgerie 2 The forging of false sealed Déeds Euidences or Writings or of Court Rols or of the will of any person or of any Obligation Bill obligatorie Release or other discharge or the pronouncing publishing or giuing in euidence of the same wherby any person shal be molested troubled charged
or defeated of his land lease annuitie debt accompt action suit or demaund is no lesse perillous and preiudiciall to the party thereby wronged if it be not discouered preuented or auoided then the wresting and euicting from him of the same land lease annuitie debt or demaund And the offendors therein do as iniuriously and with as small colour of iustice wrest from the party grieued his said land lease annuitie debt c. as the robber doth take a purse from the traueller by the way or the burglarer his intended prey from the houskéeper in the night And if those reall dueties or things in action were conuerted into things personall the vndue conueying of them in this vnlawfull manner would deserue to be accounted and punished amongst other felonies as in some sort it is ordained so to be by the statute of anno 5. Eliz. St. 5. El. 14. And because diuers persons did forge false déeds and miniments and did cause them to bée openly pronounced published and read to trouble change or vndoe the lands of other persons and to vndoe and troble the possessions and titles of the kings peope therefore by a statute made anno 1. H. 5. it was ordained St. 1. H. 5. 3. that the partie grieued thereby shall haue his suit in that case and recouer his dammages and the partie conuict shall make fine and ransome at the kings pleasure But forasmuch as the wicked and daungerous practise of making forging and publishing of false and vntrue déeds and writings was much more practised and put in vre in all the parts of this Realme than in times past it had béene to the disherison of diuers persons and the great subuersion of iustice which hath growne chiefely by that the paines and punishments limited for such great offences by the lawes and statutes of this Realme before time were so small and easie that such euill people were not afraid to enterprise the practising and doing of such offences The repeale of former statutes of Forgerie Therefore by a statute made anno 5. St. 5. El. 14. El. it was enacted That all other statutes before that time made and prouided for forger of false déeds charters miniments or writings and all and euerie penaltie appointed for the same should from the first day of Iune then next following be void Forging of a déed whereby anothers fréehold shal be troubled 3 To the intent that condigne or some sharper punishment might bée ordained for such as should bée offenders in that crime of forgerie than in time past had béene by the sayd statute of anno 5. Elizab. it was established St. 5. El. 14 That if any person or persons after the first day of Iune then next following vpon his or their owne head and imagination or by false conspiracie and fraud with others shall wittingly subtilly and falsly forge or make or subtilly cause or wittingly assent to bée forged or made any false déed charter or writing sealed court roll or the will of any person or persons in writing to the intent that the estate of Fréehold or inheritance of any person or persons of in or to any lands tenements or hereditaments fréehold or copihold or the the right title or interest of any person or persons of in or to the same or any of them shall or may bée molested troubled defeated recouered or charged Or shall pronounce Publishing of a forged déed publish or shew forth in euidence any such false and forged déed charter writing court roll or will as true knowing the same to bée false and forged as is aforesaid to the intent aboue remembred and shall bée thereof conuicted either vpon any action or actions of Forger of false deeds to bee founded vpon this statute at the suit of the partie grieued or otherwise according to the order and course of the lawes of this Raalme or vpon Bill or Information to be exhibited into the Court of Starre chamber according to the order and vse of the Court he shall pay vnto the partie grieued his double costs and dammages to bée found or assessed in the Court where such conuiction shall bée and also shall be set vpon the Pillorie in some open market towne or other open place and there to haue both his eares cut off and also his nostrels to be flit and cut and seared so as they may remaine for a perpetuall note or marke of his falshood and shall forfeit to the Queene her heires and successors the whole issues and profits of his lands and tenements during his life and shall suffer and haue perpetuall imprisonment during his life The same dammages and costs to bée recouered at the suit of the partie grieued as is aforesaid to be first paid and bee leuied of the goods and cattels of the offendors and of the issues and profits of the said landes tenements and hereditaments of such partie conuicted or of one or both of them the sayd title of the Queene her heires and successors to the same notwithstanding Stat. 5. El. 14 4 If any person or persons after the said first day of Iune next Forging a déed whereby a lease or annuitie may bée claimed vpon his or their owne imagination or by false conspiracie or fraud had with any other shall wittingly subtilly and falsly forge or make or wittingly subtilly or falsly cause or assent to bee made and forged any false Charter Deed or Writing to the intent that any person or persons shall or may haue or clayme any estate or interest for terme of yeares of in or to any Mannours Lands Tenements or Hereditaments not beeing Copihold or any Annuitie in Fee simple Fee tayle for terme of life liues or yeares Or shall as is aforesayd forge make or cause or assent to bee made or forged any Obligation or Bill obligatorie or any Acquitance Release or other discharge of any Debt Account Action Suit Demaund or other thing personall Or shall pronounce publish or giue in euidence such false or forged Charter-Déed Writing Obligation or Bill obligatorie or any Acquitance Release or discharge as true knowing the same to bee false and forged and shall bee thereof conuict by any of the wayes or meanes aforesayde Then hee shall pay to the partie grieued his double costs and dammages to bee found and assessed in such Court where the sayde conuiction shall bée had and also shall bee set vpon the Pillorie in some open Market Towne or other open place and there haue one of his eares cut off and also shall suffer imprisonment by the space of one whole yere without baile or mainprise Stat. 5. El. 14 5 The partie and parties grieued by reason of any the offences aforesaid Seuerall remedies for the partie grieued shall and may at his and their pleasure haue and sue his action of forger of false déedes vpon this Statute against any of the offendors in the same by originall writ out of the Chauncerie and
in returning of those Iurors lest by their partialitie Truth may be concealed Periurie committed and so iustice subuerted Fitz. Challenge 113. 7. Ed. 4. 56. 33. Ass p. 12 12. Ass pl. 1. 26. Ass p. 56 12. Ass p. 36. 44. Ass p. 18 Plo. Com. fol. 425. 29. Ass p. 2. 28. Ass p. 22 7. H. 4. 10. Fitz. Challeng 94. 99. 8. H. 5. 5. 20. H. 6. 39. 11. H. 4. 26. 38. H. 6. 6. 24. Edw. 37. And for that cause the prouidence of the Lawe doth not allow that Shiriffe Vndershiriffe Bailiffe of Franchise Coroner Causes of suspition in Shiriffes in impannelling of Iuries or other person as indifferent or méete to impannell a Iurie who is a partie to the sute or matter in question or who doth maintaine either of the parties plaintife or defendant in the same sute or is of councell with either of them in that sute then in issue Nor who is within the distresse receiueth the yéerely fée or weareth the liuerie or robe of any of the parties to that sute Nor who is of kinred by nature or of affinitie by marriage to any of the parties to that sute Nor who doth returne that Enquest or any of the Iurors therein at the denomination or by the procurement of any of the parties to the same sute or of any other person whatsoeuer Nor who doth impannell that Enquest or any of the Iurors therein for the fauour which he doth beare more to the one partie than to the other Nor who was an Arbitrator in that cause in question and to be in triall and did treate and conferre of the same Nor who is then in sute of lawe with either of the parties to this question or triall for any matter of trespasse malice or euill will Nor who did baptize the childe of any of the parties to this sute and triall 4. Ed. 4. 11. or any of the parties to the same sute did baptize his childe All which the Lawe doth suspect as causes of fauor and affection in the Shiriffe his Vndershiriffe c. and to be moouers fauourers or consentors to Periurie and therefore vpon challenge of the Array so being impannelled and the same prooued the whole Array shal be quashed 4 As the Lawe hath great care that Shiriffes Vndershiriffes Bayliffes of Liberties Coroners and all others hauing authoritie to returne enquests should therein be voide of all partialitie or presumption or cause thereof to the intent that a gappe should not be left open by their meanes to those that be willing to enter into corruption of conscience and so to commit Periurie In like sort hath shée vigilantly foreséene that those Iurors which be returned by the said Shirifes c. may be so sifted tried and examined that they may be found in all respects Probi legales homines Euery Iuror must be an honest and lawfull man viz. honest vpright 33. H. 6. 55. 26. Ass p. 28 14 H. 4. 19. 9. Ed. 4. 16. 11. H. 4. 4. and lawfull men in the eie and iudgement of the Lawe and that none of them be an Alien a villaine or outlawe an excommunicate person and thereby not legalis homo nor conuicted in a Writ of Conspiracie or an Attaint and by that meanes not probus homo and so to be challenged in euery cause and by euery person and further that they may be prooued to bee men of indifferencie and voide of all partialitie and such as will wholy respect the trueth of the cause in question and in their verdict nothing regarde any that is partie thereunto And therefore if there be any lawfull cause to feare particular fauour and affection in any of the Iurors and that hée will rather incline to Periurie than giue eare to the trueth of the cause the Lawe doth allow to the partie grieued Challenges of Iurors suspected or suspecting the same seuerall Challenges to the same Iuror and thereby to haue him drawne and remooued out of that Enquest A witnesse 5 As if a man be a witnes in a cause in question he can not be a Iuror in the same cause for the witnes doth testifie vpon his certaine knowledge 23. Ass p. 11 12. Ass p. 12 11. Ass p. 19 and the Iurors of an Enquest must giue their verdict according to their euidence And besides he that produceth a witnesse expecteth at his hand a fauourable deliuery of his euidence or otherwise he would not produce him which fauor euery Iuror must be wholy voide of if he will auoide Periurie Periurie suspected by deliuering his verdict before hand 6 If a Iuror after he is returned and before he is sworne 20. H. 6. 39. 8. Ed. 3. 69. will say that he will passe for the plaintife or defendant and doth speake it for the fauour which he beareth to the one partie or the hatred which he hath to the other and not in respect of his owne knowledge of the trueth of the cause the Law doth feare periurie in him and therefore shée will remooue him out of that enquest if he be challenged therefore Periury suspected by lying at the charge of one of the parties 7 If one that is impannelled of a Iurie doth goe to the Assises with one of the parties to the issue and doth eate and drinke with him at his charges 8. Ed. 3. 69 13. H. 4. 13. Fitz. Challenge 177. the Law doth suspect the same Iuror of partialitie and so of inclination to Periurie in recompence of that kindnes receiued and therefore she will remooue him out of that Enquest if he be challenged therefore 20. H. 6. 39. 9. Ed. 4. 46. 7. H. 7. 18. 8 If two men be in question for any cause Periurie suspectcted by an Arbitrator in the cause in question and then do refer the matter in debate to be heard ended by two Arbitrators whereof the one doth make choice of one Arbitrator and the other of an other which Arbitrators doe méete together and confer of the cause but do not agrée whereupon the party grieued doth prosecute the said suit to an issue and one of the same Arbitrators is returned of that Enquest the law doth suspect the same Iuror of partialitie and so of inclination to Periurie and therfore she will remoue him out of that Enquest if he be challenged therefore for when he was chosen by one of the parties alone this election maketh him in a sort of councel with him that did choose him and so fauorable vnto him but if he had bin chosen by the consent of both the parties together 3 H. 6. 25. the law would haue made other construction of him and adiudged him indifferent 34. Ass p. 6. 9 If two men do combine themselues by Oath bond couenant or faithfull aduised promise that one of them will take an others part be his friend and assist him in all causes whatsoeuer And after there is a sute commenced betwéene one
The penaltie for committing of wilfull periurie vnlawfull procurement sinister perswasion or meanes of any others or by their owne Act Consent or Agreement shall wilfully and corruptly commit any manner of wilfull periurie by his or their deposition in any of the Courts before mentioned or béeing examined ad perpetuam rei memoriam Then euerie person or persons offending shall for his or their said offence loose and forfeit twentie pounds to the King and the partie grieued hindered or molested by reason of any of the offences before mentioned that will sue for the same by A. B. P. or I. in any of the Kings courts of Record wherein no W. E. P. or I. shall be allowed and shall haue sixe months imprisonment without Baile or Maineprise And the oath of such person or persons so offending from thenceforth shall not bee receiued in any court of Record within England or Wales or the Marches of the same vntill such time as the iudgement giuen against the said person or persons shall be reuersed by Attaint or otherwise And vpon euery such reuersall the parties grieued to recouer his or their dammages against such person and persons as did procure the said iudgement so reuersed to be giuen against thē by action to be sued vpon his case And if the said offendor haue not any goods or cattels to the value of xx l. then he shall be set on the Pillorie in some market place within the shire citie or borough where the said offence shall be committed by the Sherife or his ministers if it be without any citie or towne corporat and if it be within any citie or towne corporat then by the head officer or officers of the same citie or c. or by his or their ministers there shall haue both his eares nailed and from thenceforth be discredited disabled for euer to be sworne in any of the courts of Record aforesaid vntill the iudgement shall be reuersed and thereupon shall recouer his dammages in manner and forme before mentioned In what courts Periurie shall be punished 23 As well the Iudge and Iudges of euery such of the said courts where any such suit is or shall be Sta. 5. El. 9. and whereupon any such periurie is or shal happen to be committed as also the Iustices of Assise and gaole deliuery in their seuerall circuits and the Iustices of the peace in euery countie within this realm or in Wales at their Quarter Sessions both within liberties and without shall haue authoritie by vertue hereof to enquire of all and euery the defaults and offences committed contrarie to this act by inquisition presentment bill or information before them exhibited or otherwise lawfully to heare and determine the same and thereupon to giue iudgement award processe and execution of the same according to the course of the lawes of this Realme Proclamatiō of this Statute 24 The Iustices of Assise of euery circuit within this Realme shal in euery countie within their circuits two times in the yeare St. 5. El. 9. viz. in the time of their sittings make open Proclamation of this Statute or of the effect thereof to the intent that no person shal be ignorant of the penalties herein contained Periurie punished in the spirituall court 25 Prouided that this Act or any thing therein contained St. 5. El. 9. shall not extend to any spirituall or Ecclesiasticall court within this Realme of England or Wales or the Marches of the same but all and euery such offendor and offendors as shall offend in forme aforesaid shall and may be punished by such vsuall and ordinarie lawes as heretofore hath bin and yet be vsed in the said Ecclesiasticall court any thing in this Act c. notwithstanding Periury punishable in the Starchāber 26 Prouided that this Act shall not extend to restraine the power or authoritie giuen by Act of Parliament made An̄ 11. H. 7. Sta. 5. El. 9. St. 11. H. 7. 25. to the Lord Chauncelor and others of the Kings Councel to examine and punish riots routs hainous Periuries and other offences which haue vsed to heare and determine such matters in the Starre-chamber at Westminster nor to restraine the power of the Lord President and Councell in the Marches of Wales or in the North nor of any other Iudge hauing absolute authoritie to punish Periurie before the making of this Statute But But they and euery of them shall procéede in the punishment of all offences heretofore punishable in such wise as they might haue done and vsed to do before the making of this Act to all purposes so that they set not vpon the offendors lesse punishment then is contained in this Act. 27 Because by the said statute of 5. Eliz. 9. there is no Ordinance made for the punishment of those Bankrupts who being sworne and examined vpon Interrogatories by Commissioners thereunto authorized shall commit Periurie Nor for the punishment of those witnesses who either by the procurement of others or by their owne consent shall commit Periurie being examined by the said Commissioners touching Bankrupts goods or debts Therefore by a statute made Anno 1. St. 1. Iac. 15. Iac. it was ordained That it shall be lawfull for the Commissioners authorized vnder the great Seale of England or the greatest part of them to take order with Bankrupts bodies lands tenemēts and hereditaments money goods cattels wares and debts to examine the said offendor or offendors vpon such interrogatories touching the lands tenements goods cattels and debts bils bonds bookes of accompt and such other things as may tend to disclose his her or their estate or the secret graunts cōueyances and eloigning of his her or their landes tenements goods money and debts as they shall thinke méet And if therein the offendor or offendors shall refuse to be examined or to answer fully to euery interrogatorie to him to be ministred by the said Commissioners or the greater part of them it shall be lawfull for the said Commissioners or the greater part of them to commit the said offendor or offendors to some strait or close imprisonment there to remaine vntill he she or they shall better conforme him or her selfe And if vpon his her or their examination it shal appeare that he she or they haue committed any wilfull or corrupt Periurie tending to the hurt or dammage of the creditors of the said Bankrupt Periury punished in Bankrupts to the value of tenne pounds of lawfull money of England or aboue the party so offending shall or may thereof be indited in any of the Kings Courts of Record and being lawfully conuicted therof shall stand vpon the Pillory in some publike place by the space of ij houres and haue one of his eares nailed to the Pillory and cut off And by the same statute of Anno 1. Iac. it is further established That if any person or persons other then the Bankrupt either by subornation vnlawfull procuremēt sinister persuasion
maintaine the suit and so may A. for either of them hath interest in this debt and one of them may aid assist and maintaine the other to recouer his debt against C. in respect of their seuerall interests in the same debt But if in this case A. had promised to B. but part of this debt to haue prosecuted and maintained this suit then it had beene Champertie and vnlawfull maintenance in B. And the same law is 34. H. 6. 30. if one man be bound by Obligation to pay another man xx l. to the vse of a third man the Obligée and hee to whose vse the Obligation was made may both meddle in the suit of this Obligation 27 And so it is in goods for he that hath any propertie title Maintenance in respect of his title to goods or lawfull possession in goods 39. H. 6. 20. may maintaine a suit that is prosecuted against another touching the same goods As B. brought an action of Debt against A. in London and the Sherife returned that A. had nothing c. Wherupon at the plaintifes surmise certain goods of A. were attached in the hands of I. according to the custome of the said Citie and a Scire facias was awarded against the same I. to answer for those goods in which A. did maintaine the same I. in nominating vnto him a learned man in the law to whom by his aduice he went for his counsell and this was awarded maintenance iustifiable for that the propertie of the goods fo attached in the hands of I. were and did continue in the said A. Maintenance in detaing of a writing deliuered in trust So it is if one man doe deliuer a déed or other writing to another to be kept if a straunger will bring an action of Detinue against him to whom the same was deliuered the partie who deliuered that writing may lawfully maintaine him in that suit for the interest hee hath in the same writing And yet the recouerie of that writing would not haue bound him that did deliuer it but hée might haue had his action for the same against him that did recouer it Maintenance in respect of his ioynt interest with others 28 As euerie person may lawfully maintaine any suit that shall be prosecuted which concerneth his priuat and particular land lease rent debt or goods so may he maintaine a suit touching any land or other thing which hée hath ioyntly or in common with others 18. E. 4. 2. As the Parson of a Church brought an action of Trespasse against one of his Parishioners for digging of his ground and spoyling of his grasse Whereunto the defendant pleaded That the place where the Trespasse was supposed to be done is a Churchyard consecrate by the Bishop and that he and all those who are inhabitants in the same Parish haue vsed to haue their Sacraments and buriall for their dead there And that one of the inhabitants of the same Parish dyed and hee with others brought his bodie to the Church and after made a graue for him in the same Churchyard and there buried him which is the same digging whereof the plaintife hath conceiued his action Whereupon they were at issue In this case it was agreed by all the Iustices that euerie inhabitant of the same Parish may lawfully giue euidence and otherwise maintaine this issue though they be not parties thereunto for euerie of them hath the like interest in the Churchyard Maintenance by all the inhabitants of a parish as the partie to that suit And the same reason and law seemeth to be if there be a suit commenced betweene one or more inhabitants of a village Hamlet or Parish and some other person or persons for a common or way or for the digging of a pit of stone marle grauell morter sand c. vsed or claimed to belong or of right to bee due to the inhabitants of the same Village Hamlet or Parish after issue ioyned touching the right or title of the same common way or pit the residue of the inhabitants of the said Village Hamlet or Parish may aide and assist their neighbour or neighbours partie to that issue and it is lawfull maintenance for it tendeth to the benefit or preiudice of all the said inhabitants and is in a sort their owne case Maintenance of a poore man in his suit 29 In a Writ of Maintenance the plaintife supposed that the defendant did maintaine one A. in an action which the plaintife brought against the sayd A. Whereunto the defendant pleaded That the same A. was a poore man 32. H. 6. 35. 21. H. 6. 15. and had nothing to defend himselfe in the suit which the plaintif had commenced against him and that the defendant of his almes gaue him xx s. which is the same maintenance This was allowed a lawfull maintenance and iustifiable for any man to doe for whereas vnlawfull maintenance is in case when a man doth maintaine a suit to haue the whole or parcell of the land 9. H. 6. 64. or thing in question or to haue some other consideration to further or vphold that suit or where a man hauing nothing to do nor colour to meddle yet wil vndertake for euill will to maintaine that cause in question this giuing mony to a poore man to defend his right is not to either of the intents aforesaid but bestowed vpon a charitable disposition to search out truth and further the execution of iustice which appeareth by the stat of 11. H. 7. wherin the king and the whole parliament willing indifferent iustice to be ministred according to the common laws as wel to the poore as to the rich and perceiuing that the poore were not of abilitie to sue according to the law of the realme for the redresse of their iniuries and wrongs ordained that the king himselfe the L. Chancellor and some of each profession towards the law should in a sort aid and assist them the words of which stat be these St. 11. H. 7. 12 viz Euerie poore person which shall haue cause of action against any other shal haue by the discretion of the Chancellor Proces counsellors and Atturneyes assigned to aid the poore writs originall writs of Subpena according to the nature of his cause nothing paying to the K. for the seales of the same nor to any person for the writing of the same writs And the said Chancellor shall assigne such of the clerkes which shal vse the making and writing of the writs to write the same readie to be sealed and also learned Counsell Atturneyes for the same without taking any reward therefore And after the said writs be returned if it bee before the King in his Bench the Iustices there shal assigne to the same poore person counsel learned by their discretions which shall giue their counsell nothing taking for the same And likewise the Iustices shall appoint Atturneyes for the same poore person all other
law doth allow him to doe in respect the sooner to deliuer his seruant from suit and trouble that hée may not loose the benefit of his seruice for the longer he doth lacke his mans seruice the greater is the Masters losse And if the seruant be arrested in any priuiledged place the Master may maintaine him and spend his owne money to deliuer him in respect that otherwise he should loose his seruice for by that meanes he doth maintaine him in his owne behalfe and to auoid his owne hinderance But if the seruant be impleaded in a reall action wherein he may appeare and answer by Attourney and that his owne presence is not requisit 21. H. 7. 40. then the master may not maintaine him therein for that the Master shall receiue no preiudice if the land in question shall be recouered from his seruant And in like sort the seruant may maintaine the Master How the seruant may maintaine his Master in any suit commenced by or against his said Master in all lawfull manner As he may trauaile in furtherance of his Masters suit 19. H. 6. 31. 19. Ed. 4. 3. he may retaine his counsell with his Masters money and shew his counsell or the Iurie vpon the tryall of his Masters cause in question his Masters euidence for he is bound to doe his Master his diligent seruice and that which his Master commaundeth him to do touching his suit is his Masters seruice But that seruant which may iustifie to maintaine his Master in such sort as is aforesaid must be a seruant who is retained with his Master for a yeare 39. H. 6. 5. or some long time and to do all such seruices as he shal be imployed in by his said Master for if he be a seruant onely hired for a day two or thrée or to ride but some one iourney or to do but some one speciall seruice then if he do maintaine his Master or his Master maintaine him in any sort as aforesaid it is vnlawfull maintenance in him But if in either of the cases aforesaid the Master for his seruant or the seruant for his Master shall giue or promise money or other reward to any of the Iurie to giue his verdict or do threaten any of them to be killed beaten maimed dispossessed of their farmes 12. E. 4. 14. 19. H. 6. 31. or do giue his owne money to the Sherife to arrest the other partie to that suit then it is punishable by action of Maintenance in him that shal so offend ⧠Deceit Couin Collusion Fraud 1 DEceit Couin Collusion and Fraud bée great offences to the Commonweale and speciall impediments of the iustice and peace of the Realm wherof there be so many and of so generall sorts and kinds as there be wicked deuises in the hearts of men and lewd persons to put them in practise And it were a worke almost as infinite to diuulge the particulars and to reduce into writing all the Deceits The multitude and enormitie of Deceits and Frauds Couins Collusions and Frauds which in time haue béene inuented and effected as it were to poise the weight of the sands of the sea or to decipher the number of the starres of the element for by how many meanes a man may trust by so many and more hee may bee deceiued And therefore I will vndertake to treat of no more than our common and statute lawes haue detected and accused to bée deceits frauds c. and amongst others but of those which the makers expositors and Sages of our lawes haue noted to be chiefely offensiue and most opposite to the due execution of iustice vpon which this peace whereof I doe write doth chiefely depend For the wisedome of this Realme first in the making of our lawes and after in expounding them haue bent their chiefe care to crush and beat downe Deceit and Fraud plainely séeing that the greatest part of the crimes which bée committed in this kingdome from the highest treason to the smallest trespasse haue some intermixture with them And that if they with their dependants could bée fully extirpat both iustice and peace would more brightly flourish And notwithstanding they doe not begin their quarrels with rapier and dagger sword and buckler as some other of the offences before mentioned do yet is there grafted in the root of them as much gawle and venim and more durable and bitter extremities do spring from them than â—oe ensue by the Canon shot the light horsemans staffe or the footmans bill For though some part of euerie kings raign hath had a calme and repose from war and hostilitie yet neuer any age or yeare was cléerely fréed of falshoods corruptions deceits and frauds 2 The wisedome of the Realme perceiuing how necessarie a thing iustice is and how opposite and repugnant vnto it deceits and frauds bee doth therefore specially prouide to make choyce of such men of all sorts The reward for paines and punishments for deceit of officers towards the law to execute the same iustice as she is persuaded by their learning and experience can by their vertue integritie will performe to euerie person his due and tread beat downe fraud whose pains she doth requite with reuerend respect liberal rewards titles of credit large priuiledges But if she do find any of the said officers whom she putteth in trust to deceiue her expectation and to practise falshood or guile then she doth as sharply punish them as she did before munificently wage them As appeareth by the stat of An. 8. St. 8. R. 2. 4. R. 2. wherby it was ordained A Iudge A Clerke That if any Iudge or Clerke do make any false entring of a plea rase any rol or change any verdict whereby any person receiueth disheritance he be thereof conuict before the K. and his Counsell he shal be punished by fine ransome at the K. pleasure and satisfie the partie And for the recouerie of the inheritance the partie shall sue by writ according to the law And for the auoyding of corruption which may happen in officers in those courts places wherein there is requisit to be had the true administration of iustice to the intent that worthy persons should bée preferred to the places of iustice none other should attaine the same for fée or reward by a stat made An. 5. Stat. 5. 6. E. 6. 16. 6. E. 6. it was enacted No office of iustice shal be sold or bought That if any person bargaine or sell any office or deputation of office or take any mony fée reward or other profit directly or indirectly or take any promise agréement couenant bond or assurance to receiue or haue any mony reward c. for any office or the deputatioÌ„ of any office or any part of any of theÌ„ or to the intent that any person shold enioy any office or the deputation of any of theÌ„ or any part or parcel of any
of them which office or any part of it doth concerne the administration or execution of iustice or which shall cōcern any clerkeship to be occupied in any court of record wherin iustice is to be ministred then he so offending shall not loose onely all his right estate which hée shall then haue of in or to the sayd office or deputation but also he that shal giue or promise any money fée or reward for any such office or deputation shall immediatly vpō the said gift or promise be adiudged a disabled person in the law to all intents to haue or enioy the said office or deputatiō And euerie such bargain sale bond couenant promise and assurance shall bée void to and against him by whom the same is made But this Act shall not be preiudiciall to the chiefe Iust of the K. Bench Common pleas or to the Iust of Assise but they may do in euerie behalfe concerning any office to be granted by any of thē as they might haue done before the making of the same Act. And because the prouidence of the realm did conceiue some iealousie suspition in those learned men in the lawes of this realm who by their owne means industrie for their own cōmoditie and ease obtained to be Iust of Assise in the counties where they were borne or did dwell and did feare that affection fauor towards their kinsmen allies neighbors and friends might sometime allure thē to decline from the beaten path of iustice therfore by one stat made An. 8. St. 8 R. 2. 2. St. 33. H. 8. 14. R. 2. another An. 33. H. 8. it was enacted No man shal be iustice of Assise in his owne countie That no Iustice nor other man learned in the laws of this realm shal exercise the office of Iust of Assise within the countie where he was borne or doth inhabit vpon pain to forfeit for euery offence done contrary to this act C. l. to the K. him that will sue by B. P. I. or actiō of debt wherin no W. E. P. But this stat doth not extēd to any Clerk of Assise associat to any Iust of Assise nor to the Iustices Iustices Clerks or Clerk of Assise withithin the Duchie and County Palantine of Lancaster nor to the I. of the one Bench or the other for taking hearing determining of Assises in the said courts nor to any Iust that shal take any Assise vpon adiournment for difficultie of the same nor to any Maiors Sherifes Recorders Stewards Bailifs Sutors or other officers in any citie borough or towne but they may be I. of Assise of Fresh force and of other Assises in the same towne c. where he or they do dwell or were borne as they might haue bin before And in like sort by the stat of W. 1. A Serieant A Pleader it was established That if any Serieant Pleader St. 3. Ed. 1. 2 or other do any deceit in the K. court or do consent therunto to beguile the court or the partie is therof attainted he shal be imprisoned a yeare a day and being a counsellor he shal not any more be receiued to plead in the K. court for any man and if he be any other than a pleader he shal be imprisoned as aforesaid And if the trespas require a greater punishmēt it shal be at the K. pleasure And by the stat of An. 10. A Philozer An Exigēter H. 6. An. 18. H. 6. it was enacted That if any Philozer Exigenter St. 10. H. 6. 4 18. H. 6. 9. or any other officer of the K. Bench or Common pleas do make any entry in any suit that the plaintife in the same suit hath offered himselfe in his owne proper person except the pl. in the same suit before such entrie be made do appeare in his own proper person before some of the Iust of the place where the plea is depēding there be sworn vpō a book that he is the same person in whose name the said suit is pursued or that some other credible person of the K. counsell wil take such oth for him the said philozer exigenter c. shal forf xl s. to the K. euery time that he shal be attainted by the examinatiō of any of the I. of the same place where any such entry or record is 3 And because Atturneies be also necessary mēbers in the cōmonweale special means to solicit further the executiō of iustice therfore the law hath had a careful regard that they should be men of integrity vertuous and of good name and hath prouided seueral stat to punish such of thē as shall cōmit any notorious falshood guile fraud slacknes ignorance omissiō or contempt of dutie As by the stat of An. 4. H. 4. it was ordained St. 4. H. 4. 18 That all Atturnies shal be examined by the Iust by their discretiōs their names shal be put in the rol they that be good vertuous learned of good name shal be receiued sworne wel truly to serue in their offices specially that they make no suit in a forein coūty And if any such Atturney be notoriously found in any default of record or otherwise he shal forsweare the court neuer after be receiued to make any suit in the K. courts And this ordināce shal be performed in the Exchequer after the discretiō of the treasurer the barōs there And accordingly by one other stat made an 3. Ia. it was enacted St. 3. Iac. 7. That none shall from henceforth be admitted Atturneies in any of the K. courts of record at West but such as haue bin brought vp in the same courts Who shal be Atturneyes or otherwise wel practised in soliciting of causes Soliciters haue bin foūd by their dealing to be skilful of honest dispositiō and none to be suffered to solicit any cause or causes in any of the courts aforesayd but only such as are known to be men of honest dispositiō And no Atturney shal admit any other to follow any suit in his name Following a suit in anothers name vpō paine that both the Atturney he that followeth the suit in his name shal each of thē forf for such offence xx l. to the K. and the party grieued to be recouered in any of the said courts of record by A. B. P. I. wherin no W. E. P. c. And the Atturney in such case shal be excluded frō being an Atturney for euer hereafter By the stat of an 18. H. 6. it was enacted St. 18. H. 6. 9 That in all cases wherin proces of Capias Exigēt lyeth if the Atturney haue not his warrant of record the same terme that the Exigent is awarded he shal lose xl s. to the K. if he be attainted therof by examinatiō of the Iust And by the stat made an 32. H. 8. St. 32. H. 8.
30. St. 18. El. 13. an 18. El. it was established That euery such person which shal be Atturney for any other person or persons being demandant or plaintife tenāt or defendāt in any actiō or suit cōmenced in any of the K. courts of record at West plead to an issue in the same shal deliuer or cause to be deliuered his lawfull warrant of Atturney to be entred of record for euery of the said actions or suits wherin he is named an Atturney to the officer or his deputy ordained for the receit or entring therof in the same terme whē the issue is entred of record in the said court or before vpon paine of forf of x. l. for euery default for not deliuery of the said warrāt the one moity to the K. his heirs successors the other to such officer to whō or in whose office the same warrāt shold be deliuered entred or filed to be rec by A. of det B. P. or I. wherin no W. E. P. c. also he shal suffer such imprisonmēt as by the discretiō of the I. of the Court where any such default shall be made shall be thought good Fit N. B. 9 6 If a man make an Atturney in a real action brought against him Deceit by an Atturney after by couin agréed vpon betwéene the demandant and the said Atturney the same Atturney maketh default whereby the tenant doth loose his land then the same tenant who lost his land may haue a writ of Deceit against the Atturney And so it is if a man bring an action of Trespasse against two others Register fo 113. Fit N. B. 96. and the plaintife and an Atturney by couin agréed vpon betwéene them doe cause two straungers not parties to the writ to come into the court and to say that they be the same two defendants named in the writ and that they do constitute the same man to be their Atturney in that suit wherupon the same Atturney as Atturney to the defendants named in the writ do plead to an issue and after suffer the enquest to passe by his default by which meanes the plaintife doth recouer against the defendant in this case they who be indéed defendants and against whom the same action of Trespasse was brought may haue a writ of Deceit against the same Atturney that appeared as Atturney for them and shall recouer their dammages 10. Ed. 4. 9. 20. Eliz. Dyer 367. If an Atturney be informed by his client to plead a false plea which he cannot in conscience plead he may procure this Entrie to bée made Quod non fuit veracitér informatus ideo nihil c. to defend him in a writ of Deceit brought against him by his said client If an Atturney do sue forth a Capias where there was no originall writ before 20. H. 6. 39. he shal be committed to prison and thrust out of his place in that and all other Courts 4 As the law doth punish her Officers who do practise or commit any deceit or fraud in stead of truth in place of iustice The law reiecteth fraudulent acts so doth she renounce and condemne all acts of greatest importance if they be intermixt with guile and falshood For though Iudiciall acts as Fines Recoueries Warranties deedes inrolled c. being of their owne natures iust and lawfull and meanes to settle titles to appease controuersies and to yeeld each person his due bee therefore greatly respected and fauoured in her sight yet if any of them be deuised or executed by couin or to deceiue then she doth vtterly reiect them and adiudge them void Co. li. 3. 77. As a man was Lord of the Mannor of D. wherein there was a tenant which had some parcels of freehold land in fee simple the Lord demised certaine lands parcell of the demesnes of his said Mannor to the said freeholder for xxj yeares reseruing certaine rent and demised some other lands parcell of the said demesnes to the same fréeholder at will reseruing another rent and graunted by copie of Court roll certaine other lands parcell of the same Mannor to the sayd freeholder for the terme of life according to the custome of the sayd Mannour reseruing a third rent And after the same freeholder demised all the sayd lands which hee held by lease for yeares at will and by copie in D. to a straunger for the terme of life and then the same freeholder leuied a fine with proclamations of so many messuages so many acres of land medow pasture c. as he had by lease for yeres at will by copie of Court roll of his owne inheritance in D. by couin fraud to barre the lord of his inheritance All the proclamations were made and the fiue yeres were past the same fréeholder continued in possession of the land which was graunted to him by lease for yeres at will and by copie and paid to the Lord yerely his seuerall rents for the same And after the stranger to whom the fréeholder made the lease for life died and the lease which the Lord made to the fréeholder for xxj yeares expired And then the same freeholder claimed the inheritance of all the land which the Lord demised vnto him for yeares at will by copie intending to barre the Lord thereof by force of the fine with proclamations the fiue yeares past But this fine was adiudged void against the Lord and that it did not barre him to clayme and enter vpon his land for that it was leuied by him who had but estate in those lands for yéeres at will or by copy of court Roll and that neither had nor could pretend any title to the inheritance of the land but only by fraud practised the disheritance of the leassor And whereas the meaning of the makers of the statute of Anno 4. H. 7. St. 4. H. 7. 24 was as it may appeare by the preamble of the same that fines ought to be of the greatest strength to auoid strifes and debates when the lessée for yeares at will or copyholder shall make an assurance by fraud and couin A fine leuied of land to defraud the right owner therof to the intent a fine may be leuied to disherit the right owner of his land this is not a meanes to auoid or appease strife but to begin it where none was before and therefore the same statute did not intend to ratifie such an estate begun by deceit And further the meaning of the makers of the said statute was not That he who could not leuie a fine of this land in respect of the debilitie of his estate therin should be enabled by his owne practise and deceit to leuie a fine therof to barre him who had a lawfull title therein and a right to leuie a fine thereof And the same lessée for yeares tenant at will and copyholder contriued his fraud in so secret manner that by his couert practise he depriued his
be adiudged to the pillory the third time he shal be imprisoned make fine the fourth time he shall forsweare the towne And in this manner shal it be done of all that offeÌ„d in like case as of cookes that séeth flesh or fish any waies that is not holesome for mans body or after that they haue kept it so long that it looseth the naturall holesomenesse then séeth it againe and sell it And in like sort St. 39. El. 10 by one other statute made An. 39. El. it was enacted That if any alien or stranger born or any denizen or naturall born subiect of this realme shal bring into any hauen port créeke or town of this realme any salt fish or salt herrings which shal not be good swéet seasonable méet for maÌ„s meat shal offer the same to be sold and shall be warned by any officer of such Port c. where the same shal be offered to be sold that the same be not seasonable nor méet for mans meat Then if he or they shall after that offer any of the said vnseasonable fish to be sold to any person within this Realme or being an alien borne and no denizen shall not depart with the same from the said Hauen Port or Towne so soone as conueniencie will serue Then all and euery person owners therof shall forfeit to the Queen all the said vnseasonable fish vnméet for mans meat as is aforesaid And by a statute made Anno 4. Ed. 3. it was established St. 4. E. 3. 12 That assay shall be made of wines twice euery yeare once at Easter and another time at Michaelmas and more oft if néed be by the lords of the Townes and their Baylifes and also by the Mayors and Baylifes of the same townes and all wines that be found corrupt shal be powred out and the vessels broken ⧠Extortion Exaction 1 EXtortion is a wrong done by an Officer What is Extortion as Ordinarie Archdeacon Officiall Maior Bailife Shirife Escheator Coroner Vndershirife Auditor Receiuer Clerke or other Officer or by any other by colour of an office in taking of an excessiue reward or fée and more then the law doth allow him for execution of his said office which offence in some degrées is worse then the priuy picking of a mans purse in secret and the transgressor in a sort may be compared to the Fréebooter which with drawne sword and with menacing words assaulteth the trauailer by the way who casteth down his purse to him for feare of further hurt And so is the poore sutor many times inforced to doe to the Officer when of necessitie he must vse his helpe It is a thing most odious and offensiue to the iustice and peace of the Realme and to all the members thereof that those men who be specially made choice of and principally selected to serue their prince and countrey and to further the execution of iustice in their offices and places and be sufficiently rewarded with conuenient stipends for their paines therein should in contempt of the law assesse their owne fées in a sort put their hands in other mens purses and there take what they will and thereby doe wrong vnder the colour and shadow of iustice Exaction is a wrong done by an officer What is Exaction or by one pretending to haue authoritie in demaunding and taking reward or fée for that matter cause or thing which the law doth allow no fée at all And as our common statute lawes haue declared which offences or acts they doe condemne and adiudge as Extortions and Exactions so haue they prescribed in most cases seuerall penalties to be inflicted vpon the seuerall transgressors therein leauing the residue to be punished at the kings pleasure or by the discretion of such of his Iudges Iustices or others by his commission authorized before whom the offendors shall be thereof conuicted And further our said statute lawes haue set downe for the most part what fées or duties the sutor ought to pay to the officer the officer is to demaund of him to the intent that the one shall not be ignorant what to offer nor the other what to require and to the end that the Law hauing written it in a sort in the officers forehead what his duty is he may blush when he looketh in the sutors face and demaundeth more 2 I will begin with an Exaction that no former generation did tast of heare of or feare but it hath sprung vp of later yeares bin greatly exclaimed of and condemned in this our present age which is taking of money or some other reward for a Report or Certificat wherein the offendor most commonly doth a double iniury and to two seuerall persons viz. first to him whose mony fee or other reward he taketh for the fauourable making of that report in his behalfe whereas the law doth allow him none for reporting but otherwise bountifully rewardeth him for that and all such other paines and next and chiefely to him in preiudice of whom or whose case he maketh that report He doth not now indifferently respect the cause in question but bendeth his eye vpoÌ„ the reward which he hath receiued and deuiseth to accomplish the request of the one and yet to yéeld to the other not the effect but some colour of iustice The King at his coronation doth promise to all his subiects Mag. Chart. St. 9. H. 3. 29 Quod nulli vendemus nulli negabimus aut differemus iusticiam whereupon the whole realme did take it vnkindly at their hands who being the kings Substitutes in place of iustice and receiuing but a small particle of his authoritie would doe then all the said offences at once and sell denie and deferre iustice to some of the kings subiects certifie that for good which was bad or that for iustice which was méere iniurie Or if they did make report and certificat of that which was iust and true would sell it and take money or other reward for it which the king himselfe vpon his oath refuseth to doe And therefore because all exâ—â—tions extortions and corruptions be odious as well in this as in all other well gouerned Commonweales and to the intent to preuent the like enormities in this and other ages by a statute made Anno 1. Iacob it was enacted St. 1. Iac. 10 That no person to whom any order or cause shal be committed Exaction by taking or reward for a report or referred by any of the Kings Iudges or Courts at Westminster or any other Court directly or indirectly or by any act shift colour or deuice haue take or receiue any money fée reward couenant obligation promise agréement or any other thing for his report or certificat by writing or otherwise vpon paine of forfeiture of one hundred pounds for euery such report or certificat and to be depriued of his office and place in the same Court The one moitie to be to the king his
4. 23. by a Statute made Anno 2. H. 4. it was declared That the said Marshall may take the fees héereafter following viz. of euery person which commeth by Capias to the said Court iiij d and if he be let to mainprise vntill his day ij d more And of euery person being defendant which is impleaded of Trespas and findeth two Mampernors to keepe his day vntill the end of the plea ij d. And of euery person committed to prison by iudgement of the steward in whatsoeuer maner the same be iiij d and of euery ptrson deliuered of felony iiij d and of euery felon let to mainprise by the Court iiij d. But if the Marshall or any of his officers vnder him doe take any other fées than are before declared the said Marshall and euery of his officers shall lose their offices A Seruitor of bills in the Marshals Court. and also pay to the partie gréeued treble dammages for the which the said party shall haue his sute before the Steward of the said Court for the time being A seruitor of bills which beareth a staffe of the Court shall take for euery mile from the said Court vntil the same place where he shall do his seruice j. d and for xij miles xij d to serue a Venire facias or a Distringas out of the same court the double And if any Seruitor of Bills do the contrary he shall be imprisoned and make fine to the K. after the discretion of the Steward of the same court and also be foreiudged and banished the same court All which articles the steward at his comming into the country hath authoritie to proclaime and put in execution 21 And for that the kings of this realme haue from time to time bestowed vpon such as they assigned to be muster masters or captains in times of wars liberall and bountifull stipends and allowances the rather to the intent they should not exact or make a pray of such as should be or then were souldiers Therfore to preuent such like exaction by a statute made An̄ 4. 5. St. 4. 5. P. M. 3. P. M. it was ordained Muster masters exacting mony to spare souldiers That if any person which shall be commanded by the Q. her heirs or successors by commission leters or otherwise authorized to leuy muster or to make men to serue in her warres or otherwise for the defence of this Realme do by any meane exact leuie receiue or take or cause to be taken any mony or other reward or thing whatsoeuer of any persō for seruice in wars or that shal be appointed named or mustred to serue in any such seruice or for the sparing or discharging of such person from the said seruice then he shall forfeit ten times so much as he shall receiue exact or take to the Q. I. to be recouered by A.I. c. wherein no W.E.P. If any captaine petit captaine or other hauing charge of men shall for any aduantage or gaine by him to be receiued discharge or licence any of the men or souldiers appointed to serue in the warres vnder his rule or order to depart from the said seruice or shal not pay vnto his souldiers Exacting by captaines of their souldiers to euery of thē their full whole wages conduct and coat mony within x. daies next after he shal haue receiued the same then the party offending in giuing such licence or discharge shall forfeit for euery such offence x. times the value of the thing so receiued to the Q. I. to be recouered by A. I. wherin no W.E.P. c. And also he shal pay vnto euery such souldier from whom he shall with-hold any such wages conduct or coat money treble the summe so with-holden Extortion by taking of scauage of merchants 22 Because Scauage otherwise called Shewage was many times wrōgfully and extortiously taken by Magistrates of cities and corporat townes of merchants that transported or brought their marchandizes thither therefore by a statute made Anno 19. H. 7. it was prouided That if any maior shirife St. 19. H. 7. 8 bailife or other officer in any city borough or towne within this realme doe distraine take or leuie any custome called Scauage or Shewage of any merchant denizen or of any other the K. subiects denizens for any merchandize to the K. before truly customed that is brought by land or water to be vttered in any citie borough or towne in this land or if any maior shirife bailife or other officer in any city borough or towne for non paiment of the said scauage let or disturbe any merchants or any other persons denizens to sel and vtter their merchandize by them brought into any city borough or towne then he which offendeth shal forfet for euery offence xx l. to the K. the party grieued or any other that wil first sue by A. of debt in any shire wherein no W.E.P. shal be allowed But the maior shirifes cōmunalty of London and euery of them shall haue such summes of mony for scauage of euery person denizen as of right they ought to haue 23 Euery of the chiefe Iustices of the Kings Bench and Common Pleas and the maior of the Staple at Westminster and the Recorder of the Citie of London before whom any obligation being of the nature and force of a statute Staple shall be recognized St. 23. H. 8. 6 according to the statute of An̄ 23. H. 8. The Iustices Clarks fee vpon euery Recognisance shal take for euery such Recognisance iij. s̄ iiij d the clarke that shall write make and inroll the same iij. s̄ iiij d and for the certificat of euery one such obligation xx d. And if any of the said Iustices Maior Recorder or Clarke take of any of the K. subiects aboue the summe or summes to them limited by this statute then the same offendor shal forfeit for euery time so offending xl l. to the K. and I. to be recouered by A. I. wherein no W.E.P. c. And by the Stat. of An̄ 27. St. 27. Eli. 4. Eli. it was further ordained That no Clarke of the same Recognisances shall or may take for or in respect of any search to be made for or concerning any statute Merchant or of the Staple The Clarkes fée for search brought vnto him to be entred aboue ij d for one yéers search so after the rate of ij d for euery yéere not aboue vpon paine to forfeit lose to the partie or parties grieued twentie times as much as he shal take contrary to the true meaning of this Act to be recouered in any of the K. courts of Record by action of debt B. P. I. wherein no W.E.P. 24 Because it is well perceiued that learned and expert Atturnies be necessarie members in our State and great meanes to further iustice and to bring sutes to their expected ends and that they must therefore
shires and a President and Councel established there and in the Marches of the same with all officers clerkes and incidents to the same And that there should be Iustices of Assise and Gaole deliuerie there which should kéepe Sessions in euery of the said shires twice in the yeare and a Marshall and a Crier in euery circuit And that there should be original and iudiciall seales for the sealing of Writs and Proces in the said shires And that there should bee foure Prenotaries in Wales and also certaine Iustices of Peace and Quorum and a Custos Rotulorum Bailifs of Hundreds Sherifs Escheators Coronors Constables of Hundreds in euery of the said xij shires Then to preuent and auoyd extortion of the foresaid Officers in Wales and to the intent that the said Officers might know what money to demand and euery sutor what to paie for all Proces originall and iudiciall declarations pleadings c. by the said Stat. of anÌ„ 34. H. 8. it was particularly expressed how much should bee paied for the writing and sealing of originall and iudiciall Writs and proces The fées expressed to preuent extortion in Wales and what Prenotaries shal take for their fées what euery Marshall and Crier of the Iustices shall haue and what fées the said Sherifes and Coroners shall take in many diuers and seuerall cases But after in and by the said Stat. of anÌ„ 34. H. 8. it was further ordained That in all and euery Writs originall or iudiciall or other Proces pleas or writings which bée not expressed in the said ordinance the fées thereof as well for the seales as writing shal be rated by the said President Councell and Iustices or three of theÌ„ whereof the said President to be one by their discretion from time to time as the case shall require And they shall haue full power from time to time to assesse and appoint what fee the said Sherifes Escheators and Coroners and their ministers Prenotaries and their clerkes and other ministers of iustice in the said shire shall haue of the Kings subiects for any maner writs plaints pleas proces returnes or any other matter or thing concerning or belonging to the execution of their offices and roomes and to augment or diminish any fée or fées aboue declared as shal be thought by their discretions to be conuenient and méet for the common wealth of the kings subiects of those partes of Wales Oppression 1 OPpression is a grieuance done by one man or more to the hurt or preiudice of others What oppression is without any warrant of law or colour of iustice or it is a burden or charge which one man doth impose on another more than the law doth lay vpon him and is for the most part wrought by the superior in countenance abilitie or office to the inferior in the same for the oppressor sicuti Nimroth robustus venator tanquam Leo subuersor in domo sua is alwayes offering hard measure to them who are to deale with him vntill they be able and willing to resist him The fraudulent deceiuor yéeldeth a man something for his money or at the least giueth a faire colour so to do The extortioner is most times an officer and doth take paines and is worthy of his due reward so is tollerable vntill he wresteth more than his desert But the oppressor grapleth for what he can get and returneth nothing and wresteth to reap that which he hath not sowen and to gather fruit where he hath not grafted the marke he roueth at is his priuat profit respectâ—th not how many and how much he in that cause hurteth so that his owne purse be filled or his will be accomplished As Oppression by disseisin euerie disseisor who doth vnlawfully expell and put another man out of his fréehold may aptly be termed an oppressor for hee doth not put in practise that iniurie couertly and secretly by fraud and collusion vnder hand as the deceiuor extortioner do but by plain and open wrong and doth stand in the face of al his beholders and commonly iustifieth that which he hath done And therfore as the said disseisin and oppression is manifest so hath the stat of West 2. appointed a speedie and manifest remedie to the disseisée to redresse and reforme the same which is by an Assise of Nouel diss to the end that as he was newly and lately disseised so he might be quickly and spéedily restored And because the law doth adiudge a man oppressed and iniured who is disseised of estouers of wood Of what things one may be disseised or of profit to be taken in wood nuts acorns and of other fruit to be gathered or of a corrody of deliuering corne and other victuals and necessaries to bee receiued yearely in a place certaine or of toll tonnage passage pontage pawnage or such like things to be taken in places certain or of the kéeping of woods forrests parks chases warreines gates and other bailiwikes and offices in fée or of common of pasture turbaries fishing and such like which a man hath belonging to his fréehold or without his fréehold by speciall déed at the least for terme of life or when one man doth pasture anothers seuerall or when tenant for yeares or garden of a tenement doth alien the same in fée whereby the fréehold is transferred to the feoffée St. 13. E. 1. 25. therefore in all the cases aforesaid that said stat of West 2. doth giue to the party so oppressed and disseised his remedie to recouer the same by the said Ass of nouel diss in which the writ shal be De libero tenemento If tenant by Elegit be put out of the tenement which he hath in execution St. 13. E. 1. 25. St. 13. E. 1. or tenant by Statute marchant be put out of the land which he hath in execution or tenant by Stat. staple be put out of the land which he hath in execution or tenant by Recognisance in the nature of a Statute staple his executors St. 27. E. 3. 9 St. 23. H. 8. 9. administrators or assignes or any of them be disseised or put out of the land which he or they haue in executioÌ„ he or they so disseised or put out may haue maintaine an Assise for it is to him or them a disseisin an oppression St. 32. H 8. 7 If any person who hath an estate of inheritance or fréehold in any parsonage vicarage portion pention tithes oblations or other Ecclesiasticall profit made temporall be deforced kept or put from the same this is a disseisin and oppression the party so wronged may haue an Assise to recouer the same And if any Escheator St. 3. E. 1. 24 Sherife or other of the K. Bailifes shall by colour of his office without speciall warrant or certaine authoritie which belongeth to his office disseise any man of his fréehold or of any thing which belongeth to his fréehold this is an oppression
persons by him or them assembled shal be free discharged and vnpunished as well against the King as against all and euery other person and persons of for or concerning such killing maiheming hurting c. for it is homicide by iustice done and committed by persons lawfully authorised vpon such riotous and rebellious persons which after Proclamation made will not depart and seuer themselues asunder and submit and yeeld themselues obedient to the law of the Realme S. Riots 37. 5 As any man may iustifie the killing of another before arrest Killing him that is carrying to the Gaole if he wil not yeeld so may he doe after arrest if there be any ineuitable necessitie therein as if an offendor be arrested for felony 22. Ass p. 55 Fitz. Cor. 288. and when he is in leading towards the Gaole he breaketh from those that doe conduct him and flieth away and his conductors doe pursue him so that they cannot apprehend and take him againe without killing of him In this case if they doe kill him this is homicide by iustice and iustifiable for that the offendors would not yeeld to the triall iustice of the law But if he which killed the offendor procured the matter which is iustifiable for the cause aforesaid to be found before himselfe in respect of some iurisdiction which he hath to enquire of felonies Fi. Cor. 328 he shall not bée discharged vpon such an indictment found vntill he be arraigned thereof and the matter also found by verdict because he himselfe was Iudge But the law is otherwise if it were found before other commissioners 6 As a man may kill an offendor before arrest Killing a prisoner attempting to escape or after arrest if he will not yéeld so in some case a man may kil him that is vnder arrest in prison As a Gaoler came in the night with a Lanthorne in his hand to see his prisoners who before his comming had broken their yrons 22. Ass p 55 and stood all ready to kil him and did beat and euill intreat him and he hauing a hatchet in his hand therewith slew two of them and escaped from the residue This was adiudged to be well done and to deserue no punishment for this was by the Gaoler homicide done by iustice to kill them who attempted to kill him and who indeauoured to escape the triall and iustice of the law St. 24. H. 8. 5 7 It appeareth by the Statute of an̄ 24. H. 8. 5. Killing him that attempteth robbery or burglary That it is homicide iustifiable if a man doe kill an offendor which attempteth feloniously to robbe or murder him 22. Ass p. 55 26. As p. 23 32. Co. l. 5. f. 91 Fi. Cor. 303 305. in or néere any high way cart way horse way or foot way or in his mansion house or to kill him which attempteth burglarie to breake his dwelling house in the night and that the same shal be by verdict so found and tried for he shall neither loose lands goods or cattels for the death of any such euill disposed person but shal be fully discharged as if he were acquit thereof 8 To the intent that Trespassors in forrests chases parkes and warrens Killing of an offendor in a Parke warren or forrest may more charily eschew and feare to enter and trespasse in the same by a Statute made an̄ 21. Stat. 11. E. 1. E. 1. it was ordained That if any forester parke-kéeper or warreiner shall find any offendors within his Bailiwicke there wandring and doing hurt which after Huy Crie leuied to kéep the peace and obey the law will not yéeld themselues to the Forrester c. but will flie defend themselues by violence Then though the Forresters Park-kéepers and Warreiners any other comming in their companie to kéep the Kings peace endeauouring to arrest such offendors doe kil any of the same offendors he shal neither suffer death nor sustaine any other trouble or punishment therefore But if any of the said Forresters Parke-keepers or Warriners or any other by reason of contention despite or hatred will lay to any mans charge passing through his Bailiwicke that hee came thither to doe hurt whereas hee did not neither was found wandring or offending and so kill him and thereof be conuicted he shal be punished for his death as he ought to be for the death of an other being in the Kings peace And by this meanes the Forrester doth commit homicide by iustice vpon the offendor because he will not submit himselfe and yeeld to be iustified by the law 9 If the king haue an auncient Chace whereof the Lieutenants M. 15. 16 El. Dyer 327. or Kéepers haue vsed time out of the remēbrance of man as well by night as by day to hunt in the Manor of Dale adioyning to the said Chace such deare as do strate out of the same Chace into the said Manor as in the purlewe of the said chace but yet diuided from the same with hedge and ditch And after the same Manor of Dale doth come vnto the Kings hands and the King doth grant the same Manor to another and his heires and further doth grant vnto the same person frée Warreine in all his demesne lands of the said Manor Vnity of possession in a chace and a manor adioyning hauing free warrein which frée Warreine hath bin before confirmed by diuers auncient Charters with these words viz. Ita quod nullus intret in Warrennam illam ad fugandum sine licentia voluntate of the grauntée of the said Manor In this case notwithstanding the vnitie of the possession of the Chace and the Manor of D. in the king and notwithstanding the Kings grant of the manor and the confirmation of the warreine with the generall words of the Prohibition aforesaid which doe onely extend to the Subiect the kings libertie of the purlewe doth remain vnextinguished And therefore if one of the Kings Kéepers of the said Chace shall come into the said Manor of D. being purliew to fetch in his straied déere it is not lawfull for the Lord of the said manor of D. or for any of his seruants to kill him after huy and crie made to kéep the peace and obey the law and if he doe it is not iustifiable by the foresaid Statute of 21. Ed. 1. for he cannot commit homicide by iustice nor iustifie the killing of him in his Warreine who hath in a sort and to some purpose interest to come into the said ground to fetch forth his straied deere One killing another in combat 10 If in Appell of murder burglarie or other felonie the defendant doe 37 H. 6. 21 plead not guiltie ready to defend it by his body and the Appellant and Appellée doe ioyne in the combat and one of them doe kill another in battell This is Homicide by iustice and not punishable for as the law of the Realme doth allow
goods of another the whole offence shal be imputed to the husband it shal be adiudged no felony in the wife so if the wife doe take the goods of her husband the law wil not construe them to be stolne Fit cor 455 Bro. cor 242 nor charge her with felony therefore A woman taking her husbands goods for at the time of the solemnization of their mariage in the face of the Church her husband endowed her with all his wordly goods so gaue her a kind of interest in them And if the wife doe take her husbands goods and giue them to another this is not felony in him to whō she did giue them but if a man do take away another mans wife and the husbands goods against the husbands will this is felony S. Felony by stat 31. That it is felony in the wife to send any mony victual c. to her husband being assembled with others in rebellious manner contrary to the stat of An. 1. M. 12. Fi. N. B. 202 Bracton 35. H. 6. 11 13 If an infant aboue the age of xij In what case an infant may commit felony yeares doe take any goods of another mans aboue the value of xij d. with intent to steale them it is felony in him and some do affirme that if an infant of any age do take the goods of another and that the Iustices before whom he is arraigned doe thinke that hee did it with a felonious intent and had discretion to vnderstand what he did and the offence and the perill thereof that then it is felony in him And yet Inas king of the West Saxons ordained Lex 7. That a child of tenne yeares of age should bee condemned for Felony An Ideot or Lunaticke cannot cōmit Felony But an Ideot or Lunaticke cannot commit Felony by the stealing of the goods of another Co. li. 4. 124 for that neither of them doth know what he doth Burning of a house or barne Felony 14 Burning of a house willingly and feloniously done St. 3. B. 3. 15. is Felonie by the common Law For the statute of West 1. hath ordained That they which be taken for the burning of a house feloniously done be not repleuisable 11. H. 7. 1 And if one do burne a barne feloniously in the night which is adioining to a dwelling house it is felony by the common law Felony in indictors to discouer their counsell 15 If an indictor which with others hath indicted other persons of Felony do therin discouer the kings counsell contrary to his oath 27. Ass p. 63 Fit cor 272 in publishing to others that he and his companions haue indicted such and such persons this discouery is felony S. Treason 9. Rescuing of a prisoner felony 16 If an offendor be arrested or imprisoned for felony or attainted of felony 1. H. 7. 6 and a stranger will take him out of the possession of him that did arrest him or kéepe him in prison or will take a felon attainted and condemned to die out of the possession of the Shirife or his Officers whereby he escapeth this rescous is felony as well in him that made the rescous as in him that is rescued And if a stranger do rescue one that is indicted of felony he may be indicted and arraigned therof presently before the principall felony be tried 1. E. 3. 17. if he be found guilty he shal be perpetually imprisoned or otherwise punished at the K. pleasure but shall not be hanged because the principall felon is not tried S. Breaking of Prison 5. 10 Wilfull escape is felony 17 When a man doth arrest another for felony or any other crime after let him go at liberty whither he will 9. H. 4. 1 this letting him at liberty is a wilfull escape and if the arrest of him that escaped was for felony it shall be adiudged felony in him that did let him escape and if it were for treason then it shall be adiudged treason and if but for trespas it shal be adiudged trespas Goods stolne from him that hath the custody of them 18 If a man do deliuer cloth to a tailor to make him a garment Kel fol. 70. a felon doth steale that cloth out of the possession of the taylor the offendor may be indited for the stealing of that cloth of the goods of the taylor for the taylor had possession of the cloth and property also against all others sauing against him that deliuered it vnto him Goods stolne from a felon 19 If a Felon do steale another mans horse beast or other goods 13. Ed. 4. 3. 4. H. 7. 5 another Felon doth steale the same frō him the owner of the same horse beast or other goods may haue an appeale against the first or second Felon at his own choice for the property of the goods did alwaies remain in him for no felon can by the Law clayme property in any stolne goods 22. Ass p. 91 20 Larceny cannot be committed by taking of sauage beasts found in their wildnesse as Déere Pigeons Hawks Of what things Larcenie may be committed of what not nor by taking of doues found out of a douecoat nor by taking of fish in a riuer for such taking is not the stealing of the goods of another séeing that they be no mans goods neither can any person claime propertie in them neither can felonie bee committed in the taking of Apes Hounds Thrushes Squirels or such domesticall things kept only for pleasure and that but of some speciall persons and profitable to none Neither is the taking of Pheasants Partridges or Conies being fowles and things of warrein felony 18. Ed. 4. 8. But it is felonie if a man do take out of another mans douecoat yong pigeons which can neither go nor flie for that the propertie of them is alwayes in him who is owner of the douecoat And likewise it is felonie to take yong Goshawks or yong Herons bréeding in a parke or seueral ground which can neither go nor flie out of their nests Or to take fish out of a pond or trunk or to take Swannes Peacocks Turkies Cayons Géese or Ducks Or to take a Stag 18. H. 8. 2 Hind Bucke or Doe which is marked and domesticall and made tame by the owners diligence St. 3. E. 1. 20. And by the stat of West 1. it is felonie to take a tame beast or other thing in a parke by maner of robberie And it is felonie to kill shéepe and take their skinnes or to pull wooll from shéeps backs So that in all the cases aforesaid the thing so taken or stolne do excéed the value of twelue pence 12. Ass p. 32 18. H. 8. 2 Fit cor 256 21 The taking away of another mans goods to make it felonie Felony must be of personall goods not of things reall must be of personall things for if it
ought not to let him goe but the towne where the Constable dwelleth shal be charged with the kéeping of him vntill the next Gaole deliuerie Prisoner by matter of record 24 The law hath two seuerall respects to two sorts of prisoners whereof the one is prisoner by matter of Record and the other by matter in déed A prisoner by matter of Record is when one that is present in Court is committed to prison by the Court. In this case if the kéeper of the prison hath not this prisoner alwaies readie when the Court will send for him Fi. Cor. 466 or else doe shewe a reasonable cause why he cannot haue him the Court will iudge this an escape by the Kéeper without further inquitie But if the Kéeper of the prison bee in this case examined by the court of his prisoner 39 H. 6. 33. and he will say nothing the Court will adiudge it a voluntarie escape Fi. Cor. 352 25 If it be found in the Coroners Roll that one did flie to the Church Escape by a towne and no abiuration is found in the same Roll in this case the court will adiudge an escape vpon the whole towne without further presentment A man killed beeing in carrying to the Gaole And if a man be apprehended for felonie in a towne Fi. Cor. 346 and carried towards the Gaole by certain of the same towne and if he doe resist them whereupon they doe kill him in this case it shal be adiudged an escape vpon that town for in that hee was not safely carried to the Gaole attainted of felonie the king doth loose his escheats 26 When the Deciners doe present that a felon is apprehended for felony Escape by the Sherife and deliuered to the Sherife it will be adiudged an escape if they doe not declare to which Sherife he is deliuered and name him so that his rolls may bée searched and seene whether the prisoner came within the charge of the Sherife Fi. Cor. 345. and if it be not found how he came out of the Sherifs ward according to the law of the Realme an escape shal be adiudged vpon the Sherife 39. H. 6. 33. 27 It is vsed in the Kings Bench A Coroner sent to the Marshalsey to enquire c. to send a Coroner once or twice euery Terme to the Marshalsey to see all the prisoners that be committed to the marshall by matter of Record and if any of them be wanting cannot be found there to set his name in a booke and to informe the Iustices thereof and then the Court will examine the Marshall thereof and if he cannot sufficiently excuse himselfe the Court will record escapes vpon him for euery of them 21. As p. 12. 28 And touching those which bee prisoners of Record Confessing auoiding of an escape the Kéeper of the prison cannot trauerse the escape but confesse and auoyd it as in alleadging that the prison was burnt or broken by the Kings enemies or by saying that he which is supposed to be escaped is not the same prisoner which was committed to him 29 Prisoner by matter in fait is where one is prisoner by arrest onely Prisoner by matter in fait viz. by arrest whether it be by the Sherife the Constable or any other and he doth escape there the Escape shall bee presented before he shall aunswer vnto it And this presentment ought to be before the Iustices of the Kings Bench the Iustices in Eire or some other Iustices that haue authoritie to enquire thereof Before whom an escape shall be presented As it appeareth by the Statute of Westminster 1. the words whereof be these It is ordained St. 3. E. 1. 4. that nothing shall be demanded nor taken nor leuied by the sherife nor by any other for the escape of any theefe or felon vntill it shal be adiudged by the Iustices in Eire And he that shall doe otherwise shall restore to him that paid it so much as he hath receiued and to the King as much And likewise by the Statute of 31. Ed. 3. St. 31. E. 3. 14. it is prouided That the Escape of felons and Clerkes conuict shall bee adiudged by the Iustices and by their viewe leuied And though the foresaid Statute of Westminster the first doth not make mention of any but of Iustices in Eire 21 As p. 12. 27. As p. 1. yet it doth also extend to the Iustices of the Kings Bench because the Kings Bench is in Eire and higher then an Eire for if the Iustices in Eire doe sit in a Countie and the Iustices of the Kings Bench come thither the Eire shall cease Iu. of peace and Coroner shall enquire of escapes 30 And by the Statute of 1. R. 3. St. 1. R. 3. 3. Iustices of Peace may enquire of all manner of Escapes of euery person arrested and imprisoned for felonie And by the Statute of 3. H. 7. St. 3. H. 7. 1. They may enquire of the escape of any that hath committed murder and make certificat thereof into the Kings Bench. And also by the said Statute of 3. H. 7. the Coroner vpon the viewe of the dead body may enquire of the escape of the murderer for if he doe commit the murder in the day and escape the towne shal be amerced And also the Coroner shall deliuer his Inquisition therof to the Iustices at the next Gaole deliuerie of the same Countie Trauerse to a presentment of an escape 31 Vpon an escape for the which no fine is to be paied Fi. Cor. 291 328. 346. but an Amerciament he or they which be charged therewith shal haue no Trauerse to the presentment thereof Quia de minimis non curat lex Escapes inquirable in Leetes and Turnes 32 Although Escapes of felons be at this day inquirable in Léetes and Sherifes Turnes yet it shall not be leuied vntill it be adiudged before the Iustices for that should bee contrarie to the foresaid Statute of Westminster 1. The penalties of escapes 33 The penaltie of him which doth voluntarily suffer one arrested for felonie to escape is the forfeiture of all that he hath because it is felonie The penaltie of him which doth suffer a negligent escape of a felon is to pay a fine The penaltie for the escape of him which was neuer arrested is but an amerciament And if any doe suffer him that is attainted of felonie negligently to escape he shall pay to the King for a fine an hundred pounds And if the partie escaping were but indicted and not attainted then he shall paie to the King for a fine a hundred shillings If one which is not indicted nor taken with the manner nor apprehended at the suit of the partie 42. As p. 5. but onely taken by a straunger for susption of felonie do escape there shal no penaltie nor punishment follow thereof But yet if after the same escape he
but if it be during the day light though the sunne be set the countrie shal be charged therewith for whosoeuer doth trauel during the day light is in the guard and protection of the lawe and if any doe iourney by night he doth it at his owne perill St. 13. E. 1. 4 3 For the more suretie of the countrie and spéedier defecting of offendors warding of walled towns by the said Statute of Winchester it was enacted That in great townes beeing walled the gates shal be shut from the sunne setting vntill the sunne rising and no man shall lodge in the Suburbs or any place out of the town froÌ„ nine of the clocke vntil day vnlesse his Host will answer for him And the bailifs of townes euery weeke or at the least euery fifteenth day shall mak enquirie of all persons beeing lodged in the Suburbes or in forraine places of the townes and if they find any that hath receiued any suspitious persons not kéeping the Kings peace the baylifs shall execute right and iustice therein St. 13. E. 1â—4 4 And by the said statute of Winchester it was moreouer ordained That in all townes watch shall be kept as in times past it hath beene vsed That is to say When the night watch shall begin and end from the feast of the Ascension vntill Michaelmas in euery citie sixe men shall watch at euery gate in euery Borough twelue men in euery town sixe or foure according to the number of the inhabitants of the towne and they shall watch the towne at night from the sunne setting to the sunne rising And if any stranger doe passe by them he shall be arrested vntill the morning and if no suspition be found he shall goe quit and if they find cause of suspition they shall forthwith deliuer him to the Shirife and the Shirife shall receiue him without hurt vntill he be acquited in due manner And if he will not obey the arrest Resisting of arrest they shall leuie Huy and Cry vpon him and such as kéepe the Towne shall follow with Huy and Cry with all the Towne and Townes néere and from Towne to Towne vntill he be taken and deliuered to the Shirife as is beforesaid and for the arrestments of such strangers none shall be punished And by the Statute of Anno 5. H. 4. St. 5. H. 4. 3 Iustices of Peace haue power to make inquisition in their Sessions from time to time and to punish them which be found in default after the tenour of the foresaid statute of Winchester Enlarging of high waies 5 And for the more spéedie apprehension of felons and that they may haue the lesse meanes to escape when they haue robbed or otherwise offended St. 13. E. 1. 5. by the said statute of Winchester it is further established That the highwaies leading from one Market towne to another shal be enlarged there where any wood hedges or ditches be so that there shal be no ditch wood or bush where he that doth lewdly may escape within two hundred foot of the high way on the one side and two hundred foot on the other but this Statute extendeth not to Ashes or great Trees And if any robberies be done by default of breaking downe ditches vnderwood and bushes the Lord shall answer therefore and if it be a murder the Lord shal be punished at the Kings pleasure And if the Lord be not able to cut downe the vnderwood the Countrie shall helpe him And within the kings demesne woods in forrests and without the waies shal be enlarged as before is said And if any Parke be neere vnto the high way the Lord thereof shall diminish it by the space of two hundred foot from the high way or els make such a wall ditch or hedge that offendors cannot goe forward or backeward to any hurt 6 Because it is very hard and extreame to many persons for that by the foresaid Statutes of 13. Ed. 1. 28. E. 3. 11. they do remaine charged with the penalties therein contained notwithstanding their vnabilitie to satisfie the same and though they do as much as in reason might be required in pursuing such malefactors offendors whereby both large scope of negligence is giuen to the inhabitants resiants in other hundreds counties not to prosecute the huy crie made followed brought vnto them by reason they are not chargeable for any portion of the goods robbed nor with any dammages in that behalfe giuen also great incouragement imboldening is likewise giuen to the offendors to commit daily more felonies and robberies seeing it is in a maner impossible for the inhabitants and resiants of the said hundred and franchise wherein the robberie is committed to apprehend them without the ayde of other hundreds and counties adioyning And for that also the partie robbed hauing remedie by the foresaid statutes for the recouering of his goods robbed and dammages against the Hundred wherein the robberie was committed is many times negligent and carelesse in prosecuting and pursuing the saide malefactors and offendors The Hundred charged wher fresh sute shall cease For the qualifying of all which extreamities by a statute made Anno 27. Eliz. St. 27. El. 13 it was ordained That the inhabitants and resiants of euery or any such Hundred with the franchises within the precinct thereof wherein negligence fault or defect of pursute and fresh sute after huy and crie made shall happen to be shall answer and satisfie the one moitie or halfe of all and euery summe and summes of money and dammages as shall by force and vertue of the saide Statutes viz. of 13. Ed. 1. and 28. Ed. 3. or either of them be recouered or had against or of the same Hundred with the franchises therein in which any robberie or felonie shall at any time heereafter be committed or done And the same moitie shall and may at any time héereafter be recouered by action of debt bill plaint or information in any of the Quéenes Courts of Record at Westminster by and in the name of the Clerke of the Peace for the time being of The Clerke of the Peace shall prosecute the sute or in euery such Countie within this Realme where any such robberie and recouerie by the party or parties robbed shal be without naming the Christian name or the surname of the saide Clerke of the Peace Which moitie so recouered shall be to the only vse and behoofe of the inhabitants of the said Hundred where any such robberie or felonie shall be committed or done St. 27. El. 13 7 If any Clerke of the Peace of or in any Countie within this Realme shall at any time héereafter commence or preferre any such sute action or information and shall after the same so sued commenced or preferred The Clerke of the Peace doth die or is remooued happen to die or to be remooued out of his office before recouerie and execution had yet no such
action sute bill plaint or information sued commenced or preferred shall by such displacing or death be abated discontinued or ended But it shall and may be lawfull to and for the Clerke for the Peace next succéeding in the saide Countie to prosecute pursue and follow all and euery such action bill plaint sute and information for the causes aforesaid so hanging and depending in such maner and forme to all intents and purposes as that Clerke of the Peace might haue done which first commenced or preferred the said sute bill plaint or information 8 Although the whole Hundred where such robberies and felonies are committed with the liberties within the precincts thereof are by the said two former statutes charged with the answering to the partie robbed his dammages yet neuerthelesse the recouerie and execution by and for the partie or parties robbed is had against one or a very few persons of the saide inhabitants and he and they so charged haue not héeretofore by Lawe had any meane or way to haue any contribution of or from the residue of the saide Hundred where the said robbery is committed to the great impouerishment of them against whom such recouerie or execution is had for the remedy whereof by the saide statute of An̄ 27. Eliz. St. 27. El. 13 it was enacted That after execution of dammages by the partie or parties so robbed had it shall and may be lawfull vpon complaint made by the partie or parties so charged to and for two Iustices of the Peace whereof one to be of the Quorum of the same Countie inhabiting within the saide Hundred or neare vnto the same where anie such execution shall be had to assesse and taxe ratably and proportionably according to their discretions all and euerie the Townes A remedy for an equall contribution Parishes Villages and Hamlets as well of the saide Hundred where any such robberies shall be committed as of the Liberties within the saide Hundred to and towards an equall contribution to be had and made for the reliefe of the saide inhabitant or inhabitants against whom the partie or parties robbed before that time had his or their execution And that after such taxation made the Constables Constable Headboroughs or Headborough of euerie such Towne Parish Village and Hamlet shall by vertue of this Act haue full power and authoritie within their seuerall limites ratably and proportionably to taxe and assesse according to their abilities euerie inhabitant and dweller in euerie such Towne Parish Village and Hamlet for and towardes the paiment of such taxation and assessement as shall be so made vpon euery such Towne Parish Village and Hamlet as aforesaide by the saide Iustices And if any Inhabitant of any such Towne Parish Village or Hamlet shall obstinately refuse and denie to pay the saide Taxation and assessement so by the said Constables Constable Headboroughs or Headborough taxed assessed then it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said constables headboroughs euery of thē within their seuerall limits iurisdictions to distraine all and euery person and persons so refusing and denying by his their goods and chattels the same distresse to sell and the mony therof comming to retaine to the vse aforesaid And if the goods or chattells so distrained and solde shall be of more value than the said Taxation shall come vnto then the residue of the said money ouer and aboue the saide Taxation shall be deliuered vnto the said person or persons so distrained Deliuering the contribute money 9 All and euery the saide Constables and Headboroughs St. 27. El. 13 after that they haue within their seuerall limites and iurisdictions leuied and collected their said rates and summes of mony so taxed shall within ten daies after such collection pay and deliuer the same ouer vnto the said Iustices of Peace or one of them to the vse and behoofe of the saide Inhabitant or Inhabitants for whom such rate taxation or assessement shall be had or made as aforesaide Which money so paied shal by the Iustices or Iustice so receiuing the same be deliuered ouer vpon request made vnto the saide Inhabitant or Inhabitants to whose vse the same shall be collected Leuying of cantribution 10 And the like taxation assessement leuying by distresse and payment St. 27. El. 13 as aforesaide shall be had and done within euerie Hundred where default or negligence of pursute and fresh sute shall be for and to the benefite of all and euery Inhabitant or Inhabitants of the same Hundred where such default shall be that shall at any time héereafter by vertue of this Act haue any dammages or money leuied of them for or to the paiment of the one moitie or halfe of the mony recouered against the said Hundred where any robberie shall be hereafter committed No penaltie where any of the offenders be apprehended 11 Prouided that where any robberie is St. 27. El. 13 or shal be hereafter committed by two or a greater number of malefactors and that it happen any one of the said offenders to be apprehended by pursute to be made according to the saide former mentioned Lawes and Statutes according to this present Act that then and in such case no hundred or franchise shall in any wise incurre or fall into the penaltie losse or forfeiture mentioned either in this present Act or in any the saide former statutes although the residue of the saide malefactors shall happen to escape and not to be apprehended Any thing in this statute or in the said former statutes to the contrary notwithstanding Which saide Braunch doth in some sort qualifie part of the foresaid statute of Winchester for by the saide statute Col. 7. fol. 7 the Country must agrée for the saide robberie within halfe a yéere or else they shall be answerable for the bodies of the saide offendors which is of all the offendors But by this statute it is sufficient if they take any of the offendors although not all St. 27. Eli. 13 12 Prouided also Within what time the sute shal be commenced That no person or persons héereafter robbed shall take any benefite by vertue of any the saide former Statutes to charge any Hundred where any such robberie shall be committed except hée or they so robbed shal commence his or their sute or action within one yeere next after such robberie so to be committed St. 27. Eli. 13 13 No huy and crie In what maner huy and crie shal be made or pursute héereafter to be done or made by the Country or inhabitants of any Hundred shall be allowed and taken to be a lawful huy and crie or pursute vpon or after any of the saide felons or offendors except the same huy and crie and pursute be done and made by horsemen and footmen Any vsage or custome to the contrary notwithstanding St. 27. El. 13 14 No person or persons that shal hereafter happen to be robbed
the appeale be fresh and the signe of truth apparant by effusion of blood or an open outcrie leuied But if it be without any manifest token or outcrie two pledges shall suffice Within what time an appeale shal be commenced 33 The before mentioned Statute of Gloucester hath ordained St. 6. Ed. 1. 9 That an appeale shall not be abated for default of fresh sute where a man doth sue within a yéere and a day after the déede done These words of the Statute be generall not making mention more of an appeale of death than of an appeale of any other felonie But yet conferring them with the other words in the statute they may be intended specialy to extend to an appeale of death and to none other appeale for if a man that is robbed doth make fresh sute 7. H. 4 44. and doe his endeuour to apprehend the felon and vse all his diligence to find him although he doe not commence his appeale two or thrée yeares after the robberie committed yet he may then well pursue it And so in appeale of robberie fresh sute shall be decided by the discretion of the Iustices H. 22. Ed. 4 39. But in an appeale of death it is a good plea for the Defendant to pleade that he of whose death this appeale is pursued died aboue a yeare and a day before the said appeale commenced 34 The words of the foresaid Statute of Gloucester be St. 6. Ed. 1. 9 That a man shall pursue his Appeale within a yeare and day after the déed done From what time the yeare shal haue relation touching an appeale And therefore if one man doe strike another vpon one day and he dieth of the same stroake certaine daies after Co. l. 4. 42 the Appeale shal be commenced within the yeare and day after the death and not within the yeare and day after the stroake giuen for there was no felonie committed vntill the man was dead But yet if one mā doe giue to another a mortall wound in Februarie and the king doth in April next giue pardon to the offendor of all felonies before that time committed Plo. com f. 401 and the partie stricken doth die of the same wound in May following How the K. pardon shal haue relation this pardon shall discharge the offendor because the wound giuen by the offendor was the cause of the felonie the which wound was the offence towards the King and that the king hath pardoned and so thereby the death of the partie and all other things depending vpon the same offence be pardoned 35 Where the words of the Statute of Gloucester be The yere shall haue relation to that offēce That a man shall pursue his Appeale within a year and a day after the deed done St. 6. E. 1. 9. Those words viz. the déed done shal be intended of the felonie whereupon the appeale is commenced for if one be accessorie to another a yeare after the homicide or murder committed 26. Ass p. 52 an appeale shal be pursued against him and yet it is not within the yeare and day after the homicide or murder committed S. Br. 52. St. 3. E. 1. 13 36 It appeareth by Britton and also by the Statute of Westminster 1. that an appeale of Rape ought to be commenced within fourtie daies after the fact done Within what time an appeal of rape shal be commenced But then Rape was but a trespasse which after by the Statute of Westminster 2. was made felonie St. 13. E. 1. 34. In which Statute of Westminster 2. there is no time limited within the which a woman shal be compellable to pursue her Appeale of Rape And therefore it séemeth she is at libertie to bring it when she will so that it be within a reasonable time 18. Ed. 3. 32 37 An appeale ought to be brought in the Countie where the felonie was committed as if it be murder or homicide In what countie an appeale shal be brought where the same murder or homicide was done But if a man be striken in one county and then goeth into another countie and there dieth of the same wound by the common law an appeale may be commenced either in the countie where the stroake was giuen A man strickē in one countie dieth in another or in the countie where the partie stricken did after die and the trial thereof shal be by the Iurors of both the counties 3. H. 7. 12. 4. H. 7. 18. viz. as well of the countie where he was stricken as of the countie where he died And so it was at the plaintifes pleasure to bring his appeale in which of those two coūties he would But since by the Statutes of Anno 2. 3. E. 6. St. 2. 3. E. 6. 24. it is ordained That where any person shal be feloniously stricken or poisoned in one countie and die of the same stroake or poysoning in another countie then an indictment thereof found by Iurors of the countie where the death shall happen whether it be found before the Coroner vpon the sight of such dead bodie or before the Iustices of peace or other Iustices or Commissioners which shall haue authoritie to enquire of such offences shal be as good in law as if the stroake or poysoning had béene committed in the same countie where the partie shall die or where such inditement shal be found And such party to whom appeale of murder shal be giuen by the law may commence take and sue Appeale of murder in the same countie where the partie so feloniously stricken or poysoned shall die as well against the principal and principals as against euery accessorie to the same offences in whatsoeuer countie or place the accessorie shal be guiltie to the same And the Iustices before whom any such appeale shall be commenced sued and taken within the yeare and day after such murder manslaughter committed shall procéede against euery such accessorie in the same countie where such appeale shal be so taken in like manner and forme as if the same offence of accessorie had beene committed in the same countie where such appeale shal be so taken as well by the triall of the Iurors of the countie where such appeale shal be taken vpon the plea of not guiltie pleaded by such offendor Accessories in other offences sauing murder as otherwise But note that no Appeale is giuen by this Statute Stamford nor remedie prouided against accessories in a forreine countie of other felonies sauing for murder or manslaughter but the same is left to the common law In what coūtie an appeale of Rape shall be brought 38 An appeale of Rape ought to be brought in the countie where the Rauishment was done And therefore if a man doe take a woman against her will in one countie and then carrie her into another countie and there doe rauish her the appeale shal be onely commenced in the
supposed is and was conuersant within the countie whereof the indictment or appeale maketh mention but the like proces shal be made against such indicted or appealed person as hath béene vsed 62 And because after the making of the sayd Statute of Anno 8. H. 6. some intending to defraud the sayd Statute did sue to remooue such appeales and indictments out of the hands of the Iustices or Commissioners aforesayd into the Kings bench and elsewhere by Certiorari or otherwise vnknowne to the partie so indicted and therupon sued the proces vsed at the common law before the making of the said Statute in the Kings Bench and elsewhere after the remoouing therof to the great impouerishment of diuers the kings subiects Therefore by the Statute made Anno 10. H. 6. St. 10. H. 6. 6 it was enacted Proces vpon an indictment or appeale remoued into the K. bench That if any such indictments taken before any Iustices of peace or any other hauing power to take such indictments or appeales or other Iustices or Commissioners in any county franchise or libertie of England shal be remoued into the Kings Bench or elsewhere by Certiorari or otherwise then after such remoouing before any Exigent awarded vpoÌ„ any such indictment or appeal in form aforesaid taken immediatly after the first writ of Capias vpon euery such indictment or appeale awarded and returned another writ of Capias shall bee awarded directed to the Sherife of the countie wherof he that is indicted or appealed is or was supposed to be conuersant by the same indictment or appeale returnable in the K. Bench at a certaine day contayning the space of thrée moneths from the date of the said last writ of Capias according to the maner and forme that the I. of peace and others ought to haue done before such remouing And if any Exigent be awarded vpon any such indictment or appeale after such remouing against the forme aforesaid or any outlawrie thereupon pronounced as wel the same Exigent as the outlawrie and euery of them shal be void In the Appeale he must be supposed to be of a forrein County 63 The foresaid stat of 8. H. 6. doth not take place St. 8. H. 5. 10. but where by the Appeal or by the Indictment it is precisely supposed that the defendant was dwelling in a forrein county for if he be supposed to be dwelling there by an Alià s dictê° it is out of the compasse of the stat 1. E. 4. 1. As in an appeal or indictment in the county of Middlesex against A.B. in comitatu tuo yeoman alias dictum A.B. de C. in comitatu Sussex yeoman Because that which is supposed by the Alià s dictê° is not trauersable nor materiall And likewise it is in an appeale or indictment against I. of S. in comitatu H. nuper de L. in comitatu K. nuper de R. in comÌ„ T. An appellée dwelling in no place certaine 64 If a man be appealed to be dwelling in no place certaine the day of the Appeale commenced but in this maner Fitz. Proces 192. viz. nuper de S. in comitatÌ„ L. and nuper de B. in comitÌ„ T. then proces shal be awarded into all the counties whereof he is so supposed to be of late dwelling Proces into a County Palantine 65 The foresaid stat of 8. H. 6. hath ordained That after the first Capias St. 8. H. 6. 10 another Capias shal be awarded to the Sherife of the county whereof he which is so indicted is or was supposed to be dwelling by the same indictment And therefore if an appeale or indictment be exhibited against one in the countie of M. naming him of D. in the county of Chester or of some other place which is a countie Palantine In this case no proces can be awarded vpon this Stat. which may be directed to the Sherife according to the words of the Statute But proces shal be awarded vpon this statute to the prince or his lieutenant 19. H. 6. 2 31. H. 6. 11. for it is in like mischiefe and the statute is generall in all the Realme which doth bind as well those which be of a Countie Palantine as others But if they of the Countie Palantine will not serue and returne the writ directed to them vpon this statute then without further delay the Exigent shall be awarded otherwise the party should be infinitly delaied Proces against principal accessory 66 The foresaid Proces specified in the before rehearsed stat of 8. H. 6. shal extend as well to accessories as to principals sauing that the Exigent as to the accessories shall be staied vntill the principals be outlawed And that by the Statute of West 1. the words whereof be these St. 3. E. 1. 14 Because men haue vsed in some counties to outlaw such persons as be appealed of commandement force aide or escape within the same terme that they do outlaw him which is appealed of the fact it is ordained that none shal be outlawed for an appeale of commandement force ayd or receit vntill he that is appealed of the déed be attainted so that one law shal be thereof through the whole Realme But the appellant shall not let to attach his appeale at the next countie against them as well as against the appellées of the déed But the Exigent against the Accessorie shal stay vntill the appellée of the déed be attainted by outlawrie or otherwise And Britton Britton doth affirme That as soone as the principals be outlawed the Exigent shal be awarded against the accessories St. 3. E. 1. 14 67 The before rehearsed statute of West 1. séemeth onely to extend to Appeales commenced by bill The stat of W. 1. exteÌ„deth onely to Appeals commenced by bil for in an Appeale commenced by writ it appeareth not vntill the declaration made thereupon that there bée any accessories in the Appeale but for any thing contained in the writ all doe appeare to be principals 43. Ed. 3. 17. and for that cause the Exigent is awarded against them all at one time And therefore the plaintife must be aduised how he doth pray the Exigent and against whom for if he do pray the Exigent against them all he is therby concluded after to count against any of them as accessories for the law intendeth that he must take knowledge which were accessories and which not And therefore in that case he should haue staid the demaunding of the Exigent against them vntill the principals had béene attainted And that is the difference betwéene the principals and the accessories as touching the time of the awarding of the Exigent 68 If an Appeale be brought against diuers and one doth appeare plead In Appeale one doth appeare and another makes default yet proces shall be continued against the residue But if hee which appeareth doth plead in abatement of the Appeale or matter in barre which proueth that the Appeale
indicted and tried in the County where he doth commit the offence whereof he is so indicted yet for the preseruation of mans life and condignely to punish such persons as vnlawfully and wilfully murther slay or destroy men and to preuent the practise of those Théeues and Robbers that doe steale or robbe in one Countie and conuey their spoyle or part thereof to some of their adherents knowing thereof in another Countie St. 2. 3. Ed. 6. 24. by a Statute made Anno 2. 3. Edw. 6. it was enacted That where any person or persons shall be feloniously stricken or poysoned in one County A man strickeÌ„ or poysoned in one county dieth in another and dye of the same stroake or poysoning in another County that then an Indictment found by Iurors of the County where the death shall happen whether it shall be found before the Coroner vpon the sight of any such dead body or before the Iustices of Peace or any other Iustices or Commissioners which shall haue authoritie to enquire of such offences shall bee as good and effectuall in Law as if the stroake or poysoning had béene done or committed in the same Countie where the party shall dye or where such Indictment shall bée so found And by the same Statute it was further ordayned That where any Murther or Felony shall bée committed and done in one County and another person or moe shall bée accessarie or accessaries in any manner wise to any such Murther or Felony in any other County Indictment of an accessary in one county to an offeÌ„ce done in another that then an Indictment found or taken against such accessarie or accessaries vpon the circumstance of such matter before the Iustices of Peace or other Iustices or Commissioners to inquire of felonies in the County where such offences of accessarie or accessaries in any manner of wise shall bée committed or done shall bée as good and effectuall in the Law as if the principall offence had béen committed or done within the same County where the same Indictment against such accessary shal be found 6. H. 7. 10 7. H. 7. 8 Before which Statute made the manner was B to carry the body of the offendor to the County where the first offence was committed and there to indict and try him A man was indicted in the County of Middlesex for that hee in the same County procured another man to kill a third man in the Countie of Essex Fi. Cor. 33 by force whereof hée did kill him accordingly This was a good and sufficient Indictment for hée was indicted in the county where he committed his offence Kel fol. 67. viz. the procurement And if a man being in one county doth procure another to kill a third person in another couÌ„ty whereby he doth kill him accordingly in this case a Iury of the county where the murther was committed may indict this procuror as accessory for that this murther was begun by his procurement Insidiatores viarum depopulatores agrorum 15 By the Statute of Anno 4. H. 4. it was ordained St. 4. H. 4. 2. That the words Insidiatorum viarum Depopulatores agrorum shall not be from henceforth vsed or put in Indictments Arraignements Appeales nor other impeachments Nor that by force of any such word or terme any of the kings people shall be arraigned appealed impeached nor grieued before any secular Iudge But the Iustices may take and receiue before them Indictments Arraignements and Appeales of Felony containing in them the effect of the said words and termes if any shal be hereafter indicted arraigned or appealed before them of any such Felonies And if in time to come any Clerkes shall be indicted arraigned or appealed and their indiments arraignements or appeales doe purport the effect of the said wordes or other wordes of the like effect notwithstanding they shall enioy the priuiledge of their Clergie Words not necessarie in Indictments 16 By a Statute made Anno 37. H. 8. the words vi armis viz. St. 37. H. 8. 8 cum baculis cultellis arcubus sagittis or such other like before time commonly vsed and comprised in all Indictments and inquisitions of Treason Murther Felony Trespas and other offences shall not of necessitie bée put or comprised in any Inquisition or Indictment Nor the party being indicted of any offence shall take aduantage by Writ of Error Plea or otherwise to auoid any such Inquisition or Indictment for that the said wordes or any of them shall not bée put in the said Inquisition or Indictment But the said Inquisitions or Indictments lacking the foresaid words or any of them shall bée taken to all intents as good and effectuall in Law as if the said words were in them No more shall be in an indictment then is true 17 By these two last Statutes it doth appeare St. 4. H. 4. 2. St. 37. H. 8. 8 that the Realms was offended because Indictments were stuffed with more words then the offence required and that of purpose to aggrauate the offence more then it was grieuous in it selfe For the circumstances of euery offence doe augment or diminish it according to the qualities thereof And therefore it is requisite that there shall be no further circumstance put in Indictments more then the fact sauing that which is true least Periurie should ensue and Iustice bée subuerted thereby for such words be not words of forme but as materiall and necessarie as Proditorié or Felonicè which ought to be put in euery Indictment of Treason or Felony or otherwise the Indictment is not good for they doe expresse the intent wherewith the fact was committed Felonice omitted in an indictment of felony which maketh the offence to bee knowne As one was indicted That he tooke his father being sicke Fi. Indict 3. carried him against his will from towne to towne in a great frost wherof he died and for that this word Felonicè was not in the indictment it was adiudged void And if one be indicted of murther or manslaughter 1. M. Di. 99. there must be of necessitie in the indictment a stroke supposed viz. tali die anno felonicè ex malitia praecogitata interfecit murdrauit c. without saying percussit And if a man be indicted of Piracy Piracie in an indictment there ought to be in the indictment not only this word felonicè Stamf. 114. but also this word piraticè 18. E. 3. 32. Fitz. Cor. 122. 13. Ass p. 6 18 In an action of trespas brought for the taking away of a mans wife Where a verdict shal be an indictment and the goods of the husband the def pleaded not guiltie and was found by verdict guiltie in this case the same verdict shall serue as an indictment for the K. and the def shal be thereupon arraigned of felony And in like sort â—n an action of trespas brought for the taking
away of his goods Fitz. Indict 31. the defendant pleaded not guiltie and it was found by verdict that the defendant with other his companions did steale those goods from the plaintife whereupon the defendant was awarded presently to answer to the felony at the K. suit But it was then affirmed that if the enquest had passed in any other place sauing the K. Bench nothing ought to haue béene done touching the felony vntill the Eyre of the Iustices 1. H. 7. 6. 19 If the Sherife returne a Rescous made vnto him of one which hee did arrest for felony and was taken out of his possession The Sherifs returne no indictment In this case notwithstanding this return be matter of record yet it is not sufficiēt to serue as an indictment against him that made the Rescous And the same law is if the Sherife returne 2. E. 3. 1. that the party arrested did escape from him And the reason of the difference betwéen the two former cases these is for that in the first cases there is a verdict of twelue men which will alwaies serue for the King if they conteine matter that will intitle him For the King is euer present in court and if the parties in pleading or the Iurie in their verdict do disclose any matter which shall intitle the King the court shall adiudge for the King though he be none of the parties to the action But in the other case of the Sherifes returne it is not so for the Sherifes returne will rather attaint him than put him to answer for that it is a common rule that against the Sherifes returne there is no Trauerse nor answer S. Breaking of prison 7. 25. E. 3. 43. 8. H. 1. 8. 2. H. 7. 7. 3. H. 7. 5. 5. E. 6. Di. 69 20 An Indictment which is vncertaine is not good The yere day and place necessarie in an indictment and therefore to make a good Indictment it is necessarie to put in the yeare day and place when and where the felonie was committed And it ought to bée such a day as is not doubtfull nor vncertaine for if it be so it is as much as if no day had bin put in And therefore if a man be indicted Certaintie in the day that hee committed felonie in the Feast of Saint Paul without addition and there be two Feastes of Saint Paul in the yeare this is an vncertaine indictment and so void A man was indicted for that the first day of May and the fourth day of May at Dale hee did beat and wound I.S. and then and there did take and steale from him feloniously 2. H. 7. 7. a white horse and this was adiudged a void indictment for it is vncertaine whither these words adtunc ibidem shall haue relation for a felony can be committed but at one time and place 21 An Indictment ought to be certaine not onely in the day Indictment certaine in the matter but also in the matter 8. E. 4. 3. As if one be indicted for apprehending of a man for suspition of felony and that he did after voluntarily and feloniously let him go at libertie and the indictment doth not shew in certaintie for suspition of what felony he was taken this is a void indictment Indictments certain in the persons receiued 22 If a man be indicted as accessory to foure men in this maner viz. 30. H. 6. 2. that he knowing those foure to haue committed felony did receiue them feloniously at D. and the indictment doth not shew which of them he receiued this indictment is void for the incertaintie for the indictment should haue bin that he did receiue them all foure by name or thrée two or one of them by name Indictment vncertain at which court 23 If an indictment be 49. H. 6. 15 31. H 8. Dyer 46. 4. 5. P. M. Dy. 164 33 H. 8. Dyer 50. Ad magnam curiam cum leta tentam tali die anno extitit praesentatum quod c. this is a void indictment for that it is vncertaine to which of those courts a man will refer the presentment whether to the Léet or to the Court Baron And so must the words of an indictment be certaine in euerie addition of the county Indictment vncertaine in the addition towne place time person mysterie c. and in an Aliàs dictus c. and in the placing thereof Indictment for making of money 24 If a man be indicted that he made C. s̄ by Alchimy Fitz. Indict 10. like the mony of our Soueraigne Lord the K. and it is not alledged in the indictment what mony it was viz. pence grotes or c. this is a void indictment for the vncertaintie A common théefe 25 If a man be indicted that he is a common euill doer or a common théefe 22. Ass p. 73 29. As p. 45. without shewing specially in what thing this is a void indictment because it is vncertaine in what things the transgressor hath offended By the stat of anno 25. E. 3. 9. pro Clero it is ordained That no Ordinarie St. 25. E. 3. or any minister of his shal be indicted of extortion or oppression generally but it must be declared and put in certaine in the indictment in what thing of what and in what maner the said Ordinaries or their Ministers haue done extortion and oppression Indictment of the Ordinarie must be certaine or otherwise the said Ordinaries and their ministees shal not be impeached by the K. Iustices for the said indictment The foresaid A. where none is named 26 If a man be indicted for the stealing of the goods of the foresaid A. where there is no such A. before named in the indictment this is a void indictment 9. E. 4. 1. for that words subsequent cannot haue relation to words precedent where there be none such Indictment for the killing of a man vnknowne 27 No man is bound to answer to an appeal of felony touching the death of a man if the appellant do not name the name of the party that was killed 22. As p. 94 But a man may be indicted quod interfecit quendam hominem ignotum 2. E. 3. 26. 9. H. 6. 64. 1. Ass p. 7. for he that is slaine may be so mangled in the face or was dwelling so far off that he cannot be knowne by name Indictment for stealing the goods of a man vnknowne And in like sort a man may be indicted for the stealing of the goods of cuiusdam hominis ignoti And the reason is Fitz. Indict 12. 1. M. Di. 96. 11. Eliz. Dyer 285. for that this indictment is not the suit of the owner of the goods but is the Kings suit who is to haue the goods if no man doe claime them And it were not expedient that the King should loose the goods for that the name of the
be passed And if the same Felons Murderers and Accessories or any of them so arraigned be acquited or the principall of the sayd felonie or any of them be attainted the wife or next heire to him so slaine as case shall require may take their Appeale of the same death and murder within the yeare and day after the same felonie and murder done against the said person so arraigned and acquit and all other their accessories or against the accessories of the sayd principall or any of them so attainted or against the sayd principall so attainted if they be then liuing and the benefit of the Clergie thereof before not had And the appellant shall haue such aduantages as if the sayd acquitall and attainder had not béene the acquitall or attainder notwithstanding The wife or heire of the person so slaine or murdered as case shall require may commence their Appeale in proper person at any time within the yeare after the felonie done before the Sherif and Coroners of the Countie where the sayd felony and murder was done or before the King in his Bench or Iustices of gaole deliuerie And though that by force of the sayd statute of 3. H. 7. at another time acquited is no plea in an Appeale of death at this day Another time acquit no plea in Appeale but in Indictment yet in an indictment of death it is a good plea to plead that he was at another time acquited in an Appeale brought of the same parties death S. Appeales 93. 48 And so it appeareth that the before rehearsed enormities that were at the common law and some others touching the indicting and arraigning of murderers and manquellers be remedied by the foresaid statute of 3. H. 7. but in other Appeales the rules of the common law doe continue in force For if a man be indicted of robberie and hee that was robbed hath an Appeale depending of the same robberie No indictmēt of robbery vntil the Appeal be tryed against the partie indicted in which Appeale he hath procéeded so farre that the Iust may perceiue that it is of the same robbery they ought to surcease to try the Appellée vpon the indictment 31. H. 6. 11 vntill the plaintife hath made his declaration For in an Appeale by writ the robbery cannot be certainly known vntil he hath made his declaration though it be otherwise in an Appeale commenced by bill 49 Though at another time conuicted or attainted of the same felony Another time conuict of the same felonie was and is a good plea for him that is the second time or more often indicted and arraigned againe vpon the same felony yet by the common law if one had béen indicted and arraigned of felonie and deliuered to the Ordinarie as a Clerke conuict and before he had made his purgation of the same felony he had broken the Ordinaries prison and escaped he might haue bin another time arraigned vpon the same indictment And it was no plea for him to plead Fitz. Cor. 232. that hee was another time conuict of the same felony and deliuered to the Ordinarie or that he was a Clerke and could not answer without his Ordinarie because hée remained vnpurged of the felonie and did loose the benefit of his Clergie by the breaking of prison And yet at that time if hee had not broken the Ordinaries prison but departed by his licence then at another time conuict shold haue bin a good plea for him vpon his second arraignmēt But now sithence by the stat of an 18. El. St. 18. El. 6. euery person which shal be admitted to haue the benefit of his clergie shal not therupō be deliuered to the Ordinarie as hath bin accustomed but after such clergie allowed and burning in the hand shal forthwith be enlarged and deliuered out of prison by the Iust before whō such clergy shal be granted Therefore at this day if one bee conuicted of felonie and hath the benefit of his Clergie Co. li. 4. 40. 45. and is burned in the hand if after in any case he shall be indicted and arraigned of the same felonie it shal be a good plea for him to plead that hée was another time conuict of the same felonie because the life of a man shall not be twice put in ieopardie for one offence yea though he shall breake the prison and depart from thence within that time after his conuiction which the Iustices shall thinke conuenient to detaine him in prison for his further correction for now he is not in prison for felonie but for correction 50 It is a good plea for him that is arraigned of felonie to plead that he is attainted of felonie Another time attainted of felonie and to demand iudgement if during this attainder he shal be put to answer to that felony whereof he is attainted or to any other felonie for if he should be put to answer no more could be recouered of him than is recouered 28. E. 3. 90 neither can he forf more than he hath forfeited hauing forfeited life lands goods and all that he hath and therefore it should bee to no purpose to trouble him any more But it is otherwise where it is to any end or purpose to put him to answer and plead againe to a new indictment as in some speciall cases it may be done As a man attainted of felony hath also committed treason at the time of the felonie committed in this case he shal answer to the treason for the K. aduantage 1. H. 6. 5. notwithstanding his attainder of felony before because if he be attainted of treason the king shall haue the escheat of his lands of whomsoeuer they be holden but if the treason were committed after the felony or at the least after the attainder of felony then it were otherwise for then the title which was vested in the chiefe Lord of whom his lands were holden 4. E. 4. 11. cannot be deuested by a matter accrued ex post facto And also where diuers men haue seuerall Appeals of robbery against one man though he be attainted at the suit of one of them yet to the intent that euerie of them may recouer his goods which were robbed and taken from him vpon his fresh suit hée shal be againe arraigned at euery of their suits And it is no plea for him in this case to plead that he was another time attainted of felony 51 In all cases where the defendant would discharge himselfe by pleading that he was attainted of another felony thē this whereof he is now arraigned The K. pard◠obiected against another time attainted it may be replied for the party or the king that after the same attainder the K. did pardon him that felony whereof he saith he was attainted and his attainder thereof 6. H. 4. 6. whereby he was restored to the law and so he ought to answer to all other felonies notwithstanding they were committed before this
ministers against the forme of the foresaid great Charter of the Forrest Therefore by the Stat. made an̄ 1. E. 3. it was ordained Punishment for vert or venison St. 1. E. 3. 8 That no man shal be taken or imprisoned for vert or venison vnlesse he be taken with the maner or else indited in forme aforesaid And then the chiefe warden of the Forrest shall let him to mainprise vntill the Eire of the Forrest without taking any thing for his deliuerance And if the said warden will not doe it there shal be a writ awarded out of the Chancerie which was in auncient time ordained for such persons so indited to let him to mainprise vntill the Eire And if the said warden after the receit of the same writ wil not deliuer to mainprise such person indited without delay then the plaintife shall haue a writ out of the Chancerie to the Sherife to attach the said warden to be before the K at a certaine day to answer wherefore he hath not repleuied him that was so taken And the Sherife calling to him the Verderers shall deliuer him which was taken to mainprise in the presence of the Verderers and shall deliuer the names of the mainpernours to the same Verderors to answer in Eire before the Iustices And if the chiefe warden shall be thereof attainted the plaintife shall haue his treble dammage awarded vnto him and the warden shal be committed to prison and ransomed at the Kings pleasure And by the Statute of an̄ 7. R. 2. it was ordained St. 7. R. 2. 4 That if any officer of the Forrest doth imprison any person or doth compell any person to make any Obligation or ransome vnto him against the ordinance aforesaid and is thereof attainted hee shall pay to the partie grieued his double dammages and make fine to the King 9 Whereas the before rehearsed stat of West 1. doth begin with those prisoners which before were Outlawed St. 3. E. 1. 15 c. yet there be some cases wherein such as be outlawed may be let to mainprise as where in an appeal of robberie or other felonie being not for the death of a man the defendant doth come in by Capias vtlagatum In what cases he that is outlawed may be let to mainprise and plead misnaming of himselfe 5. H. 7. 16. and hath a Scire facias against the appellant In this case he shal be let to baile And the same law is if he which is outlawed for felonie be taken and brought to the barre 19. H. 6. 2 and alleageth error in the Record the Court of fauour wil suffer him to find mainprise and to go and séeke to purchase his writ of Error Mainprise during the Prouers life 10 And the foresaid stat of West 1. saith further St. 3. E. 1. 15 that they which be appelled by Prouers shal not be let to mainprise so long as the Prouers doe liue if they be not of good fame yet in some cases he that is appealed by a prouer shal be let to mainprise during the Prouers life as where the Approuer doth waiue his appeale and that the defendant is not appealed by another approuer 25. Ed. 3. 42 hee shal be let to mainprise for if he bée appealed by another approuer hée shall not be let to mainprise And if the Appellée doe vanquish one Approuer in battell yet if he be appelled by another Approuer he shall not be let to mainprise St. 3. E. 1. 15 11 Whereas by the words of the foresaid Statute of West 1. such as be indited of Larcenie by Enquests taken before Sherifs or bailifes by their office shal be let at libertie vpon sufficient suretie Registrum de manucaptione Yet it appeareth by the Register that they shall not be let to mainprise if they be not also of good fame Mainprise vpon good name But if they be of good fame they are to be let to mainprise notwithstanding they be not indited before Sherifes or Bailifes but before any other Iustice that hath authoritie to heare and determine felonie and that aswell the principals as the accessories for the said Stat. of West 1. doth no more restraine the principals than the accessories in those cases where the same statute doth not prohibit to let to mainprise As if a man be indited of Burglarie as principall The principall in Burglarie or robbery mainpernable yet he may be let to mainprise 29. Ass p. 44 Registrum And the principall in an appeale of Robberie may be let to mainprise And in the Register there is a writ de Manucaptione graunted in that case 12 Though it doth not appeare by any words of the foresaid stat of West 1. that it doth prohibit the bailement of those which be attainted by verdict yet it is to be intended that the same Stat. doth as well prohibit the bailement of those which be attainted by verdict as it doth of thē who be attainted by Outlawrie 15. H. 7. 9. for séeing before the Statute of 18. El. 6. if a clerke conuict had beene deliuered to the Ordinarie he was not mainpernable which is a stronger case than a man attainted by verdict Therefore it is cleare No bailement of a prisoner attainted that a man attainted is not mainpernable for if a prisoner after that he hath pleaded not guilty be attainted by verdict that he killed a man in his owne defence or by misfortune yet he shall not be let to mainprise for it is in the Kings pleasure whether hée will grant him pardon or not 25. Ed. 3. 42 Fi. Cor. 354 297. But in that case the Iustices commanded the Sherife to put no yrons vpon the same prisoner and to shew him as much fauour as he could And the Iu. are to certifie the King of the said verdict who at his pleasure may write to the Sherife to baile the same prisoner No bailement of a prisoner conuicted And if a man that is arraigned of homicide doth plead not guiltie and is found guilty doth pray his Clergie 2. El. Dyer 179. and is repried without iudgement he is not baileable for hée is more than vehemently suspected béeing conuicted of felonie St. 3. H. 7. 3. 13 Whereas by the stat of an̄ 3. H. 7. it was enacted that no prisoner arrested for felony should be let to baile or mainprise by any one Iu. of peace but by the whole Iustices or at the least by two of them whereof one to be of the Quorum Since the making of which statute one Iustice of peace in the name of himselfe and one other of the Iustices his companion not making the said Iustice partie nor priuie vnto the case wherefore the prisoner should be bailed hath oft times by sinister labour and meanes set at large the greatest and notablest offendors such as be not repleuisable by the lawes of this Realme and yet the rather to
Peace of the same Countie where such offendors shall happen to be shall vpon his or their corporall Oath before the Iustices of the Peace in the open Quarter Sessions of the same Countie where such offendors shall then bée or at the Assises and Gaole Deliuerie of the same Countie before the Iustices of the same Assises and Gaole Deliuerie abiure the Realme of England and all other the Quéenes Dominions for euer vnlesse her Maiestie shall licence the parties to returne and thereupon shall depart out of the Realme at such Hauen or Port and within such time as shall in that behalfe be assigned and appointed by the said Iustices before whom such abiuration shal be made vnlesse the same offendor bée letted or staied by such lawfull and reasonable meanes or causes as by the common lawes of this Realme are permitted and allowed in cases of abiuration for felonie And in such cases of let or stay then within such reasonable and conuenient time after as the common law requireh in case of abiuration for felony as is aforesaid And the Iustices of peace before whom any such abiuration shall happen to be made as is aforesaid shall cause the same presently to be entered of Record before them and shall certifie the same to the Iustices of Assises and Gaole deliuerie of the said Countie at the next Assises or Gaole deliuerie to be holden in the same countie And if any such offendor which by the tenour and intent of this act is to be abiured as is aforesaid shall refuse to make such abiuration as is aforesaid or after such abiuration made shal not go to such hauen and within such time as is before appointed from thence depart out of this Realme according to this present act or after such his departure shall returne or come againe into any the Qu. Realmes or Dominions without her speciall licence in that behalfe first had and obtained Then in euery such case the person so offending shal be abiudged a felon and suffer as in case of felonie without benefit of Clergie If any person or persons that shal at any time offend against this act shall before he or they be so warned or required to make abiuration according to the tenour of this act repaire to some parish Church on some sonday or other festiuall day and then and there heare diuine seruice and at Seruice time before the Sermon or reading of the gospel make publike and open submission and declaration of his and their conformity to her Maiesties lawes and statutes as in this act is hereafter declared appointed That then the same offendor shall thereupon be cléerely discharged of and from all the penalties and punishments inflicted or imposed by this act for any of the offences aforesaid Prouided that no Popish Recusant or seme couert shal be compelled to abiure by vertue of this act Prouided also that euery person that shall abiure by force of this act or refuse to abiure being thereunto required as is aforesaid shal forfeit and loose to her Maiestie all his goods and cattels and all his lands tenements and hereditaments during his life only and no longer But his wife shal not loose her dower neither shall his blood bée corrupt S. Felonie by stat 9. 17 By a statute made an̄ 35. El. 2. St 35. El. 2. intituled an act for the restraining of Popish Recusants to some certaine place of abode it is ordained Popish Recusants shall abiure the Realme That Recusants not conforming themselues to the obedience of the lawes of this realme in comming to the Church to heare diuine seruice which shall not vpon the request of two Iustices of peace or Coroner of the same countie abiure the realm and depart for the same and not returne without the Queenes licence shal be adiudged felons and suffer and loose as in case of felonie without benefit of Clergie S. Fel. by St. 10. St. 3. E. 1. 10 18 By the stat of West 1. made an̄ 3. E. 1. it is enacted Abiuration of a Trespasser That he which committeth trespasse in parkes or ponds shall abiure if hee cannot find suretie no more to doe the like offence But that abiuration is not for felonie neither shal he forfeit his lands or goods Pleading not guiltie HAuing made mention of one of the pleas which a prisoner brought to the barre to be arraigned of Treason or Felonie doth plead viz. of the Confession of the offence and shewed how many sorts of Confessions of felonie the law doth take notice of by what meanes she doth procéed against the parties confessing I am now to treat of a second or one other plea that the prisoner vpon his arraignment doth plead in his own defence which is the plea of Not guiltie For when a prisoner by an appeale or an Inditement is charged with treason or felonie he may estrange himselfe from the offence if he will and ioyne the same issue which the defendant oft times doth in an action of trespasse some other personall actions viz. he may plead and take for his issue Not guiltie This plea of not guiltie is the most common and vsual plea Pleading not guilty the most common plea. that he which is arraigned of treason or felonie hath to plead vpon an inditement or an appeale and it is the plea whereunto euery person that is arraigned shall be enforced vnlesse it be in speciall cases viz. where he hath matter of Iustification or matter in Law to plead And this plea of Not guiltie doth tend to the fact that is to the felony and therefore it receiueth great fauour in Law 7. Ed. 4. 15. 4. H. 6. 15 4. H. 7. 5. 10. H. 4. 4. 9. H. 4. 2. for the Law doth allow this plea to him who is arraigned after he hath pleaded in abatement or barre of the appeale or inditement so that his barre doe not comprehend such matter as doth confesse the felonie as a Release of the appellant or the Kings pardō And that plea he shall haue also though one of his pleas were matter in law for though those pleas doe require diuers trials 29. Ed. 3. 91. 22. E. 4. 39. 27. As p. 3 14. Ed. 4. 7 yet in fauour of life hee shall haue both those pleas as well as he shall haue when he doth plead matter triable by the Bishop or by Record viz. and moreouer not guiltie Which pleas he shall haue notwithstanding he doe not conclude moreouer not guiltie that is to say Pleading not guilty after other pleas he shall come time enough to plead not guiltie after the matter triable by the Bishop or by Record is found against him And the manner of pleading in all those cases is to plead his plea and to pray allowance thereof and ouer to the felonie not guiltie Vpon the plea of not guilty no coūcel allowed 2 Vpon this plea of onely not guiltie the partie indited shall not haue coūcell
forme as they should haue béene if they had béene indicted arraigned and found guiltie in the same Countie where such robberie or burglarie as is aforesayd was done or committed if it should appeare to the Iustices before whom any such felons or robbers should be arraigned by euidence giuen before them or by examination that the same felons or burglarers should haue béene put from their Clergie in case they had béene indicted arraigned and found guiltie in the same countie where the same robberies or burglaries were committed or done as in the same statute made in the safd fiue and twentieth yere among other things more plainely appeareth And where in the Parliament holden at Westminster St. 1. E. 6. 12 the fourth day of Nouember in the first yeare of the raigne of our Soueraigne Lord the King that now is it is ordayned and enacted amongst other things That no person or persons that before that time had béene or at any time hereafter should bée in due forme of law attainted or conuicted of murder of malice prepensed or of poysoning of malice prepensed or of breaking of any house by day or by night any person beeing then in the same house when the same breaking had bin or after that time should bée committed béeing put in feare or dread or of or for robbing of any person or persons in the high way or néere the high way or for felonious stealing of Horses Geldings or Mares or of felonious taking of any goods out of any Parish Church or other Church or Chappell or béeing indicted or appealed of any of the same offences and thereupon found guiltie by verdict of twelue men or should confesse the same vpon his or their arraignement or would not answer directly according to the lawes of this Realme or should stand wilfully or of malice mute should not bée admitted to haue or enioy the priuiledge or benefit of his or their Clergie or Sanctuarie but should bée put from the same And that in all other cases of Felonie other than such as be before mentioned all and singular person and persons which after the first day of March then next following should bée arraigned or found guiltie vpon his or their arraignement or should confesse the same or stand mute in forme aforesayd or would not answer directly in forme abouesayd should haue and enioy the priuiledge and benefit of his or their Clergie and the libertie and priuiledge of Sanctuarie in like manner and forme as hée or they might or should haue done before the foure and twentieth day of Aprill in the first yeare of the raigne of the sayd late King Henrie the eight as in the sayd Act made in the sayd first yeare among other things more plainely appeareth By reason of which article and clause contained in the sayd Act made in the sayd first yeare the sayd Statute made in the sayd fiue and twentieth yeare of the sayd late King which did put such felons and burglarers from their Clergie that doe such offence in one Countie and after are taken with the goods stollen in another Countie and there indicted arraigned and found guiltie was made void By reason whereof diuers and many persons that sithence the sayd first yeare haue committed such Robberies and Burglaries in one Countie and after haue béene taken with the manner in another Countie and there indicted arraigned and found guiltie haue had and enioyed their Clergie which they could not haue had in case the sayd Act made in the sayd fiue and twentieth yeare had stood in force to the great boldening and comfort of such offendors Stealing of goods in one County and carrying them into another Be it enacted St. 5. 6. E. 6. 10. That the sayd Act made in the sayd fiue and twentieth yeare touching the putting of such offendors from their Clergie and euerie article clause and sentence contained in the same touching Clergie shall from henceforth touching such offences to be committed and done stand remaine and be in full strength and vertue in such manner and forme as it did before the making of the sayd Act made in the said first yeare of the raigne of our said Soueraigne Lord that now is any clause article or sentence comprised in the said Act made in the said first yeare to the contrarie thereof notwithstanding This Statute of 5. 6. Ed. 6. doth not reuiue the whole before rehearsed Statute of 25. H. 8. béeing before repealed by the last braunch of the before specified Statute of 1. Ed. 6. 12. but reuiueth onely so much thereof as concerneth the stealing of goods in one Countie and after carying them into another Countie as it appeareth by the words of the same Statute And neither the sayd Statute of 25. H. 8. nor this Statute of 5. 6. Ed. 6. doe extend to Appeales but onely to Indictments so that in an Appeale brought in the Countie whither the goods robbed or spoyled were carryed if the defendant be conuict thereof the defendant may haue his Clergie at this day 27 By a Statute made Anno 5. 6. E. 6. St. 5. 6. E. 6. 9. it was rehearsed and established That whereas at the Parliament holden at Westminster by prorogation anno 23. H. 8. St. 23. H. 8. 1 it was then and there among other things ordained That no person or persons which after that time should happen to be found guiltie after the lawes of this Realme for any manner petit Treason or for any wilfull murder of malice prepensed or for robbing of any Churches Chappels or other holy places or for robbing any person or persons in their dwelling houses or dwelling places the owner or dweller in the same house his wife his children or seruants then being within and put in feare or dread by the same or for robbing of any person or persons in or néere about the highwayes or for wilfull burning of any dwelling houses or barnes wherein any graine or corne shall happen to be nor any person or persons being found guiltie of any abetment procurement maintaining or concealing of any or to any such Petit treasons murders or felonies should from thenceforth be admitted to the benefit of his or their Clergie but vtterly to be excluded therof suffer death in such maner and forme as they should haue done for any the causes or offences abouesaid if they were not Clerkes such as be within the holy orders that is to say of the orders of Subdeacon or aboue all only excepted as by the same act among other things more plainely appeareth the which act was made to endure vntill the last day of the next parliament and after that at the Session of the parliament holden at Westminster by prorogation in the 32. St. 32. H. 8. 3 yeare of the raigne of the said late king the same act with other acts was made to continue for euer Sithence the making of which statute it hath béen doubted that if such robberies and
of treason or felonie which graunting of Pardon is one of the most ancient and honourable prerogatiues that is annexed to the Imperiall Crowne of this Realme being an authoritie in a sort to reuiue a dead man and to continue him in life whom the Lawe adiudged to die And it is only granted vpon a good hope that the king hath of the amendment of the life of that subiect who hath offended his lawes and whose crime his owne conscience doth assure him that he may pardon notwithstanding his othe taken at his coronation which othe is that he will to the vttermost of his power cause equall and right iustice to be done in all iudgements and discretion in mercy and truth for as Bracton Bracton saith The King at his coronation The Kings oath at his coronation by an oathe taken in the name of Iesus Christ the sonne of God ought to promise his subiects thrée things The first that he will commaund and doe his whole indeuour during his raigne that true peace may be performed to the Church of God and all his people The second that he will by all meanes restraine euery kind of rapine and oppression The third that in all Iudgements he will commaund iustice and mercie to be obserued that by his mercifull dealing with others the God of mercie may take commiseration vpon him and that by his iustice all his people may enioy peace 2 Because authoritie to remitt and pardon Treasons Murders Manslaughters and other felonies with diuers others of the most ancient prerogatiues and authorities of Iustice appertaining to the imperiall Crowne of this Realme were seuered and taken from the saide Crowne by sundrie gifts of the Kings of this Realme to the great diminution and detriment of the royall estate of the same and to the hindrance and delay of iustifie For reformation whereof by a statute made Anno 27. H. 8. St. 27. H. 8. 25. it was enacted That no person or persons of what estate or degree soeuer they be shall haue anie power or authoritie to pardon or remit any treasons None but the king shal pardon treasons felonies c. murders manslaughters or felonies whatsoeuer they be nor any accessories to any treasons murders manslaughters or felonies or any outlawries for any such offences aforesaid committed done or diuulged by or against any person or persons in any parts of this Realme or Wales or the Marches of the same But that the King his heires and successors kings of this Realme shall haue the whole and sole power and authoritie thereof vnited and knit to the imperiall crowne of this realme as of good right and equitie it appertaineth any graunts vsages Acts of parliament or any other thing to the contrary notwithstanding 3 But because the Kings of this Realme haue not had that circumspection in graunting of pardons which Bracton doth thinke fit and haue béene many times deceiued in their grants by false suggestions and for that offendors in times past were greatly encouraged and lesse feared to offend in respect that pardons of manslaughters robberies felonies and other trespasses against the Peace were so easily graunted For the redresse whereof by a statute made Anno 2. Ed. 3. St. 2. Ed. 3. 2 it was ordained In which cases onely the K. may grant pardon of felonie c. That no such charters should be graunted but where the King may doe it by his oathe that is to say in case where a man doth kill an other in his owne defence or by misfortune which laide Statute was after rehearsed and confirmed by an other Statute made Anno 4. Ed. 3. St. 4. E. 3. 13 And also by another Statute made Anno 14. Ed. 3. St. 14. Ed. 3. 10. the effect of the same was rehearsed and confirmed and it was moreouer ordained That if any charter of pardon were from thenceforth graunted contrarie to the purport of the said Statutes that then the same should be accompted as voide 4 And though there be wordes large enough in the foresaide Statutes to make frustrate all those charters of pardon which be graunted against the forme of the same Statutes Non obstante in a pardon yet by putting into the Charters of pardon these wordes viz. Non obstante aliquo statuto actu ordinatione in contrarium edito the force of those Statutes be cleane taken away and not onely of those but also of all other in which this clause of Non obstante is inserted for it is a dispensation of the Statute and commonly put in euerie Letters patents But because the Kings of this Realme were oft times deceiued in granting of charters of pardon by the false and vntrue suggestion of others Therefore to auoide those abuses by a Statute made Anno 27. Ed. 3. St. 27. E. 3. 2 it was accorded That in euery charter of pardon of felonie The suggestion comprised in the pardon which shall be graunted at the suggestion of any person the suggestion and the name of him that maketh it shall be comprised in the same charter And if after the suggestion be found vntrue the Charter shall be disallowed and accounted nothing worth And the Iustices before whom such Charters shall be alleaged shall enquire of the same suggestions and if they finde them vntrue they shall disallow the Charters and procéede further as the Lawe requireth 5 Because the Commons did complaine in Parliament of the outrages mischiefes and dammages which did come to the Realme by treasons murders rauishments of women commonly done committed and the rather for that charters of pardon were too easily granted thereof and did desire the King that such charters of pardon might no more be granted in those Cases Whereunto the K. did answer that he would yéeld to their petition sauing the prerogatiue and regal authority which his progenitors before that time had And to the intent that the King would be certainely informed before of what offences he did graunt pardon Therefore by a Statute made Anno 13. R. 2. St. 13. R. 1. 1 Stat. 2. the King did graunt with the assent of the Parliament That no Charter of pardon shall be allowed before any Iustice for murder The offences shall be specified in the pardon for the death of a man slaine by awaite assault or malice prepensed treason or rape of a woman vnlesse the same murder death of a man slaine by awaite assault or malice prepensed treason or rape of a woman be specified in the same Charter And if a Charter of the death of a man be alleadged before any Iustice in which Charter it is not specified that hée of whose death any such is arraigned was murdered or slaine by awaite assault or malice prepensed the same Iustices shall enquire by a good Enquest of the visne where the dead was slaine if hée were murdered or slaine by awaite assault or malice prepensed And if they shall find that he was murdered or
Coroners will answer He that hath a pardon shal find sureties for his good abearing that he from thenceforth shall beare himselfe well and lawfully And the maineprises shal be sealed and returned into the chancerie within thrée moneths after the end of the said thrée moneths And if hée which hath such Charter will ayd himselfe thereby and hath not found such mainprises or after such mainprise found doth beare himselfe otherwise against the peace than he ought his charter shal be accounted void of no force The good behauiour broken after a pardon 14 A prisoner that was indited outlawed of felonie 3. H. 7. 7. pleadeth the Kings pardon of the same felonie and outlawrie but shewed no writ of allowance testifying that he had found suretie in the Chauncerie according to the foresaid Statute of 10. Ed. 3. neither did he make mention in his plea that he had fouÌ„d suretie according to that Statute nor yet did he vouch the Record thereof in the Chauncerie therefore the Iustices had no cause to allow of his Charter of pardon And the same offendor after his pardon graunted was indited before the Iustices of peace of the countie where he dwelt that he did beat and wouÌ„d A.B. against the Kings peace and thereof was conuict before the same Iustices of peace by his owne confession which Record of his conuiction was sent into the Kings Bench by the said Iustices of peace and for that he had borne himselfe otherwise than he ought toward the peace his charter of pardon was adnulled he had iudgement of death and was hanged A pardon must agree with the inditement 15 A Charter of pardon ought to agrée with the Indictment in the name surname and addition of the partie to whom the same Charter is graunted to the intent that he may be knowne to be the same person which is indited or otherwise it is not allowable sauing in some speciall cases As 11. H. 4. 3â— in appeale of death where the plaintife was non-suit after declaration and the defendant was arraigned at the Kings suit vpon the declaration whereunto he pleaded the Kings pardon which did not agrée with the appeale in the name of him that was slaine Where a charter may vary from the indictment nor in the day but agréed with the inditement in the death of the selfe same man to the which inditement this pardon had before time bin pleaded and allowed And for that it may well be intended of the same death séeing one man cannot haue two deaths it was allowed notwithstanding the variance Two men were outlawed in appeale of murder 28. 29. H. 8. Dy. 34. and they purchased their pardon and had a Scire facias against the Plaintife in the appeale and also a Scire facias against the Lords mediate or immediate and the pardon did not agrée with the inditement in the additions but the parties tooke an auerment that they were the same parties which were indited and an exception was taken to the pardon for the words of the pardon were Pardonauimus c. W.B. L.B. omnes omnimodas vtlagarias versus praefatos W.B. L. B. seu versus eorum alterum promulgatas which words in the premisses of the pardon be ioynt where they should haue been Pardonauimus c. W.B. L.B. eorum alteri because that euery felonie is seuerall and for these seuerall felonies they should haue had seuerall pardons And yet the pardon was allowed If a man be indited of felonie by the name of A.B. yeoman and after the King doth pardon him by the name of A. B. gentleman esquire 20. H. 7. Kel fol. 58. knight or c. all manner of felonies he may plead this pardon and auerre that A. B. yeoman and A. B. gentleman or c. be one person and this pardon will discharge him for it may be he was a yeoman at the time of the inditement and after made gentleman by the King or by some office 4. E. 4. 10 16 When after non-suit in appeale the Kings pardon is allowed it is vsed to enter the pardon and alowance vpon the bill of appeale The pardon and alowance entred vpon the appeale and thâ—refore if there be any inditement of the same felonie against the defendant it shalbée good for him to cause these words to be entred and indorced vpoÌ„ the indictmeÌ„t viz. Cesset processus faciendus super indictamentum eo quod defendens acquietatus recessit ab Appello 4. Ed. 4. 10 17 All this matter of pardons is in effect to be referred to indictments because the Kings pardon is no plea to the parties appeale A pardon no plea to an appeale for the felon shalbée put to death notwithstanding that But it is a good plea against the King when the appeale is determined And if it be determined by act in law and not by the act of the partie the pardon shall not be allowed without warning of the partie as in appeal the plaintife doth pursue it vntill he hath outlawed the defendant in this case by the Outlawry the appeale is determined and yet if the king doe pardon the defendant the pardon shall not bée allowed vntill hée hath sued a Scire facias against the party at whose suit he was outlawed And if at the day of the Scire facias returned the partie doe appeare the Appellant may pray execution of him notwithstanding the pardon but if the Appellant be returned warned and doth make default the Charter shal be allowed without further suit Co. l. 50. 100 3. El. Dyer 201 261 The Kings pardon of burning in the hand In an appeale of murder the defendant pleaded not guiltie vpon his arraignment and by the enquest was found guiltie of manslaughter and then prayed and had his Clergie Whereupon by force of the Statute of anÌ„ 4. H. 7. 13. St. 4. H. 7. 13 he being a conuict person ought to bée marked by the Gaoler openly in the Court which marking or burning in the hand the king did and may pardon though it be in an appeale for burning in the hand is no part of the iudgement but onely a meane to notifie to the Iudge vpon an offendors second conuiction that he once before had his Clergie vpon a former conuiction And for that it was ordained by the Statute of anÌ„ 18. El. 6. St. 18. El. 6 That after Clergie allowed and burning in the hand the prisoner shall be forthwith enlarged and deliuered out of prison which act doth extend as well to the case of the Appeale as to the case of an Indictment Therefore the King hauing pardon the burning in the hand the partie was also discharged of his imprisonment 2. R. 3. 8 18 A Scire facias vpon a Charter of pardon may be graunted against an appellant Vpon a pardon a Scire facias against an appellant though the appellée which doth pray it sheweth
murderer was voide and consequently the finding of the flying The diffrence of the Coroners and the Iustices authoritie But if one man be indicted of felonie as principall and another as accessorie after the offence committed before Iustices and the principall is attainted by verdict and the accessorie is acquitte and it is found that hée did flie for the felonie he shall forfeit his goodes for that Iustices assigned haue authority to enquire as well of accessories after the felonie committed as of accessories before the felonie The forfeture for petit larcenie 4 If one be indicted but of petit larceny Fi. Cor. 406 and vpon his arraignement be thereof acquit and it is found that hée did flée for the felonie he shall forfeit his goods And likewise if he be attainted of petit larceny he shall forfeit his goods but not his lands 5 This flying away whereupon the forfeiture of goods doth ensue may be as well where the offendor doth flie before arrest Forfeiture vpon flying before arrest as where he doth flie after arrest as if a man that is vehemently suspected to haue committed a murder or other felonie is attempted to be arrested by the Shirife Coroner or anie others and hée doth flie away and is pursued and because hée will not yéelde himselfe to the Kings peace Fi. Cor. 289 290. 312. and be taken is slaine in the pursuite by those that would haue arrested him or by some others that did come to assist them and that be presented of record before the Iustices hauing authoritie to enquire thereof Forfeiture without attainder In this Case his goodes shall be forfeit to the King although being slaine hée could neither be acquit nor attainted of the felonie whereof hée was suspected And yet if this man had béene taken aliue and that it had béene found that he had fled for the felonie 42. As p. 5. if hée had not also béene indited of the felonie hée should haue forfeited nothing for without an indictment it could not be prooued that a felonie was committed and he could not flie for a felonie if none such were done S. Bra. 30. 22. Ass p. 81 41. Ass p. 13 Co. l. 5. 110 6 If Processe be awarded vpon an appeale or indictment of felonie against any person who doth absent himselfe and not appeare vntill the Exigent shall be awarded against him Forfeiture vpon the Exigent awarded this long absence which is a flieing in Lawe shall cause him to forfeit his goodes although after he be acquit of the felonie And the reason is for that it doth appeare of Record that hée did flie or withdraw himselfe when he absented himselfe vntill the Exigent was awarded against him But if he hath any reasonable excuse of his absence as that he was in prison at the time of the Exigent awarded or beyond the Sea Fitz. forf 19. 31. or such like reasonable excuse then he shall not forfeit his goodes and yet if the Defendant in an appeale were out of prison at the time of the awarding of the Exigent against him and after when the Outlawrie was pronounced against him he was in prison by his imprisonment he may reuerse the Outlawrie but he can not reuerse the awarding of the Exigent which was lawfully awarded against him whereupon the forfeiture of his goods did accrue to the King And the like Lawe is if the King had pardoned the felonie before the Exigent awarded and the offendor had found suretie in the Chauncerie according to the Statute of Anno 10. Edw. 3. 3. yet if the Exigent were after awarded against the offendor 43. E. 3. 18. the offendors goodes should not be forfeited for it doth appeare of Record for what cause the goodes were saued viz. because the felonie was pardoned and therefore the awarding of the Exigent against him vpon an indictment of felonie is reuersable whereupon he should forfeit his goods 7 If an appeale be pursued against two viz. against one of them as principall and against the other as accessorie and the Exigent is awarded against the accessorie 43. Ed. 3. 17 before the principall is outlawed the accessorie shall not forfeit his goodes St. 3. E. 1. 14 though hée did flie for the felony for the Statute of Westminster 1. hath ordained That no person shall be outlawed vpon appeale of commaundement force aide or receipt vntill the principall shall be attainted No forfeiture by the accessorie vntil the principall be attainted And yet the appellor shall not let to attach his appeale at the next Countie as well against the accessorie as against the principall But the Exigent against the accessorie shall staie vntill the principall be attainted by Outlawrie or otherwise But this is intended of an appeale commenced by Bill and not by Writ for in an appeale by Writ it doth not appeare who is principall and who is accessorie 43. Ed. 3. 17. vntill the appellant hath declared against them Forfeiture notwithstanding apparance and pleading 8 If an Exigent be well awarded against the defendant 43. Ed. 3. 17. and then hée doth appeare and the appellant doth count against him notwithstanding there be a default in the Writte or Count whereuppon the Writte doth abate yet the defendants goodes shall be forfeit for by the awarding of the Exigent the goodes shall be forfeit and no Count which the plaintife can make after shall cause the defendant to haue his goods againe And when the defendant hath appeared and pleaded the processe is determined which processe is the Kings title and thereunto the defendant hath made no aunswer The forfeture of a Clarke conuict 9 A Clarke conuict shall forfeit his goodes viz. he that is indicted or appealed of felonie and thereunto pleadeth Not guiltie and vppon his arraignement doth desire to be tried by his Countrie which findeth him guiltie of the felonie and then hée praieth his Clergie before iudgement of death is giuen against him is called a Clarke conuict He that committeth homicide by misaduenture Pomicide by misaduenture shall forfeit his goodes 4. H. 7. 2. And so shall hée which doth kill a man in his owne defence Killing in his owne defence forfeit his goods And likewise he that killeth himselfe and is felo de se Felo de se shall forfeit his goodes And he that being indited of felonie will stand mute Standing mute not answer directly or challenge peremptorily aboue twentie persons shall forfeit his goodes Forfeiting of a right or action 10 In some cases an offendor shall forfeit a right or a thing whereof hée hath no possession but onely an action or title thereunto As if goodes be wrongfully taken or holden from the possession of the owner and after the owner is attainted of treason or felonie those goodes shall be forfeited to the King 6. H. 7. 9. and the Court of the Kings Exchequer may award processe
to him and so no other person is intituled to haue those goods the King shall haue them as confiscat according to the old text Quod non capit Christus capit fiscus And the appellant shal be thus punished by the losse of his goods for his negligence attenuating concealing of the robbers offence Confiscation by a false appeale 20 If a man bring an Appeale of Robberie against another which tooke the Appellants goods lawfully Fitz. Cor. 367. and not feloniously viz. found them in the high way it is so found by verdict in this case though the appellée hath no cause to detaine them against the appellant for that they were his owne goods yet the plaintife shall loose them for his false appeale and they shall bee confiscat to the King and also the appellant shall bée committed to prison for charging the defendant with robberie whom he did know came lawfully by the goods Co. li. 5. 110 and so for malitious séeking of a mans bloud without cause and the defendant shal be discharged 21 There is another kind of forfeiture of felons goods to the King which is called a waif A waife and that is when a felon vpon huy and cry or other pursuit after him or for feare to bee taken er otherwise to ease himselfe of carriage Co. li. 5. 109 doth without Huy and crye wayue cast away or goe from the goods that hée did steals and hath in his possession or some part thereof and doth flye away whereupon the Kings Officers or some other in the Kings right doth seise those goods Seising of a waife In this case the goods so seised be called a waife and the King shall retaine them to his proper vse if the owner of them doth not make fresh suit after the felon to attaint him for those goods And if the owner doe make fresh suit after the felon hée shall haue his goods againe notwithstanding the waiuing and seising of them And this forfeiture of goods by waife is a penaltie which the law imposeth vpon the owner of those goods for default of fresh suit against the felon and for omitting his duetie in pursuing and apprehending of the felon being a pernitious and corrupt member of the Commonwealth St. 21. H. 8. 11. And by the Statute of 21. H. 8. the Iustices before whom any felon or felons shal be found guiltie or otherwise attainted by reason of euidence giuen by the partie robbed or owner of any money goods or cattels robbed or by any other by his procurement haue power to award from time to time writs of Restitution for the said money goods or cattels as though any such Felon or Felons were attainted at the suit of the party in Appeale But if a felon doe steale goods Co. li. 5. 109 and carrie them into a Mannor and there leaue them or leaue them in his owne house or in the house of any other or in the custodie of any other or hide them in the ground or in any secret place and after doth flie these goods shall not be adiudged in law to be waiued nor shall bée forfeited for if the felon hath not the goods with him when he doth flie or doth waiue them for feare to be taken they shall not be accounted waiued or forfeited but the owner may take them againe without fresh suit for that there is no default in him 22 If a felon do steale goods and after doth waiue them The owner seiseth goods waiued the owner of them may reseise the same goods and carrie them away twentie yeres after the waiuing of them if in the meane time no Officer of the Kings nor of any Lord of a libertie 21. Ed. 4. 16. hath seised them before the owner But if any Officer of the Kings or of any Lord of a Franchise hath seised them before then the owner must sue an Appeale against the felon and so he may haue his goods againe if hée hath made fresh suit or else the owner must procure the felon to be indicted arraigned and found guiltie or otherwise to be attainted by euidence giuen by himselfe or by some other by his procurement and by that meanes obtaine a writ of Restitution to be awarded by the Iustices before whom the sayd felon shall be arraigned according to the foresaid statute of 21. H. 8. 11. And the like law is if a felon do steale goods and doth not waiue them nor any Huy and crie is made vpon him but one in the Kings right doth take the goods from the felon vpon suspition that he hath stolne them yet the owner vpon fresh suit shall haue restitution of them againe for it may be that the owner had not intelligence of the stealing of his goods a long time after they were stolne and then could not make fresh suit nor leuie huy and crie 23 There can be no waife but of goods stolne sauing in certaine cases for if one do take goods as a trespassor and doth goe from them No waife but of stoln goods no man can seise them as a waife P. 13. E. 4. 5 And therefore in an action of Trespas of goods taken away if the defendant do iustifie for a waife it is a good issue for the plaintife to ioine that the goods were not stolne And if a man do fly for a felonie and leaue his house goods yet those goods shall not be a waife for that they were not stolne And in some speciall case there may be a waife though there be no stealing Waif of goods not stolne as vpon a huy and cry leuied 29. E. 3. 29. a man that hath committed no felony doth leaue his owne goods and doth flie to a church those goods may be seised to the Kings vse for a waife No waife of goods stolne from an Alien 24 If the goods of an Alien which hath the Kings safe conduct both for bodie and goods be stolne from him and by the felon bée after wayued and refused yet those goods cannot bée claimed or seised by the Officers of the King or of any Lord of a Franchise for a waife for when the King hath graunted to the Alien safeconduct both in bodie and goods and this is a couenant betwéene the King and him then if a felon doe steale his goods and after waiue them it is no reason that the Alien should loose them and be put to sue against the felon but he must sue to the King vpon his couenant And therefore the K. cannot haue those goods as waife and by the same reason hee cannot graunt them to another neither can any haue them by prescription Forf of lands 25 As he that is attainted of Treason or Felonie shal loose his goods debts and rights Tenant for yeares so also shall be forfeit his leases for terme of yeares of lands the lands which he holdeth by extent of Statutes Recognisances or Iudgemēts his
the prisoner did flye for the Felony in this case the same prisoner shall forfeit those goods which hee had the day of the verdict giuen and not any goods which he had before And so it is if one be conuict by verdict 7. H. 4. 41. the goods shall be forfeited which the offendor had the day of the verdict giuen and not those which he had before And he that is outlawed of Treason or Felony shall forfeit those goods which he hath at the time of the Exigent awarded and not those which he had before and hath aliened But if a man doe commit a Treason or Felony and is arrested thereof and as he is in carrying to a Iustice of Peace to be examined or to the Gaole by the Constables or others doe breake away or in making of rescous or resistance is slaine by those which do so carry him because he will not yéeld and be iustified by the law Fi. Cor. 290 in this case those goods shal be forfeited which he had at the time of the felony committed And so it is if one commit a Felony and when the Shirife Coroner Constable or others do attempt to apprehend him he is slain because he doth resist and will not yeeld to be arrested the goods shal be forfeited which he hath at the time of the felony committed 44 It appeareth by the statute of 3. Ed. 1. St. 3. E. 1. intituled Officium Coronatoris Who shal seise and keepe Felons goods and when That if any person be found guilty before the Coroner of the death of another presently the Coroner shall goe to his house and inquire what cattell hee hath and what corne he hath in his graunge and what on the ground and if he be a Fréeman what land he hath and how much it is worth by the yeare and when they haue so inquired of all things they shall cause the land the corne and cattell to bée priced as if they should be forthwith sold and immediatly they shall be deliuered to the whole Towne to answere for the same before the Iustices And in like sort when it is found before the Coroner that one did flye for a Felony 22. Ass p. 96 the Shirife shall presently seize his lands into the Kings hands by word without Enquest and also shall seize all his goods into the Kings hands and shall appraise them by an Enquest as well of Villaines as of Freemen and the prices shalbée inrolled in the Coroners Roll and deliuered to the Towne to answere to the King for the same for by that which is found before the Coroner the goods bée forfeited without further inquiry 43. E. 3. 24 And so may another Officer of the Kings seize the goods of a Felon before attainder and if the Felon doth find surety the Officer must leaue them in his custody But whether hée doth find surety or not the Officer ought not to carry them away but must leaue them in the custodie of the Felons neighbours For if one bée indicted of Felony his goods shall not be remoued forth of his house vntill he be attainted 7. H. 4. â—1 but shal be kept by his neighbours all the time of his imprisonment and the Felon shal be maintained with them And according thereunto there is a writ in the Register Registrum viz. Quod tenementa bona taliter capta videantur imbreuiantur saluo custodiantur per balliuum ipsius capti qui securitatem Regiinueniet ei respondendi si c. saluis inde ipfi capto familiae suae necessarijs quamdiu fuerit in prisona By which writ it doth appeare and also by the assertions of Bracton and Britton that one which is indicted or imprisoned for Felony shall not bée put out of the possession of his goods vntill he be conuict of Felony but he must haue reasonable maintenance of his goods for him and his family vntill he bée conuict and then that which doth remaine shal be the kings And yet the felon must not disorderly sell or wast his goods and so this difference is to be obserued in seising of a Felons goods viz. where the goods be forfeited before the felony tried and where they be not forfeited vntill the felony tried For if they be forfeited before the felony tried they shal be presently seised vpon the forfeiture of them though there be no conuiction of felony as in the foresaid cases where one is found guilty before the Coroner of the death of another or where it is found before the Coroner that one did flie for a felony But if they be not forfeited vntill the felony tried then they shall not be seised vntill the Felon be conuicted The goods of a prisoner shal not be seised vntill he be attainted 45 And because that diuers persons were often arrested and imprisoned for suspition of Felony sometime of malice and sometime of light suspition and were kept in prison without baile or mainprise and for that sometime shirifes escheators baylifes of Liberties and others did seise and take away the goods of some persons arrested or imprisoned for Felony before the same person was conuict or attainted of the same Felony contrary to the common law Therefore partly to confirme the common law and partly to giue to the party grieued a more ample recompence for his wrong receiued then the coÌ„mon law before did viz. to giue him the double value of his goods so takeÌ„ or seised where the common law gaue him the single value and partly to giue him a speedy remedy to recouer the same there was a stat made AnnÌ„ 1. R. 3. St. 1. R. 3. 3 by the which it is ordained That no Shirife Vndershirife Escheator Baylife of Franchise or other person shall take or seise the goods of any person arrested or imprisoned before the same person or persons so arrested or imprisoned be conuict or attainted of such felony according to the law of England or otherwise that the same goods be in some manner lawfully forfeited vpon paine to loose the double value of the goods so taken to him or them which be endamaged therby by action of Debt in this behalfe to be pursued by like proces iudgement execution as is commonly vsed in other actions of Debt pursued at the common law wherin no wager of law essoine or protection shall be allowed This stat of 1. R. 3. exteÌ„deth only to those that be arrested or imprisoned for notwithstanding this statute the shirife may seise the goods of them which be at liberty and indicted of felony at the second Capias by force of the stat of 25. E. 3. St. 2â— E. 3. 14 as it appeareth Appeales 59. 46 The custody of the goods of those which be conuict of Felony Who shal haue the custody of felons goods forfeited or which be Fugitiues after they be forfeited doth belong to the Towne where the same goods be or where the
doth acquite himselfe either at the appellants suit or at the Kings suit This suit of the K. is alwaies intended vpon an appeale when the def is arraigned vpon an appeale after that the appellant hath declared in his appeale and is Nonsute for if the def were acquite at the kings suit vpō an indictment of the same Felony yet he shall recouer no dammages And the manner how he shall recouer dammages being acquite at the kings suit doth somewhat vary from recouering of dammages at the parties suit for when it is at the kings suit he shall not recouer his dammages though he be acquite vntill he hath sued a Scire facias against the appellant to bring him into the Court againe being out of the Court before by his Nonsute But if he be acquit at the appellants suit he shall haue his iudgement to recouer dammages without suing of any further Proces And if a woman that is appellant be Nonsute and after doth take a husband Fit Damag 77. the Scire facias shall bée awarded against the wife onely B. What Iustices may inflict the penalty vpon the appellant 8 And though the foresaid statute of West 2. hath prouided St. 13. E. 1. 12 That the Iustices before whom the said appeale shal be heard and determined shall punish the appellant by a yeares imprisonment that punishment cannot be inflicted by the Iust of Nisi prius and yet by the statute of Anno 14. H. 6. St. 14. H. 6. 1 the Iustices of Nisi prius haue power to giue iudgement in Treason and Felony tried before them and that as well where the defendant is acquite as where he is attainted But yet they be not such Iustices as this statute doth meane 2. 3. P. M. Dy. 120. 14. E. 4. 14. 22. E. 4. 18. For that all the plea of Appeale was not heard before them but a parcell viz. the triall onely The dammages for seueral persons assessed seuerally 9 And whereas the said statute of West 2. would haue the Iustices in assessing of dammages for the defendant in an appeale St. 13. E. 1. 1◠to haue respect to his imprisonment arrest slander Therefore in an appeale brought against diuers if they be all acquite the dammages shal be taxed seuerally that is to say 8. H. 5. 6. Fi. Dam̄ 77. euery of the defendants shall haue his dammages taxed by himselfe for it may bée that one hath cause to recouer more then the other as if one were appealed as principall and the other as accessory or that the one were a gentleman or a man of greater estate and the other of a meaner degrée But yet this Recouery of dammages must be intended in one who is by the law enabled to recouer dammages for if an appeale be brought against a woman couert onely Fi. Cor. 276. without her husband as it must be vnles the husband committed felony with his wife the wife shall not recouer dammages though she be acquite And yet if the appeale be brought against the husband and wife together they be both acquite Fitz. Iudg. 108. then the dammages shal be seuerally taxed that is to say the husband shall recouer for his owne imprisonment and the husband and wife shall recouer iointly for the imprisonment of the wife St. 13. E. 1. 12 10 Though the foresaid statute of West 2. doth ordaine Where the appellant shall pay a fine to the king That the appellant shall be grieuously fined to the king yet that is to be intended where the appellant shall yéeld dammages to the defendant 9. H. 5. 1 for if the case be such as that the appellant shall not render dammages to the def then he shall not pay a fine to the K. but shal be amerced only as where an appeale doth abate by misnaming the appellant shal be only amerced And yet if the appellant be Nonsute after declaration 41. Ass p. 8. he shal pay a fine to the king and the Court will award proces against him for the same fine and though the defendant be after acquite at the kings suit by which meanes he shal recouer dammages against the appellant yet the appellant shall not pay a new fine to the king for that he hath paied it before And if the defendant be found guilty when he is tryed at the kings suit the appellant hath no remedy to recouer the fine which he hath paied before for by the common Law the plaintife in an appeale should haue paied a fine for his Nonsute which is the cause that a fine shal be paied by the appellant presently vpon his Nonsute St. 13. E. 1. 12 11 And for that the words of the said statute of West 2. be In what case inquiry shal be of the abettors If the appellants be not able to recompence the dammages inquiry shal be made by whose abetment the appeale was commenced by those words it is to be gathered that if dammages be not to be recouered against the appellant there shall neuer any inquiry be made of the abettors as in the cases aforesaid And where the words of the statute be If the appellant be not able to recompence the dammages it is intended all the dammages for if the appellant be sufficient to render part of the dammages 8. H. 5. 6. 8. Ed. 4. 3. but not the whole inquiry shal be made of the abettors and they shall pay the residue St. 13. E. 1. 12 12 The foresaid statute doth ordaine That inquiry shal be made of the abettors if the appellée do desire it so that the Court of Office ought not to inquire thereof but at the appellees request And if an appeale be brought against two and one of them is acquit by verdict if the Court do inquire of the abettors at the request of the same defendant and the Enquest doth find that there be no abettors and after the other defendant is arraigned and also acquite and if he do request also that inquiry may be made of the abettors the verdict of the former Enquest wherunto he was not priuy neither against which he shall haue any remedy being but an Enquest of Office shall not bind him but according to the words of the said statute inquiry shall be made againe at his request of the abettors for though it be commonly inquired of the abettors by the same Iury which doth trie the def yet their inquiry therein is but an Enquest of office for if they do find abettors the abettors when they doe appeare may trauerse all that the Enquest hath found As if they haue found that the appellant was not sufficient What pleas the abettors may plead or that such a man or such a one were abettors 8. Ed. 4. 3. because they that be supposed abettors may say by protestation not confessing the felonie for their plea that the appellant is sufficient or that they were no abettors for
the words of the Statute be And if they bee lawfully conuict of such abetment by malice which doth proue that they shal haue their answer to that which was found by the Enquest And also it is a good answer for him that is charged to be an abettor to shew sufficient matter to proue Fi. Cor. 386 that the defendant ought not to recouer his damages against the appellant or that the defendant was not lawfully acquit but erroniously But if the abettors would take exception to the inquisition found for that the enquest did not find at what day Fi. Cor. 45 M. 22. E. 4. yeare and place the abetment was made that is no good exception for in that they haue found the abetment they haue performed the words of the statute which be That inquirie shall be made by whose abetment and that they haue found And touching the yeare day and place the defendant in the Appeale must adde to the inquisition and so supply that which wanteth Proces against the abettors 13 Because the said statute hath ordained St. 13. E. 1. 12 that after by an Enquest an abettor is found he shal be distrained by a iudiciall writ at the appellees suit to appeare before the Iustices Therfore it is to be gathered by words of the said statute that the proces against abettors is distresse infinit for this proces of distresse is alwayes pursued by him that is acquit who for his spéedie remedie may prosecute it although the apppellant be not in the Court as where the Appellant was nonsuit in the Appeale and the defendant was arraigned at the Kings suit and acquit and his damages taxed and the abettors found Fi. DamÌ„ 77. in this case the defendant shall haue proces against the abettors presently although the iudgement of damages shal be suspended vntill a Scire facias shall be awarded and returned against the appellant Nonsute in the proces against the abettors And the defendant who is acquit in an Appeale may be nonsuit in the proces which hee doth pursue against the abettors and begin againe if he will for that nonsuit is not peremptorie to him Fit Co. 386 A Writ against the abettors by the appellee 14 There is an originall writ to be purchased by the Appellée who is acquit by verdict against the abettors for their abetment Fitz. Act. sur stat 28. wherein he may count abettors of greater damages than were assessed by the Iustices in the Appeal for of those damages taxed in the Appeale there will lye no attaint because the inquirie touching them is but of office And the defendant in the Appeale cannot compell the Iustices to increase those damages and therefore it is reason that he should releeue himselfe by this action Procurors of indictments for suits in spirituall Courts 13 The same remedie which is giuen by the foresaid stat of West 2. to the def in an appeale of Felony if he be acquite is giuen by the stat made An. 1. R. 2. to him who is falsely indicted for pursuing in a spirituall Court a matter pertaining to the temporall iurisdiction after that he is acquite thereof St. 1. R. 2. 13 The words of which stat be these The Prelates Clergy of the realme do greatly complaine for that people of holy Church suing in the spirituall court for their tithes other things which ought of right and of auncient time were wont to appertaine to the same spirituall court that the Iudges of spirituall courts other persons dealing therein according to the Law be maliciously and vnduly for that cause indicted imprisoned and by the secular power horribly oppressed and also enforced by violence by oathes by grieuous obligations and by many other meanes vnduly compelled to desist and vtterly to leaue off from the things aforesaid contrary to the liberties of the holy Church Wherefore it is enacted That all such Obligations made or to be made by duresse or violence shal be of no value And touching those which do procure by malice such indictments themselues to be indictors after that the same indictées be thereof acquite such procurors and indictors shall haue and incurre the same paine which is contained in the statute of West 2. touching those which do procure false appeales to be made And the Iustices of Assise or other Iustices before whom such persons indicted shal be acquite shall haue authority to inquire of such indictors and procurors and to punish them duly euery person according to his desert ⧠A Writ of Conspiracie Where a writ of Conspiracy doth lie 1 A Writ of Conspiracy doth lie where two or thrée persons or more of malice and by coâ— in doe conspire and deuise to indict another person falsely and after he which is so indicted is acquited in this case he shall haue a writ of Conspiracy against those who did so conspire to indict him But this writ doth lye against two persons at the least 28. Ass p. 12 11. H. 4. 2. which doe so conspire for if one person of malice and his own false imagination doth labour and cause one to be falsely indicted the party which was so indicted shall not haue a writ of Conspiracy but an action vpon â—he case against him who caused him to be falsely indicted 2 At the common law a writ of Conspiracy did lie as well vpon an acquitall in an appeale as it doth at this day on an acquitall vpon an indictment But there hath growne a question thereof sithence the stat of West 2. was made St. 13. E. 1. 12 Registrum for that in the writ of Conspiracy in the Register it is noted for a rule and also it is affirmed by some others That a writ of Conspiracy doth not lye vpon an appeale for that the said stat of West 2. gaue to the def dammages against the appellant and the abettors Fit Na. Bre. 114. and so in a sort prouided for him another remedy But to say generally that the def shall not haue a writ of Conspiracy vpoÌ„ an acquital in an appeale for that he may haue damages against the appellant and the abettors is no sufficient reason for the said stat doth not giue to the def inquiry against the abettors but vpon his owne request and therefore if he will omit to desire it he shal haue the remedy ordained by the common law which law is not changed by the foresaid stat of West 2. that is in the affirmatiue doth not restraine the benefit giuen by the common law And it may be that the damages assessed by the enquest of office will not be so beneficiall vnto him as the damages which wil be giuen by a Iury that is taken at the parties suit whereunto he shall haue his challenges and an attaint if they giue a false verdict Also in a Writ of Conspiracy proces is to be awarded by Capias and Exigent which proces is not to
6. 28 for then was not the plaintife lawfully acquit according to the Statute of Westminst 2. Iudgement in conspiracie 12 When any is conuict in a writ of Conspiracie at the suit of the partie the iudgement is none other but that the plaintife shall recouer his damages 43. E. 3. 33. and that the defendants shall bée taken But if one be indicted and conuicted of conspiracie at the Kings suit the iudgement is more grieuous for then the iudgement is That they shall loose their frée law to the intent 27. As p. 59 46. As p. 11. 24. E. 3. 34. that they shall not after that time be put in Iuries or Assises nor otherwise produced as witnesses to testifie truth and if they haue to do in the Kings Court they shall make their Attourney to sue for them and that they shall not approach within twelue miles of the Kings Court and that their lands goods and cattels shall bée seised into the Kings hand and their houses wasted and their wiues and children thrust out of doores and their trées pulled vp by the rootes and their bodies taken and imprisoned And this is tearmed a villainous iudgement because it bringeth villanie and shame to him that receiueth it 13 And because that wicked offence of conspiracie should bee inquired of and punished as well by indictment as by writ there was a Statute made Anno 28. Ed. 1. called Articuli super chartas whereby it was ordayned St. 28. E. 1. That in right of Conspirators false informers and imbracers of Enquests Assises and Iuries the King hath prouided remedie by a Writ out of the Chauncery And from henceforth the King will that his Iustices of the one Bench the other and the Iust assigned to take Assises Inquirie of Conspiracies by Iustices when they come into the countrey to do their office shall make enquiry thereof at any mans plaint without writ Register fo 118. and shall without delay do right to the plaintifes And the Iustices may be commaunded by a writ directed vnto them out of the Chancery to execute the same statute although the statute of it selfe is a sufficient warrant and authoritie for them so to doe which remedie mentioned in the foresaid statute was intended to be ordained by another statute called the statute of Conspirators St. 20. E. 1. made Anno 20. Edw. 1. at Berwike vpon Tweed which doth prouide a writ of Conspiracie against conspirators maintainers of false quarels and champertors and expresseth the forme of that writ St. 28. Ed. 1 14 But because the foresayd Statute of Articuli super chartas did prouide onely a remedie at the plaint of the partie and did not giue the Iustices in the sayd Statute mentioned power to enquire of heare and determine conspiracies at the suit of the King neither did it giue authoritie to the said Iustices to adiourne the suit if for shortnesse of time it could not be determined in the countrey St. 4. E. 3. 11. Therefore by a statute made Anno 4. Edw. 3. Inquirie of conspirators at K. or parties suit the same enormities were redressed by these words viz. Where in times past diuers people of the Realme as well great as other haue made alliances confederacies and conspiracies to maintaine parties pleas and quarels whereby diuers haue béene wrongfully disherited and some ransomed and destroyed and some for feare beeing maymed and beaten durst not sue for their right nor complaine nor the Iurors of Enquests giue their verdicts to the great hurt of the people and slaunder of the Law and common right Therefore it is agréed that the Iustices of the one Bench and of the other and the Iustices assigned to take Assises whensoeuer they come to hold their Sessions to take Enquests vpon Nisi prius shall enquire heare and determine as well at the Kings suit as at the suit of the partie of such maintainers bearers and conspirators and also of champertors and of all other things contained in the sayd Article as well as Iustices in Eire should doe if they were in the same Countie And that which cannot be determined before the Iustices of the one Bench or of the other vpon the Nisi prius for shortnesse of time shall be adiourned into the places whereof they be Iustices and there shall be determined according to right and reason 15 Notwithstanding the foresaid Statutes there were such deuises and practises to execute malice and reuenge and desire to put others in perill of their liues lands and goods that some would frame indictments or appeales against others of the K. good and obedient subiects of Treason Felony or trespas in seuerall forrein counties liberties and franchises where the said persons did neuer dwel nor conuerse and there they were pursued to the Exigent and sometime outlawed before that they could know of it For the remedie whereof there was a stat St. 8. H. 6. 10 made Anno 8. H. 6. wherein amongst other things it was enacted That if any person shall be indicted or appealed of felony Procurers of an indictment or appeale in a forrein county treason or trespas in a forein county he shal in an action vpon the case recouer treble damages against euery procurer of such indictment or appeale after hee is duly acquited by verdict And the like proces shal be in the same as in an action of Trespas vi armis S. Appeales 61. An offence supposed to be in a place where there is none such 16 Because diuers people vpon malice enuie and desire of reuenge did ofttime cause the K. liege people to be appealed or indicted in diuers counties of Treasons or Felonies supposing by the said appeals or indictments that the said Treasons or Felonies were committed in one certaine place whereas there is no such place within the said county where the said indictmēt is found nor any such place in the county as is declared by the said Appeale Therefore by the stat made anno 7. H. 5. anno 9. H. 5. anno 18. H. 6. it was ordained St. 9. H. 5. 1. St. 18. H. 6. 12. That the said Appeals and indictments and the proces thereupon shal be void and adiudged of no force And that the said Appellées and Indictées may haue their writs of Conspiracie against their indictors procurors and conspirators and recouer their damages And that the indictors procurors and conspirators shal be punished by imprisonment fine and ransome for the K. aduantage by the Iustices discretion ⧠The Coroner and his Authoritie and dutie in Felonies c. 1 A Coroner is an antient officer of trust in this realm The Coroners Office ordained to be a principall preseruer and kéeper of the peace to make record of the pleas of the Crown and of his owne view and of abiurations and of outlawries and of Appeales and accusations of felons made before him and of nonsuits of plaintifes in Appeales and of all
enquire vpon the view of any person slaine drowned or otherwise dead by misaduenture the sayd Coroner shall diligently doe his Office vpon the view of the bodie of euerie such person or persons without any thing taking therefore vpon paine to euerie Coroner that will not endeuour himselfe to doe his Office as is aforesaid or that hee taketh any thing of any person for doing of his Office vpon euery person dead by misaduenture for euerie time fortie shillings And the Iustices of Assises and Iustices of Peace within the countrey where such default of Coroners be haue authoritie to enquire thereof and to determine the same as well by examination as by presentment But by a statute made Anno 3. H. 7. it was prouided St. 3. H. 7. 1. That a Coroner shall haue for his fée vpon euerie Inquisition taken vpon the view of a bodie murdered or otherwise slaine iij. s̄ iiij d. of the goods and cattels of the murderer if he haue any and if he haue no goods the Coroner shall haue his fee of such amerciaments as any towneship shall be amerced for escape of any such murderer And though by the common law the Coroner hath a fee Fitz. Cor. 321. 372. a penie of euerie Visinage as appendant to his Office at the comming of the Iustices in Eire yet that fee is not repugnant to the foresayd statute of Westminst 1. for hee taketh not that to execute his Office but as a fee of right incident to his office though he do nothing in the execution of the said Office St. 3. Ed. 1. Bracton de Corona cap. 5. 7 It appeareth both by the stat intituled Officium Coronatoris Of what things Coroners shall inquire and by Bracton that if any Coroners be aduertised by the K. Bailifes or other honest men of the countrey to come to those that be slaine sodainly dead or wounded or to house breakers or to any place where treasure is found they shall immediatly come and forthwith commaund foure fiue or sixe of the next townes that they appeare before them in such a place and when they come the Coroners vpon their othe shall inquire Murder if they did know of that man that was killed where he was first slaine whether in the field or in the house bed Tauerne or in any companie and who were there Inquirie of the offendors Likewise they shal inquire who were culpable either of the act or force and who were present either men or women and of what age they be so they can speak and haue discretion And they which be found guiltie by inquisition in the foresaid maner shal be taken deliuered to the Sherif and committed to the gaole and as many of them as be not found guiltie shal be attached vntil the comming of the Iustices and their names inrolled A man found slaine And if any man be sodainly slain and found in the fields or woods it is to be considered whether he were slaine there or not if hée were brought thither their steps that brought him if it may be shall bee followed and so shall the tracke of horse and cart And also it shall be inquired if he that was slaine were knowne or vnknowne and where he lodged the night before And if any be found guiltie of the death of such immediatly the Coroners shal come to his house and inquire what cattell he hath and what corne in his graunge and what on the ground and if he be a frée man what frée land hée hath and what it is worth by the yeare beside the Lord of the fées seruice but the land shall remaine in the kings hands vntill the Lord of the fée hath made a fine for it And when they haue enquired of all things then they shal cause them to be priced as if they should straight way be sold and the bodie of him that is dead shall be buried Moreouer the Coroners shall enquire of them which be drowned sodainly slaine Sodainly slaine or strangled by the signe of a coard tyed strait about their neckes or about any of their members or vpon any other hurt found vpon their bodies or some other manifest token and shall attache the finders and al other in their company A Coroner ought to inquire of treasure that is found Treasure trone who were the finders and who are suspected thereof which may be gathered by some mans delicat liuing and frequenting of Tauernes which vpon suspition shall be attached by foure or sixe or mo pledges If any be appealed of Rape Rape he shall be attached by foure or sixe pledges if the appeale be fresh and the signe of the truth apparant or an open outcrie leuyed But if it be without any manifest token or outcry two pledges shall suffice Vpon Appeale of Maihem if the wounds Maihem or wound be mortall they which bee appealed shall bée forthwith apprehended and kept vntill it be knowne whether he that is hurt shall recouer or not if he dye they shall be retained if he liue they shall be attached by foure or sixe pledges according to the bignesse of the wound If it be for a Maihem then there shall be no lesse than foure pledges if a small wound be then two will serue The length breadth and déepenesse of all wounds The length breadth and déepnesse of wounds ought to be viewed and with what weapons and in what part of the bodie the partie was hurt and also how many wounds there be how many be culpable and who gaue the wound all which things shall bee inrolled in the Coroners roll Horses boats carts commonly called Deodands Deodands wherby any person shall perish shall be valued and deliuered to the whole township which shal be answerable therefore Whosoeuer layeth hands vpon the wreck of the sea Wrecke of the Sea shal be attached by sufficient pledges The price of the wrecke shal be valued and deliuered to the towne to answer c. 8 It doth first appeare by the words of this stat St. 3. Ed. 1. that the Coroner ought to do his office in his owne proper person The Coroner shall execute his Office in his owne person and not by Deputie viz. They shall presently come to those that bée slaine or sodainely dead And so also it is declared by the Statute of Excester St. 14. E. 1. and prooued by the foresayde definition of the Office or Authoritie of a Coroner viz. That a Coroner shall make a Record of his owne view which is that hée shall sée the dead bodie when hée doth make the inquirie or otherwise the inquirie is not good Fi. Cor. 10◠For if hee will inquire of any dead person without the sight of him this is without authoritie and so void The Coroner shall sée the dead body And therefore if the bodie bée buried before his comming hée must record it in his Rolles to the intent that the towne where
he was buried may be amerced for it Fitz. Cor. 329. Britton 4. 21. E. 4. 70. 2. R. 3. 2. by the Iustices in Eire vpon the sight of the Coroners Rols And yet notwithstanding the Coroner must digge the bodie out of the ground and make his enquirie vpon the sight of the bodie as he should haue done if it had not béen buried If one be indicted before the Coroner vpon the sight of the body and then the body is by the Coroners commandement buried and after for that the indictment is not sufficient the Coroner doth take the body out of the earth A body buried taken vp againe and indict the offendor againe this is lawfully done being vpon the sight of the bodie though the bodie had béene buried fouretéene dayes before If a dead bodie that is slaine or sodainely dead Fi. Cor. 339 be suffered to lye vpon the ground vnburied to putrifie or to yéeld an euill sauour without sending for the Coroner the towne where the same bodie did so lye vnburied Fi. Cor. 421 Britton shall bée amerced And likewise if a prisoner do dye in prison and the kéeper of the prison doth not send for a Coroner he shall be amerced And though a Coroner shall make a record of his owne view St. 9. H. 3. 17 and enter the same into his roll Pleas of the Crowne yet by the statute of Magna Charta no Coroner Sherife Constable Escheator or other Bailife of the K. shall hold pleas of the Crowne St. 3. Ed. 1. 9 The said statute of West 1. ordaineth The Coroner must presently do his office That if any Coroners be aduertised by the Kings Bailifes or other honest men of the countrey they shall presently come and make inquisition whereby it appeareth that if the Coroner shall be slacke and negligent in comming to doe his office after the Bailifes or men of the countrey haue sent for him he shall be punished And if he omit to doe his office Fitz. Cor. 292. as to make inquirie of or to enter into his roll the death of a man or any other thing which by the law he is to doe or make a record of hée shall bée committed to prison And by the statute of Anno 3. H. 7. St. 3. H. 7. 1. If any Coroner be remisse in viewing of a dead bodie murdered or slaine Coroners shall inquire and certifie at the gaole deliuery and do not enquire of them that haue done the murder or death of their abettors and consenters who were present thereat and their names or so found doe not inroll certifie and deliuer his inquisition to the Iustices of the next gaole deliuerie in the Shire where the inquisition is taken that the same Iust may procéed against such murderers if they be in the gaole or else certifie the inquisition into the K. Bench the said Coroner shall forfeit to the King for euery offence v. l. St. 3. Ed. 1. 35. H. 6. 27 10 The foresaid statute of West 1. as touching inquisition The Coroner shall inquire onely of the death of a maÌ„ doth only extend to a dead person whereby it séemeth that a Coroner cannot inquire of any other felony but of the death of a man Sauing that in Northumberland the Coroner doth inquire of all felonies But that authoritie they maintaine by prescription A presentment was made before the Coroner that a felon being apprehended for stealing was led to a church by certaine persons and this was adiudged a void presentment 27. Ass p. 55 because he cannot inquire thereof by vertue of his office but if he had receiued the kings writ or commission to haue made inquirie thereof hée might haue done it And yet some do affirme that he may inquire of the rape of a woman and of breaking of prison being other felonies different from the death of a man and of Sturgeon and Whales taken If a man be slaine in the armes or braunches of the sea Slaine in an arme of the sea where one may sée the ground on both sides the Coroner shall inquire thereof and not the Admirall because the countrey may take knowledge thereof which prooueth Fi. Cor. 399 that by the common law the Admirall Admirall had no iurisdiction but vpon the mayne Sea before the Statute of 13. R. 2. 2. H. 4. were made St. 13. R. 2. 5 2. H. 4. 11. And though the Coroner cannot enquire of any other felonies but of the death of a man yet by the Statute of West 1. made Anno 3. Ed. 1. it was ordâ—ined St. 3. Ed. 1. 9 That if the Sherife Coroner or any other Bailife within Franchise or without for reward A Coroner concealing a felon or not arresting him intreatie or any affinitie doe conceale consent or procure to conceale the felonies done in their liberties or otherwise will not attach or arrest such felons whereas they may or will not do their offices for the fauour that they beare to such offendors and be thereof attainted they shall be one yeare imprisoned and make a grieuous fine And if they haue not whereof to make fine they shall be thrée yeares imprisoned So that a Coroner may attach or arrest any maner of felon whatsoeuer though he cannot inquire of him 11 It is contained in the before specified Statute of Westminst 1. That all things ought to bée inrolled in the Rolles of the Coroner Which prooueth that the same inrolment is the Coroners Record The force of a Coroners record and that the sayd Record is of great force for if the thing inrolled be within the compasse of the Coroners authoritie it shall be of greater credit than the Record of any other Bro. Cor. 351. For if a thing be found before the Iustices in Eyre contrary to that which was entred into the roll of the Coroner The first Coroner it shall be void Fitz. Cor. 107. And the Record of the first Coroner viz. the Record of him which first sitteth vpon the view of the bodie shall be preferred before the Record of the second Coroner who doth after sit and inquire of him If a man become an Approuer Approuer before the Coroner Fitz. Cor. 118. and doth appeale others he shall dot be receiued to say after That he did it by dures Dures of imprisonment but shall bée estopped thereof by the Coroners Record And in like sort if one hath abiured the Realme before the Coroner Abiuring before the Coroner 12. As p. 29. Fi. Cor. 124 and after doth returne and is arraigned and doth plead that he is not the same person if in this case the Coroner doth record him to be the same person he shal be condemned And the same law is if a man be arraigned of breaking of prison Confession of breaking of prison 25. E. 3. 42. Fitz. Cor. 243. 435. he shall be estopped to plead not
guiltie thereunto if the Coroner doth record that he did at another time confesse it before him And if an Approuer Approuer to prolong his life doe appeale others where there be none such and that bee testified by the Coroner the Approuer shall be hanged 25. Ed. 3. 24. without further enquirie of the approuement Who ought to appeare vpon the Coroners inquisition 12 By the Statute of Marlbridge made Anno 52. H. 3. St. 52. H. 3. 24. it was ordayned That vpon an inquisition to be taken by a Coroner of the death of a man euerie one of the age of twelue yeares ought to appeare except they haue a reasonable excuse of their absence The Coroner may take appeals 13 And though the foresayd Statute of Officium Coronatoris doe make mention but of certaine Appeales as â—n Appeale of Rape Mayhem c. yet the Coroner with the Sherife hath authoritie to take Appeales of Robberie and other Felonies and also to take the Appeale of an Approuer in this sort and manner following viz. he may take an Appeale of Robberie or other felonie committed in the same countie where he is Coroner and not elsewhere But he may take the Appeale of an Approuer of an offence committed in any countie of England and the reason of this difference is because by the approuement the Approuer is attainted of Felonie but so is not the offendor in the other case and therefore if in the former case he should receiue such an Appeale of Robberie Fitz. Cor. 437. or other Felonie it could not be tryed by a Iury of the countie where he is Coroner for that the felonie was committed in a forrein countie And yet in the foresaid case of approuement in another countie the Coroner cannot award Proces thereupon but he must enter it into his roll and send it to the Iustices of Gaole deliuerie Fitz. Cor. 462. who shall award Proces vnto the Sherife of that forreine countie to apprehend him which is so appealed And as the Coroner may take the Appeale of an Approuer in another countie so vpon the same reason he may take the abiuration of one which hath confessed a felonie committed by him in another countie Fitz. Cor. 416. 14 If the Coroner shall find any person drowned in a daungerous pond or pit he must commaund the towne where the same pond or pit is to stop it vp Stopping vp a place of danger and enter the same his commandement into his Roll And if after it bée found before the Iustices in Eire that the same pond or c. is not stopped vp the whole towne where it is shal be amerced 15 Though there be diuers Coroners in a Countie Where the presence of all the Coroners is requisit and where but of some one of them yet it is not requisit to haue more than one to enquire vpon the sight of a dead bodie And in like sort one is sufficient to giue iudgement vpon an Outlawrie 14. H. 4. 35 39. H. 6. 41. and in Redisseisin it is sufficient to haue two Coroners But where Proces is to bee awarded to the Coroners in default of the Sherife there all the Coroners within the Countie ought to serue or otherwise it is not good for they execute that office as ministers and not as Iudges as they doe in other cases And by the statute of Anno 23. H. 6. St. 23. H. 6. 11. euery of the Coroners shall bée present in his proper person at the assessing of the wages of the Knights of the same Shire for the Parliament with the Sherife Vndersherife Baylifes and others that will be present to assesse the wages of the sayd Knights after the deliuerance of the Kings writ De solutione feodi Militum Parliamenti and proclamation thereof made vpon paine of forfeiture of euery of them making default xl sÌ„ to the King St. 1. 2. P. M. 13. 16 By the Statute made Anno 1. 2. P. M. it is ordained The Coroner must record the euidence and bind the parties to giue it That euery Coroner vpon any inquisition before him found whereby any person shall bée indicted for murder or maÌ„slaughter or as accessory to the same before the murder or manslaughter committed shall put in writing the effect of the euidence giuen to the Iurie before him being materiall And he hath authoritie to bind all such by Recognisance or Obligation as doe declare any thing materiall to prooue the sayd murder or manslaughter or to be accessorie to the same to appeare at the next generall gaole deliuerie to be holden within the countie citie or towne corporat where the tryall thereof shall be then and there to giue euidence against the partie so indicted at the time of his tryall and shall certifie as well the same euidence as such bond in writing which he shall take together with the Inquisition or Indictment before him taken and found at or before his sayd tryall to be made And if any Coroner shall offend in any thing to the contrarie then the Iustices of gaole deliuerie for the Shire Citie Towne or place where such offence shal be committed vpon due proofe thereof by examination before them shall for euerie such offence set such fine on such Coroner as they shall thinke méet Inquirie of a man slaine within the K. house verge 17 Forasmuch as heretofore many felonies that haue béene committed within the Verge haue béene vnpunished because the Coroners of the county haue not béene authorized to inquire of felonies done within the Verge but onely the Coroner of the Kings house which neuer continueth in one place by reason whereof there can be no triall made in due manner nor the selons put in Exigent nor outlawed nor nothing presented in the Eire which hath beene great damage to the King and to the hindrance of his peace For the redresse whereof by a Statute made Anno 28. Ed. 1. St. 28. E. 1. 3 intituled Articuli super chartas it was ordained That if the death of a man where the Coroners Office is to make view and Enquest doth chaunce in any countie where the Kings house is and within the Verge the Coroner of the same countie shal be commanded with the Coroner of the Kings house to execute his office and to inroll it And that thing which cannot be determined before the Steward shall bee committed to the common law so that Exigents Outlawries and Presentments shal be thereupon made to the Iustices in their circuits by the Coroner of the countie as well as of other felonies done out of the Verge Neuerthelesse they shal not omit by reason hereof to make attachmeÌ„ts freshly vpon the felonies done Which foresaid statute for so much thereof as doth touch or concerne the K. house onely is in part altered by the statute of Anno 33. H. 8. St. 33. H. 8. 12. whereby it is ordayned Inquirie if a
in houses Wast in gardens Wast in men 10 Oppressions redressed by an Audita querela 11 Oppression by forestallers Ingrossers and Regrators Who is a Forestaller Who is an Ingrosser Who is a Regrator The punishment of Forestallers c. In what cases ingrossing and regrating be tollerable Changing of seed Buying and selling of cattell aliue The authoritie of I. of peace in these cases Trasporting allowed by Iustices When corne may bee transported Buying and selling of fish neere the Sea Drouers licenced to buy and sell cattell 12 Oppression by badgers laders c. Obseruations necessarie in all licences 13 Oppression of Printers and Stationers Oppression by Printers and Stationers 14 Oppression by transporting of gold and siluer 15 Oppression by transporting of copper c. 16 Oppression by Pewterers 17 Oppression of inhabitants of Market Townes 18 Oppression by taking of seuerall farmes Taking of farmes in the Isle of Wight 19 Oppression by keeping of many sheepe 20 Oppression by spiritual persons in taking of farmes Oppression by them in buying and selling Oppression by them in farming of Parsonages Oppression by them in keeping of Tan-houses or Brew-houses 21 Oppression by taking of excessiue toll 22 Oppression ought not to be done to aliens and strangers 23 Oppression by making of yron workes 24 Oppression by Brewers 25 Oppression by bringing into the Realme woollen cards 26 Oppression by erecting of Weares Oppression by destroying of spawne or fry of fish Oppression by fishing with vnlawfull nets 27 Oppression by buying and selling of fuell 28 Oppression by transporting of victuall 29 Oppression by vsurie 30 Oppression by cutting out the head of a conduit Oppression by burning of a cart laden Oppression by cutting out the tongue of a beast Oppression by cutting off the eares of a man Oppression by barking of trees 31 Oppression by hawking or hunting in corne growing 32 Oppression by taking of other mens fish 33 Oppression by decaying of townes and houses of husbandry 34 Oppression by decaying of tillage 35 Oppressions and all the former offences punishable in the Starre chamber Treasons Fol. 109. 1 What is Treason 2 A repeale of former Treasons Offences made Treason by Stat. 3 Compassing or imagining the death of the King c. A conspiracie by diuers executed by some of them 4 Leuying of warre or adhering to the Kinges enemies 5 Counterfeiting the K. Seale Conspyrators and ayders in Treason 6 Counterfeiting the Kings money Coyners of money by warrant doe abuse it 7 Petit Treason A seruant killeth his master or mistresse The wife conspireth to kill her husband 8 The sonne killeth father or mother 9 Treason in breaking of prison An indictor discouereth counsel 10 Treason by statute Treason by forging the coine of other realmes Treason by forging the Kings signe manuell 11 Bringing into the realm money counterfeit 12 Treason by clipping washing or filing of money 13 Treason by diminishing scaling or lightning of money 14 Treason by the maintaining the authoritie of the Bishop of Rome 15 The othe touching the Q. supreame gouernment Praemunire for the first refusall of the othe Treason for the second refusall of the othe 16 Treason for giuing or taking absolution from Rome Treason to obtaine Bulls from Rome 17 Treason to persuade to the Romish religion Treason to be persuaded to the Romish religion Practising to absolue or reconcile 18 Treason for Iesuites or Priests to come into the Realme 19 Treason in Seminary priests not returning 20 What Misprision of Treason is The forfeiture in Misprision 21 Misprision to counterfeit money not currant 22 Misprision to ayd persuaders to the Romish religion 23 Misprision to conceale reconciliation offered 24 Misprision to inroll an indictment not found 25 Misprision in drawing of a sword to strike a Iudge sitting in his place 26 Misprision in striking of a Iuror in a Iudges presence 27 Misprision by striking a man in Westminster Hall the Court sitting 28 Misprision by rescuing of a prisoner arrested by a Iudge 29 Shedding of bloud within the K. house 30 Triall of Treasons committed out of the Realme 31 Outlawrie of offendors in Treason being out of the realme 32 Triall of Treasons committed in Wales 33 The force of attainder of Treason by the common law 34 No record of Attainder shal be reuersed where the offendor is executed 35 Felonie made Treason by statute 36 An English traitor subiect to a forreine prince 37 An Alien borne committeth Treason 38 A subiect ioyneth the Kinges Armes to his owne Homicide Fol. 120. 1 Homicide by Iustice By necessitie By chaunce or misfortune By will 2 Homicide by Iustice The order of law not obserued in the execution of iustice 3 None may kill a man that is outlawed or attainted in Praemunire 4 Killing of a felon that wil not be arrested Euerie person may arrest a felon Killing of such as be vnlawfully assembled 5 Killing of him that is in carying to the gaole 6 Killing of a prisoner attempting to escape 7 Killing him that attempteth robberie or burglarie 8 Killing of an offendor in a Parke c. 9 Vnitie of possession in a chase or mannor 10 One killing of another in combat 11 Homicide vpon necessity in defence of his house from burning Homicide in defending himself from robberie 12 No forfeiture for Homicide vpon necessitie 13 Killing of another in his owne defence in his owne house 14 Necessitie ineuitable requisit in homicide in his own defence The definition of Homicide in his owne defence 15 Where in Homicide in his owne defence his goods shall bee forfeited and where not 16 Killing a man in his own defence found by verdict 17 The prisoner indicted for killing in his owne defence must plead not guiltie 18 How he shall be discharged that killeth a man in his owne defence 19 What is Homicide by misaduenture 20 The like order in misaduenture as in his owne defence 21 What is Homicide by murder What is Homicide by manslaughter 22 The name of murder Murder more grieuous than felonie 23 Wilfull poysoning is murder 24 Stabbing to death is murder 25 Murder by killing of a Constable comming to part a fray Murder by killing of a Sherife or his Officers in seruing of Proces Murder by killing of a watchman 26 Murder and Manslaughter committed in the death of one man 27 A man bearing malice to one killeth another 28 A man giueth poyson to one another taketh it and dyeth 29 Two agreeing to commit a Murder one of them doth it 30 Meaning to kil without the act is not Homicide Act in killing without meaning is Homicide 31 Homicide by giuing poisoned drinke to another 32 Many do attempt to doe an vnlawfull act and one of them doth kill a man 33 Homicide by carrying a sicke man into the ayre or cold 34 A man dyeth vnder the Physitians or Chirurgians care 35 Homicide vpon the euill words of another 36 Homicide by a Franticke man Homicide by a man that is deaf and dumbe Homicide
Lord shall haue a Writ of Escheat and where he may enter 52 The forme of a Writ of Escheat 53 The kings remedy for lands escheated vnto him An office for those lands which doe escheat for Felony 54 The wiues forfeiture of title of Dower 55 What the appellee that wageth battell shall forfeit 56 A Rent-charge pro consilio not forfeited 57 The forfeitures of an outlaw Corruption of Blood Fol. 239. 1 Corruption of Blood salued by Parliament only 2 Where corruption of blood shall preiudice tenant by the courtesie 3 The eldest sonne attainted during his fathers life 4 Where attainder but no corruption of blood Restitution of stolne goods Fol. 240. 1 Restitution of goods vpon Fresh suit 2 What conuiction shal be sufficient to giue the owner restitution of his goods 3 Where the owner shall haue restitution 4 Before whom and by whom inquirie of Fresh suit is to bee made 5 Restitution vpon attainder by indictment Damages in Appeale Fol. 242. 1 The punishment of the appellant and the abettors when the appellee is acquit No Essoine for the appellant in an appeale of death 2 The appeale must bee commenced vpon malice 3 The statute of 13. Ed. 1. extendeth to all Felons 4 The defendant in an appeale acquited by battell 5 Where the accessarie in an Appeale shall recouer dammages 6 Where the defendant is said to acquit himselfe in due manner and where not 7 Acquitall at the Kings suit is only in appeale 8 What Iustices may inflict the penaltie vpon the Appellant 9 The dammages for seuerall persons assessed seuerally 10 Where the appellant shall pay a fine to the king 11 In what cases inquiry shall be made for the abettors 12 What pleas the abettors may plead 13 Proces against the abettors Nonsute in the proces against the abettors 14 A writ against the abettors by the appellee 15 Procurers of indictments for suits in spirituall courts A Writ of Conspiracie Fol. 245. 1 In what case a Writ of Conspiracie doth lye 2 Conspiracie maintenable vpon an acquitall in an indictment or appeale 3 The indictment must be false which giueth the Writ of Conspiracie 4 Conspiracie doubtfull whether true or false 5 The conspirators do become indictors A Iustice of Peace A giuer of Euidence 6 Who be conspirators 7 A Conspiracie must bee by more then one Where only one shal be charged in Conspiracie 8 No Writ of Conspiracie against the Husband and the Wife 9 The forme of the Writ of Conspiracie 10 The writ of Conspiracy for the accessarie 11 Barres in a writ of Conspiracie 12 Iudgement in Conspiracie A villanous iudgement 13 Inquiry of Conspiracie by Iustices 14 Inquiry of Conspirators at the kings or parties suit 15 Procurers of an indictment or an appeale in a forraine county 16 An offence supposed to bee done in a place where there is none such The Coroner and his authoritie and dutie in Felonies c. Fol. 249. 1 The office and duty of a Coroner 2 The Writ de Coronatore Eligendo 3 Who shall be Coroners and by whom they shal be chosen 4 Whether Coroners ought to be knights 5 Causes to remoue a Coroner 6 Where a Coroner shall haue fee and where not 7 What things Coroners shall inquire of 8 A Coroner shall execute his Office in his owne person A Câ—â—oner shall see the dead body A body buried taken vp againe 9 A Coroner must presently doe his office 10 A Coroner shall onely enquire of the death of a man A man slaine in an arme of the Sea A Coroner concealing or not apprehending a Felon 11 The force of a Coroners Record Which Coroners Record shall be preferred Abiuring before the Coroner Confession of breaking of Prison before the Coroner 12 Who ought to appeare vpon the Coroners Inquisition 13 The Coronour with the Sherife may take Appeales 14 Stopping vp of a place of daunger by the Coroners commaundement 15 Where the presence of all the Coroners is requisite and where but some one of them 16 The Coroner must record the euidence and bind the party to giue it 17 Inquiry of a man slaine within the Kings House and Verge 18 One man Coroner of the Kinges House and the Countie Who shall be Judge in Treason and Felony Fol. 253. 1 The King ought not to bee iudge in Treason or Felony What men of condition Iudges ought to be 2 None shall make Iudges but the King 3 Iudges vpon the arraignement of the Peeres of the Realme 4 Iudges of offences that are done in the Kings Pallace 5 Iudges of Conspiracies made to destroy the King or any Lord c. 6 Iudges within the Verge 7 Iudges of Treason committed out of the Realme 8 Iustices of Gaole deliuerie Iudges in Felony 9 Iudges of Nisi prius Iudges in Felony c. 10 Speciall commissioners Iudges at the arraignement of a Murderer 11 Iudges of piracie or offences done vpon the sea 12 Iustices of Peace Iudges in Felony 13 The Lord of a Mannour Iudge in Felony Infangtheefe Outfangtheefe 14 A Felon first executed and then iudged FINIS
DnÌ„i Reg. erga ipsuÌ„ dominuÌ„ Reg. cunctuÌ„ populuÌ„ suuÌ„ precipuè erga C. D. de Twyford in comÌ„ praedicto Husbandman conseruabit ideo ex parte dicti dnÌ„i regis vobis cuilibet vestruÌ„ mando quod de arrestando imprisonando seu aliqualiter molestando praedictuÌ„ A. B. ex causa pÌ„dicta Supersedeatis quilibet vestruÌ„ Supersedeat omnio Et si euÌ„ ex dict' causa non alia ceperitis seu imprisionaueritis seu aliquis vestruÌ„ ceperit seu imprisonauerit tunc à prisona illa sâ—ne dilatione deliberari faciatis Supersedeas in the Chancery for one bound in the common plaâ—e datuÌ„ apud Hilsdon c. 22. H. 6. 59. But if a man be arrested in the common place for the suertie of peace and he is lett to baile to a certaine day at which day he doth bring a Supersedias out of the Chauncerie that he hath found suerties in the Chauncery that is not alloweable because he was by baile which is an imprisonment in law and therefore the suertie in the Chauncery will not serue And it may be that the suerties in the Chancery be not sufficient and that the King and the Court was deceiued therein And yet the common place hath no authority to take suerty of peace 2. H. 7. 1. but of the peace broken before them 81 When the partie against whom the precept is awarded to find suerties for the kéeping of the peace A Recognizance for the keeping of the peace doth come before the Iustice of peace to be bound to the peace then it resteth in the discretion of the same Iustice of peace if he deale in this cause as a Iustice of peace by force of the generall commission of peace and so as a Iudge to assigne what number of suerties he will accept to be bound with the party in what summe of money the party his suerties shall be bound to allow or disallow of the sufficiencie of those suerties to limit the time how long the party shall be bound and to determine vpon some such other circumstances touching that matter But if the same Iust of peace be commanded as a minister in the erecution of the writ of Supplicauit to take the peace of any person then he must do as the writ doth direct him which sometime is to take sufficient suertie to be bound in a summe prescribed and some other time not then it resteth in his owne discretion The most vsuall maner is for a Iustice of peace to take two suerties besides the partie himselfe to be bound by Recognizance to the King viz. Domino Regi and that must alwaies be for the kéeping of the peace The forme of which Recognizance for the kéeping of the peace is as followeth viz. Memorandum qd ' nono die Augusti Anno regni dnÌ„i nostrÌ„ Regis Iacobi dei gratia c. 5. A.B. de Padburie in Comitatu pÌ„dict ' Husbandman Buck. in ê“pria persona sua venit coram me Richardo Ingols by Milite vno IusticiarioruÌ„ dicti dnÌ„i Regis ad pacem in dicto Comitatur conseruandam assignatoruÌ„ assumpsit proseipso sub poena xx li. et D.E. H.I. de C. in Comitatur praedictur Husbandmen adtunc ibmÌ„ in ê“prijs personis suis similiter venerunt manuceperunt pro praedicto A. B. viz quilibet eorum seperatim sub poena x. li. quod idem A. B. personaliter comparebit coram Iusticiarijs dicti domini Regis ad pacem ad ê“ximam generaleÌ„ Sessionem pacis in ComÌ„pÌ„dicto apud Buck. tenendam ad faciendum recipienduÌ„ quod ei per Curiam tunc ibidem iniungetur Et quod ipse interim pacem dicti dnÌ„i Regis custodiet erga ipsum dominuÌ„ Regem cunctum populuÌ„ suum praecipue versus L.M. de O. de comitatu praedict Et quod damnum vel malum aliquod corporale aut grauamen praefatur L.M. nec alicui de populo dicti domini Regis quod in laesionem aut perturbationem pacis ipsius Domini Regis seu praefati L.M. cedere valeat quouismodo non faciet nec fieri procurabit Quam quidem summam xx l' praedict ' A.B. quilibet manucaptorum praedictorum praedictas seperales summas x. l' recognouerunt se debere dicto domino Regi de terris tenementis bonis catallis suis cuiuslibet eorum ad opus dicti domini Regis fieri leuari ad quorumcunque manus deuenerunt si contigerit ipsum A.B. praemissa vel eorum aliquid in aliquo infringere inde legitimo modo conuinci In cuius rei testimonium ego pÌ„dictus Richardus Ingolsby sigillum meum apposui Datur apud Lethenborow die Anno supradict ' And the forme of the Recognizance for the good abearing is this viz. A Recognizance for the good abearing MemoranduÌ„ c. quod ipse A. B. interim se bene geret erga DnÌ„m Reg. cunctuÌ„ populuÌ„ suuÌ„ praecipuè erga L. M. Et quod ipse non inferet nec inferri ê“curabit per se nec per alios damnuÌ„ aliquod seu grauamen pÌ„fato L.M. seu alicui de populo ipsius dnÌ„i Regis de corporibus suis per insidias insultus seu aliquo alio modo quod in laesionem seu perturbationem pacis dicti dnÌ„i Regis cedere valeat quouismodo viz. vterque praedict ' D. E. et H. I. sub poena 50. librÌ„ et praedict ' A. B. sub poena 100. librÌ„ c. And this may be done by a single Recognizance in Latin with a Condition thereunto added in English for the kéeping of the peace or the good Abearing and for the day and place of the parties apparance at the Quarter Sessions 82 A Iustice of peace who vpon his owne discretion compelleth one to find suertie of the peace vntill a certaine day may vpon the like discretion release the same before that day A Releas of the suertie of peace But if a Iustice of peace do graunt the peace at the request of an other viz. at the suit of A. and that the Recognizance be taken to kéepe the peace against A. then may the same A. only releas it and none other before the same Iustice of peace or any other Iustice that will certifie the same releas before the Iustices of peace at the next quarter Sessions for that certificat being of record will discharge it which a releas by déed can not do the suertie of peace being a Recognizance and so of it selfe a record And though the Recognizance be versus cunctum populuÌ„ precipuè versus A. yet may the same A. releas it for though it may séeme populer and that others should haue equall interest therein with A. yet as it appeareth by the word precipuè it was specially taken for his safetie But though in some case a Iustice of peace may releas the suertie of the peace in some
right to another and if any doe and bée attainted thereof the taker shall forfeit to the King so much of his lands and goods as doth amount to the value of the part that he hath purchased for such Maintenance and to obtaine that any person that will shall be receiued to sue for the king before those Iustices before whom the suit doth depend and the iudgement shal be giuen by them But it may not be vnderstood in this case Pleaders may giue counsell for their fées that a man may not haue counsell of pleaders and learned men for his fée nor of his next friends And after to the intent to impose a sharper punishment vpō such as should be offendors in Maintenance Champerty or the like by a statute made Ann̄ 33. E. 1. it was enacted St. 33. Ed. 1. That if any person do take vpō him for Maintenance Champerty or the like bargaine any manner of suit or plea against another The punishment of champertors is attainted of such assumption suit or bargaine or of consent thereunto he shal be thrée yeares imprisoned and further punished at the kings pleasure 8 And so it appeareth by the foresaid statutes that it is Champerty Fit Nat. Br. 171. 7. Ed. 3. 9. Fit champ 6. where a man by couenant or agréement made by writing or word What is chāperty what not doth bargaine to haue parcell of the land debt or other thing which is in suit if it be recouered to aid and maintain the party to that suit and in this case he that is the other party to that suit oppressed or grieued by this Maintenance may prosecute a writ of Champerty against the same offendor 9. H. 6. 64. or a writ of Maintenance at his choice for euery Champerty is Maintenance but euery Maintenance is not Champerty And in this case of Champerty he that selleth his land or demiseth his land for life or yeares or any part thereof during the time that the same land is in suit shall be punished according to the foresaid statute of 28. Ed. 1. as well as he that purchaseth the same land Fit champ 5. 30. Ass p. 5. 8. Ed. 4. 13. And the writ of Champerty may be brought against the buyer alone or against the seller alone And it is all one penalty where he selleth his land for mony or other consideration and where hée fréely doth giue his land for if it be giuen during the time that the land is in suit it is Champertie for the Law doth prohibite euery man to obtaine land when it is in suit But if a man purchase land after iudgement it is no Champertie for then there is no suit depending touching that land and if a man that is learned in the Law and doth giue counsell therein 13. H. 4. 19. doe take part of the land that was in variance of his client for his fées after the same is recorded this is no Champerty So that the bargaine be made after the recouery of the land and not depending the suit 47. E. 3. 9. 7. E. 4. 15. And if a man doe bring an action against another and do recouer the thing in question against the defendant yet the plaintife may haue an action of Maintenance against euery person that shall maintaine the defendant in that suit though he hath lost nothing by that Maintenance for that the same Statute of 28. Edw. 1. is a prohibition of Champertie And if a man doe bargaine for land before any suit is commenced for the same and after a suit is prosecuted against the tenant of the land for the same Fit champ 15. if the same tenant doe make a feoffement or other assurance to the purchasor according to his bargaine of the same land during the time of the same suit yet this is no Champertie For in this case the seller did not assure this land to the purchasor vpon couenant to haue Maintenance but to performe his former bargaine and the sale was before the suit though the performance thereof was after And if a man doe make a feoffement of land to others to his owne vse 8. E. 4. 13 during the time that a suit is depending for the same land this is no Champertie for the feoffement was not made to haue Maintenance in that suit but to haue the possession of the land to bée transferred to others and yet to the same vse it was before And a man may giue land to his sonne in Franke-marriage 6 E. 3. 33. or for the terme of his life during the time that a suit is depending against him of the same land and it is no Champertie for that the words of the statute of Anno 28. Edw. 1. be But it is not intended that a man shall not haue counsell of pleaders and of learned for his fée nor of his next friends and the father is bound to relieue and helpe his sonne as much as he may and it is no Maintenance nor Champertie in him to assure the land to his sonne nor in the sonne to take it 21. Ed. 3. 52. And in a writ of Champertie it is a good plea for the defendant to plead That he purchased the land of him who recouered it for his money and not for Champertie to maintaine the suit And if a man doe make a lease for the terme of life of land Fit champ 14. and after the tenant for life is impleaded for the same land and depending that plea the tenant for life doth surrender his estate for life to him in Reuersion this is no Champertie 6 Maintenance may also bée committed in other sorts then be aforesaid Maintenance by Embracery viz. by Embraceors St. 33. Ed. 1. and by Iuries By the Statute of Anno 33. Edw. 1. an Embraceor is described to be one that commeth to the barre with the party and speaketh in the matter and is there to suruey the Iurie And he is accounted an Embraceor Fit Nat. Br. 171. who will threaten the Iurie or any of them if they doe not giue their verdict by his direction and he also who is a procuror of a Iurie to appeare 13. H. 4. 19. that is commonly called a leader of Enquests And the punishment of Maintenance both in Embraceors and Iurors is assigned by the Statutes of Anno 34. Edw. 3. Anno 38. Edw. 3. whereby it is ordained St. 34. E. 3. 8. 38. Ed. 3. 12. That if any Iuror sworne in Assises Maintenance by Iurors or other Enquests to be taken betwéene the King and the party or betwéene party and party doe by himselfe or any other take any thing of the plaintife or defendant to giue his verdict and thereof is attainted at the suit of the party which will sue for himselfe or for the king or of any other person entring his plaint by Bill immediatly before the Iustices before whom the Iurie was sworne the
said Iuror shall pay tenne times so much as he hath receiued And all those which be Embraceors to lead and procure such Enquests in the Countrey The penalty of Maintenance in Iurors and Embraceors to make againe and profit thereof shal be punished as the Iurors And if the Iuror or Embraceor so attainted haue not wherewith to make recompence in forme aforesaid he shall be one yeare imprisoned which imprisonment shall not bee pardoned for any fine and the party grieued may haue his action before other Iustices if he will But no Iustice or other officer shall inquire of office vpon any of the points of this Statute but onely at the Suite of the partie or of others as is aforesaid See Periurie 18. Maintenance punished by a Decies tantū 7 Vpon the foresaid Statutes of 34. Edw. 3. 38. Edw. 3. is the writ of Decies tantum grounded By the which writ the party grieued by any such Maintenance and taking of money by a Iuror or Embraceor shall recouer against the offendor tenne times so much as he hath taken whereof the King shall haue the onely halfe and the same party who doth recouer the other halfe 40 E. 3. 33. 41. Ed. 3. 9. And a man may haue one writ of Decies tantum against all the Iurors of an Enquest if they all did take money to giue their verdict or against so many of them as did take money Fitz. Decies tantum 1. And so he may haue one writ against the Embraceors and the Iurors and recouer against euery of them tenne times so much as he receiued to giue his verdict or to embrace as if one of them tooke tenne shillings another twenty shillings a third 5. pounds c. and the dammages shall be taxed against euery of them seuerally And therefore when one action is brought against seuerall Iurors for taking of money to giue their verdict euery of them must plead his plea seuerally 21. H. 6. 20. and by himselfe If a Iuror doe take money to giue his verdict on the one part if after he doth giue no verdict or if hee with his companions doe giue a true verdict or such a verdict as the party who bringeth the writ receiueth no hurt thereby or if the plaintife be nonsute 37. H. 6. 31. yet a Decies tantum may bée brought against him For it is not the giuing of the verdict which the Law doth respect and punish but the taking of the money to giue his verdict and so to doe an vnlawfull act But otherwise it is of an Embraceor for if he take money to embrace and yet doth not embrace no action will lye against him for he is no Embraceor if he doe not embrace In a writ of Decies tantum if the Iury find 41. E. 3. 9. that one of the Iurie in the former Issue did take land for fortie pounds lesse then it was worth to giue his verdict the same Iuror shall forfeit to the King and the party tenne times so much viz. foure hundred pounds And so shall the Embraceor forfeit tenne times so much if he hath the land for lesse then it is worth after the Iurie hath giuen their verdict by his meanes or persuasion And the one moytie which is due to the King in this case according to the foresaid Statute of Anno 38. Edward 3. 41. Ed. 3.15 Fitz. Decies tantum 12. 44. Ed. 3. 36. is a fine to the King for his offence and not a debt to the King and therefore the partie grieued shall be first satisfied of his moytie and after him the King shall bée payed in the receit of the Exchquer Men that be learned in the Law may for their fées speake to the Iury 6. E. 4. 5. and enforce their clients euidence vnto them so much as they can openly vpon the triall of the cause But they may not otherwise labour to the Iury to giue their verdict and receiue money to that end for then they be Embraceors If he that is the party grieued who may haue against any Iuror a Decies tantum for taking of money doe release to the same Iuror all actions this will not auaile the same Iuror for by the said statute any person that will being a stranger may haue a Decies tantum against the same Iuror But if the King doe release before any suit commenced it is a good barre against all persons as it is in other popular actions 1. H. 7. 3. 5. E. 4. 2. and yet if the party hath begun his suit the Kings release wil not discharge it but for his owne part for that which was before popular is now become his priuat action and a condemnation or acquitall at his suit is a discharge against the King and all others 8 There is another kind of Maintenance by Iurors Maintenance by Ambidexter that the Law doth prohibite which is when a Iuror doth take money or other thing of the one part and the other who is commonly called Ambidexter for the punishment of whom Sta. 5. E. 3. 10 by a statute made An. 5. E. 3. it was ordained That if any Iuror in Assises Iuries or Enquests take of the one part and of the other and be thereof duly attainted he shall not after be put in any Assises Iuries or Enquests but shall be sent to prison and further punished at the Kings pleasure And the Iustices before whom such Assises Iuries Enquests shall passe haue power to inquire and determine according to this statute As this gréedie Ambidexter doth offend two Lawes so it is prouided to impose two seuerall punishments vpon him vpon a writ of Decies tantum brought against him he shall be compelled to pay to the King and the party grieued ten times so much as he hath receiued to giue his verdict according to the statute of 38. E. 3. And shall be no more put in Enquests but sent to prison and punished at the Kings pleasure according to the foresaid statute of Anno 5. Ed. 3. But no person shall be punished according to the said statute of Anno 5. 44. E. 3. 39. Fit Dec. tantum 12. Ed. 3. vpon any writ of Decies tantum brought against him but only vpon an Indictment at the Kings suit If any Iuror doe take money of eyther of the parties to a suit after his verdict giuen for giuing his verdict without making couenant therefore before hand 39. Ass p. 19 he shall not be punished according to any of the foresaid statutes of Anno 5. E. 3. 34. Ed. 3. or 38. E. 3. for he is out of the danger of the writ of Decies tantum and he shall not be imprisoned by force of the statute of Anno 5 Ed. 3. for he did not take mony contrary to the meaning of that statute But in that case he shall pay a fine to the king 9 As it is Champertie and therewith Maintenance to haue part of
officers requisit to be had for the spéed of the said suits which shall do their dueties without any rewards for their counsels helpe and businesse in the same And the same law and order shal be obserued in all such suits to be made before the K. Iustices of his Common pleas Barons of his Exchequer and all other Iust in Courts of Record where any such suits shal be 30 As Maintenance in the cases aforesaid is lawfull and iustifiable Maintenance in respect of kindred or alliance in respect of the parties priuat profit or interest in the thing in question or when it is done without malice or hope of profit vpon a charitable disposition so is it in diuers cases allowable in regard of the linke or bond of nature whereby one person is by loue or dutie tied to another 34. H. 6. 26. 6. Ed. 3. 33. as the father may maintaine his son and heire and giue money of his owne in defence of him or his title or suit for he is bound to find him but so he may not doe for another kinsman And the sonne may maintaine the father and mother and one brother another and one néere kinsman another 21. H. 6. 16. 14. H. 7. 2. 20. H. 6. 1. 19. Ed. 4. 3. 21. H. 6. 16. and one ally another in some cases and in some sort as if a man be impleaded another that is his brother or kinsmā or of his alliance may go to the bar with him stand by him comfort him or he may ride to his counsell with him or he may request a man that is learned in the law to bée of counsell with him in that cause 9. Ed. 4. 32. but he must not retaine that learned man nor giue him any mony of his own to be of counsel neither must he giue or promise money to the Iurors or any of them to giue their verdict for him for then it is vnlawfull maintenance in him so it is in a stranger who hath nothing to do in that cause if he doe goe to the barre with him that is impleaded or do stand by him of purpose for to countenance the cause in question or doe request a learned man in the law to bée of counsell with him or doe giue money to any of the Iurors for their verdict this is vnlawfull Maintenance in him And in the cases aforesayd and all other cases of Maintenance Vnlawfull maintenance is continuall this vnlawfull Maintenance is a continuall Maintenance during that suit vnlesse the partie grieued doe in the meane time release the same But if the same Maintenance bee in respect of alliance and that hee who is supposed to bee the maintainor hath maried the daughter sister néece or other kinswoman of one of the parties to the first suit wherein the maintenance was supposed be he must pleade 6. Ed. 4. that his wife was liuing at the time of the maintenance supposed to be for if she were then dead the alliance betwéene them is dissolued and then he had no cause to maintaine that suit but shal be punished as a stranger And yet in that case 14. H. 7. 2. if the same woman hath any issue of her bodie begotten who may inherit the land of him whose suit that husband of the deceased woman and the father of that issue did maintaine then is the maintenance lawfull in any action brought against the same partie in respect of the kindred and also of the benefit that may come to his owne issue And in a writ of maintenance it is a good plea for the defendant to plead Maintenance in respect of gossiprie that hee was gossip to him whose cause he was supposed to maintaine 6. Ed. 4. 5. for that gossiprie is in law adiudged a kind of affinitie Maintenance in respect the partie could not speake English 31 A. brought a writ of Maintenance against B. and supposed 34. H. 6. 26. 15. H. 7. 2. that the same B. did maintaine L. in an action which he brought against the said L. on the part of the said L. Whereunto the sayd B. pleaded that the same L. was a Dutchman borne out of the Kings obedience and could not speake the English or Latine tongue and therefore being acquainted with B. the defendant who could speake the Dutch tongue he desired him to bring him to some man learned in the law to be of his counsell in that suit and to informe that learned man of the truth of his cause in question whereupon hee brought him to one M. a man learned in the law and opened the truth of his case vnto the said M. as he receiued it from the said L. in Dutch which is the same maintenance And this was adiudged a good plea in barre and a lawfull maintenance for it is a déed of charitie to aid and helpe him who could not helpe himselfe And the Dutchman had no meanes to helpe himselfe being a straunger borne and not vnderstanding the English nor Latine tongue but by the assistance and information of some English man Maintenance in a professor of the Law 32 If a Serieant at law an Apprentice or other Councellor 6. Ed. 4. 5. being retained for his fee doe giue vnto his Client the best counsell that he can for the recouerie or defence of the suit which he vndertaketh according to the ordinarie course of the law or doth enforce the euidence at the barre so much as he can at the tryall of his clients cause this is lawfull maintenance and iustifiable But if he doe pay or promise money to any of the Iurie to giue his verdict for his client or do threaten any of them to be killed beaten 22. H. 6. 6. or otherwise euill intreated if they do giue their verdit against his client or if he do spēd 11. H. 6. 13. or do offer to spend his own mony in defence of his clients cause this is vnlawful mainnance and punishable according to the before rehearsed stat of ann 1. R. 2. for those things he doth not as a lawyer or according to the course of the law nor by the warrant of law but by iniustice and vpon his owne corruption and wrong But in the first specified case if a man that is not learned in the law 22. H. 6. 5 hauing himselfe no interest in the cause in question will declare to the Iurie or to the partie or to his counsell the cause in question and the circumstances thereof as a man learned in the law this is vnlawfull Maintenance in him though hee doe it as well as a man learned in the law for hee doeth it vpon Maintenance where the learned man doeth it for his fee. And so it is if a man that hath land in suit or question will bring and shew his euidences and writings to a Nobleman Fitz. Maint 21. Gentleman or other man of countenance that is not learned in the law and
of England for the time beeing and offer to trauerse the said indictment or Appel whereupon the said Outlawrie shal be pronounced then he shal be receiued to the said trauerse being thereupon found not guiltie by verdict of xij men he shal be cleerely discharged of the said Outlawrie and of all penalties and forfeitures by reason of the same as though no such Outlawrie had bin made And it is to be noted h. 12. El. Dyer 287. that the foresaid two Statutes doe extend to offendors in any manner of Treasons by the Common law or Statute and not to those onely which were declared to be Treasons by the Statute of 25. Edw. 3. 32 For the spéedie triall and punishment of such persons as shall commit any manner of Treasons within the Principalitie of Wales and the Marches of the same or elsewhere within the Kings dominions where his originall Writs in the Chauncerie of England commonly runne not by a Statute made Anno 32. H. 8. it was enacted That all such Treasons and Misprisions of Treasons as is aforesaid Triall of treasons committed in wales shall be presented St. 32. H. 8. 4. and tried by the oathes of twelue men inhabiting within any such Shires and before such commissioners as the King from time to time in such cases shall assigne and appoint by his Commission or Commissions of Oyer Determiner in like manner forme as if such Treasons or misprisions of treasons had bin done and committed within such of the said Shires into the which the said Commissions of Oyer and Determiner shall bée directed as is aforesaid And all Presentments Trials Processes Iudgements Executions and forfeitures hereafter to be had made or done by vertue of such Commissions shal be good and effectuall in the law to all purposes Any graunt custome or vsage to the cōtrarie notwithstanding c. After that by the Statute made an̄ 1. 2. P. M. it was enacted That all trials hereafter to be had St. 1. 2. P. M. 10. awarded or made for any Treason shal be had and vsed onely according to the due Order and Course of the common law of this Realme not otherwise Quaere whether this Statute of 1. 2. P. M. doth repell or take away the force of the before rehearsed Statute of 32. H. 8. St. 33. H. 8. 20. 33 By a statute made an̄ 33. H. 8. it was established The force of attainder of treason by the common law That if any person or persons shal be attainted of high Treason by the course of the common laws or statutes of this Realme in euery such case euery such attainder by the cōmon law shal be of as good strēgth value force effect as if it had bin done by authoritie of Parliament And the king his heires and successors shall haue as much aduantage by such attainder as well of vses rights entries conditions and possessions reuersions remainders and all other things as if it had béene done and declared by authoritie of Parliament and shal be deemed and adiudged in actuall and reall possession of the lands tenements hereditaments vses goods chattels and all other things of the offendors so attainted which his Highnesse ought lawfully to haue and which they so béeing attainted ought or might lawfully loose and forfeit if the attainder had béene done by the authoritie of Parliament without any office or inquisition to be found of the same Any Law Statute c. notwithstanding Sauing to all and euery perfect and persons and bodies politique and their heires assignes and successors and euery of them other than such person and persons which shall be attainted of high Treason and their heires and assignes and euery of them and all and euery other person and persons claiming by them or any of them or to the vses of any of them after the said Treasons committed all such right title vse possession entrie reuersions remainders interests conditions fees offices rents annuities commons leases and all other commodities profits and hereditaments whatsoeuer they or any of them should might or ought to haue had if this Act had neuer bin made 34 Because through corruption or negligent kéeping the Records of attainders of Treasons happen to be many times impaired blemished or otherwise to be defectiue St. 29. El. 2. therefore by a Statute made an̄ 29. El. it was ordained That no Record of attainder that now is of any person or persons No record of attainder shall be reuersed when the offendor is executed of or for any high Treason where the partie so attainted is or hath béene executed for the same Treason shall by the heire or heires of any such person or by any other whatsoeuer clayming in by from or vnder any such heire or heirs be in any wise hereafter reuersed vndone auoyded or impeached by any plea or for any error whatsoeuer But this Act shall not extend to any Record of attainder of or for any treason vpon which any writ of Error is now depending or which Record is already reuersed repealed or vndone by or for any error matter plea or cause whatsoeuer but the same shall be and remaine as vnto and against that partie at whose suit the same writ of Error is depending or at whose pursuit the same Record hath bin reuersed repealed or vndone his their heires and assignes onely as if this Act had neuer beene had or made Any thing in this Act c. M. 33. H. 8. Dyer 50. 35 If an offence be murder or other felonie by the common lawe Felony made treason by Statute and after the same offence shal be made treason by a Statute Then it is not punishable as murder and felonie but as Treason And no appeale will lie thereof and the Kings pardon of all Treasons will discharge the offendor therein An English traitor subiect to another prince 36 If an English man borne beeing indicted of high Treason P. 13. El. Dyer 300. will vpon his arraignment plead that he will not answer to the said indictment for that he is a subiect and seruant to a forraine Prince and not subiect to the King of England in this case the Court will record a Nihil dicit and he shall haue such iudgement as is vsed in cases of Attainder of Treason An alien borne committeth treason 37 If an alien borne doe commit high Treason in England in the time of peace betwéen England and that Nation where the same alien was borne P. 3. 4. P. M. Dyer 140. H. 33. H. 6. 1 he shal be indicted and arraigned of high treason and shall haue iudgement according to his desert But if it were in the time of warre betwéene England and that nation where the said alien was borne then the alien shall be ransomed and not arraigned Ioyning the kings armes with his owne 38 An Earle of this Realme was attainted of high treason
countie where the rauishment was committed 3. H. 7. 12. And though shee doe declare of the taking of her in another countie yet it shal be tried onely in the countie where the appeale is brought for the declaring of taking of her in another countie was but surplusage and néeded not to haue béene inserted which doth not cause her count to abate And in this case the woman appellant shall recouer nothing but the defendants death for the felonie which she shall obtaine in respect of his rauishment of her in the countie wherunto he forcibly carried her wherein only the felonie was committed Appeale of Robberie 39 By the same reason if a man doe take another by force in one countie 3. H. 7. 12. and then carrie him into another countie and there robbe him or kill him an appeale of felonie shal be commenced onely in the countie where the robberie or murder was done for the taking and carrying him away out of the first countie was but trespasse and there was no felonie committed vntill the robberie or murder was committed Threatning in one county to bring money into another 40 If one man doe threaten another in one countie that he will kill him if he doe not bring him a summe of money into another countie such a day 44. E. 3. 14 4. H. 4. 3. In this case if he that is threatened doe in respect of that menace carrie and pay the said summe of money to him that threatened him according to his promise in the said other countie this is robberie though the partie néeded not to haue paid the said money according to his promise for that his said promise was by menace and not voluntarie nor vpon cause And there is reason that the appeale of robberie shal be commenced in the countie where the money was paid and not in the countie where the menace was made for the effect and successe of the matter maketh it felonie which is the paiment of the money and not the first cause which was the threatening Goods robbed caried into diuers coūties 41 If a felon commit a robberie in one countie 7. H. 7. 44 4. H. 7. 5. and then carrie the goods stolen into diuers other counties hee that is robbed may haue his appeale of felonie in which of those Counties he will for the felon committeth felonie in euerie of the Counties Co. li. 7. 2. 26. As p. 32. whither he carrieth any of the goods And in which of those Counties the partie robbed doth commence his Appeale of Felony there it shal be tried for the propertie of those goods was alwayes in the first and right owner of them But he that is robbed may commence his Appeale of Robberie onely in that Countie where hee was robbed for there is no robberie done but in that Countie onely But if a man being in one Countie doe procure another man to commit a robberie in another Countie 29. H 8. Dyer 40 which he doth accordingly in this case the partie robbed shall haue his Appeale of Robberie against the said procurer as accessorie to this felonie in the Countie where the procurement was and not where the robberie was committed for there was his felonie committed where he did persuade and procure the robberie to be done 42 He that may pursue an Appeale is at his choyce whether he will haue it by writ Britton or by bill If he pursue it by bill Before Whōe an appeale shal be broght then he must find to the Sherife in the full Countie two sufficient pledges being of the Countie where the felonie was committed and distrainable within the sayd Countie that hee shall prosecute his Appeale according to the law of the Realme and he shal be thereunto receiued And then the Coroner shall enter his Appeale and the names of his pledges 22. As p. 97. and after the Baily of the place where the felonie was committed shall be commaunded that he shall bring the bodies of those that be appealed to the next Countie Court to answer to the plaintife And if the Baily doe answer at the second Countie Court that he cannot find them then it shall bee ordained that they which be principall Appellees of the fact shall bée solemnly commaunded to yéeld to the Kings peace and to appeare and stand to the answer of such a felonie whereof they be appealed And so they shall be demanded from Countie to Countie vntill they do appeare or bee Outlawed And yet because the Statute of Magna Charta hath ordayned That no Sherife Constable St. 9. H. 3. 17 Escheator Coroner or other Bailife of the Kings shall hold plea of the Crowne It is agréed for law that vpon an Appeale commenced before the Sherife and the Coroners although they may award proces against the Appellées vntil the Exigent yet they cannot award the Exigent against the Appellée if he do not appear neither if he do appear they can cause him to answer but onely they may commit him to prison and that by force of the sayd statute of Magna Charta 43 When an appeale is commenced before the Sherife and the Coroners in the countie it may be remooued into the Kings bench by a Certiorari Remoouing an appeale out of the countie which must be awarded out of the Chauncerie or out of the Kings bench and is to be directed to the Sherife and the Coroners which prooueth that an appeale is begunne and of Record as well before the Sherife as before the Coroners according to the Statute of West St. 3. E. 1. 10 1. which hath ordained That the Coroners shall lawfully attach and represent the pleas of the Crowne and that the Sherife shall haue counter-rolles with the Coroners as well of appeals as of Enquests of Attachments or other things that doe belong vnto this office And therefore a Certiorari to remooue an appeale directed to the sherife onely is voyd 4. H. 6. 15 and an appeale of murder may be commenced as well before the Sherife as before the Coroners as it is prooued by these words of the Statute of 3. H. 7. St. 3. H. 7. 1 viz. The wife or heire of the person slaine or murdered as case shal require may commence their appeale in proper person at any time within the yeare after the felonie done before the Shirife and Coroners of the Countie where the said felonie and murder was done or before the King in his Bench or Iustices of Gaole deliuerie 44 An appeale by Bill may be commenced before Iustices of Gaole deliuerie An appeale before Iustices of Gaole deliuerie but then the Appellée at the time of the Appeale begun against him 13. H. 4. 10. 9. H. 4. 2. must be prisoner in the same Gaole whereof those Iustices are to make deliuerie or else such an appeale is not to be receiued Or otherwise one of them at the least against whom and others the
said appeale is entred ought to be prisoner in the same Gaole and if not the same appeale is void S. Approuers 19. St. 28. E. 1. 9. H. 4. 2. Yet an approuer may appeale others that are not in prison but at large which is by force of the statute of 28. Ed. 1. de Appellatis And when an appeale is commenced before Iustices of Gaole deliuerie against diuers whereof there is but one in prison before them this appeale ought to be remooued into the Kings bench by a Certiorari and from thence proces shall be awarded against them which be at large Anno 1. M. Dyer 99. And Iustices of Assise may hold plea of appeales of robberie An appeale before Iu. of Assise by the commission of Gaole deliuerie An appeale before the I. of the Kings Bench. 45 As well as Iustices of Gaole deliuerie and the Sherife and Coroners haue authoritie to receiue an appeale by Bill 17. Ed. 3. 13 in like sort Iustices of the kings bench haue power to accept an appeale by Bill for they be the soueraigne coroners of the Realme Appeale against one Bayled 46 If one be in prison for felonie in the Kings bench 21. H. 7. 33. 32. H. 6. 4. or before the Iustices of Gaole deliuerie and after let to baile yet an appeale by bill may be commēced against him for he is a prisoner notwithstanding that bailement for they which tooke him in batle be his guardians and shall be charged if he escape some doe affirme that they may imprison him and some do hold that they shall be hanged for him And vpon his bailement he shall find sureties to answer to all persons No appeale against him that is let by mainprise But an appeale is not to be pursued against him 9. Ed. 4. 2. 39. H. 6. 27. who is let at libertie by mainprise for that he is not in ward No appeale before Iustices of peace 47 Some doe affirme that an appeale may be commenced before Iustices of peace for they haue authoritie by their commission 44. E. 3 44. and by the Statute of 18. Ed. 3. 2. to heare and determine felonies But others doe hold that they must onely procéed vpon indictment found by a Iurie before them and not vpon an appeale prosecuted at the suit of the partie grieued for the words of their commission be Ad inquirendum per Sacramentum proborum legalium hominum de comitatu praedicto per quos rei veritas melius sciri poterit de omnibus omnimodis felonijs c. Et ad omnia singula felonias c. indictamēta praedicta caeteraque omnia singula premissa secundum leges statuta regni nostri Angliae prout in huiusmodi casu fieri consueuit aut debuit audiendum terminandum By which words it is to be inferred that they shall enquire and punish at the Kings suit vpon indictment and not at the parties suit by appeale such felonies as shall bee committed within their Iurisdiction 48 If one of the Kings subiects doe kill another of his subiects in a forrain Realm the wife or next heire of him that was slain as the case requireth An appeale before the Constable and Marshall may haue an appeale of the same death in England before the Constable Marshall of England St. 1. H. 4. 14 by force of the Statute of 1. H. 4. which doth ordaine That all appeales of things committed within the Realme shall be tried and determined by the lawes of the Realme and of things committed out of the realme before the Constable and Marshall of England for the time being And no appeales fromhenceforth shal be made or pursued in Parliament No appeale in Parliamēt Bracton Britton 49 It doth appeare by Bracton and Britton Where there shal be diuers appeales for one felonie and where not that one might haue had in former ages one appeale against the principall and another against the Accessories but since that law is changed viz. The appellant shall haue but one appeale Co. li. 4. 47. in the which he must comprehend as well the principals as the accessories vnlesse it be in speciall cases and that is confirmed by the Stat. of West 1. St. 3. E. 1. 14 which doth ordaine That no person shall be outlawed vpon appeale of commandement force aide or receit vntill the principall be attainted But the appellant shall not let to attach his appeale at the next countie as well against the accessorie as against the principall But the Exigent against the accessorie shall staie vntill the principall be attainted by outlawrie or otherwise 9. H. 4. 1. 50 In an appeale against two if one doe appeare One only appeale for one felonie and the other make default yet the plaintife shall count against them both and the same law which compelleth the appellant to count at one time against them both doth enforce him to sue his appeale against them both for if an appellant doe bring an appeale against one person Co. l. 4. 47 and the appellée is attainted and hanged at his suit and after he will bring an other appeale against one or two others for the same offence he shall take no benefit by his suit for he should haue ioyned thē all in his first appeale 47. E. 3. 16. And the same law is if the first appellée had béene acquited or that the appellant had bin Non suit after apparance 51 It séemeth that in some cases at this day one may haue diuers appeals for one felonie Where diuers appeales for one felonie as if one in one countie doe procure another to robbe a man in another countie In this case the partie robbed shall haue one appeale against the principall in one countie and another against the accessorie in another countie or otherwise he should be without his remedie against the accessorie by Appeale St. 2. 3. E. 6. 24. But by the Statute of Anno 2. 3. E. 6. if one in one countie doe procure another to kill a man in another countie hee to whom the appeale of murder is giuen shall commence his appeale in the countie where the partie shall die S. Br. 37. 26. Ass p. 52 Co. li. 4. 48. 52 And so it is Two appeals founded vpon one felonie if the Appellant doe commence his appeale against the principall within a yeare and a day after the felonie committed and after the said appeale commenced another will receiue the same felon In this case the appellant may pursue another appeale against the said accessorie for these two be seuerall felonies which began at seuerall times S. Br. 35. Robbery of seuerall parcels of goods 53 If a man be robbed of two seuerall parcels of goods at one time he cannot haue two seuerall appeales for them and put parcel of the goods robbed in one appeale and parcel in
there shall be assigned good lawfull men in euery Countie to keepe the peace and at the said assignements mention shal be made that such as shal be indited or taken by the said wardens shal not be let to mainprise by the Sherifs nor by any other if they be not mainpernable by the law Nor that such persons indited shal be deliuered Bailement of offendors by sherifes and others but according to the course of the common law And the Iustices assigned to deliuer the gaoles shall haue power to deliuer the Gaoles of those that be indited before the gardeins of the peace And the same gardeins shall send before the said Iust their inditements And the same Iustices shall haue power to enquire of Sherifes Gaolers and others in whose custodie such persons indited shal be if they deliuered or let to mainprise any so indited which be not mainpernable to punish the same Sherifes Gaolers and others if they haue done any thing contrarie to this Statute This statute of 4. E. 3. doth make no mention that the Iustices of Gaole deliuerie shall punish sherifs and others according to the foresaid statute of West as the other statute of 27. E. 1. doth but ordaineth generally that they shal be punished without determining in what maner And yet it is to be intended that they shal be punished according to the forme of the said Stat. of West 1. And moreouer the said Iustices of Gaole deliuerie may punish them by the common law 25. E. 3. 39. for a negligent escape Where mainprise is a negligent escape for it is a negligent escape to let one to maineprise who by law is not mainpernable And one Iustice did in that case set a fine vpon the Sherife for the like Bailement a hundred shillings 16 In all cases where a statute doth ordaine that an offendors bodie shal be imprisoned at the Kings pleasure Imprisonmēt at the Kings pleasure the prisoner cannot be deliuered or let to maineprise vntil the King hath signified his pleasure of him As if one be imprisoned for going or riding armed contrary to the Statute of Northampton made Anno 2. E. 3. 3. 24. Ed. 3. 42. 17 There is a difference betwéene bailement in felonie and bailement in a personall action The differēce betwéene bailement in felonie and in a personall action for in felonie the bailement shall containe a certaine summe of money to be forfeited if the prisoner doe not appeare at a day prefixed And in a personall action it is but fineable 21. H. 7. 20. And the bailement in felonie is Ad standum rectum de latrocinio praedicto secundum legem consuetudinem regni nostri Angliae as it doth appeare by the writs of Manucaptione in the register which doe imply as much as they that haue him to baile shall not onely cause him to appeare but also to answer 18 If one doe find mainprise in Court it is presently matter of Record Mainprise is matter of Record 8. Ed. 4. 5. though it be not entered into the Roll vntil the next Terme Confession of the Offence WHen a prisoner is appealed or indited of treason or felonie and brought to the barre to be arraigned thereof and his inditement is read vnto him he is asked by the Court what he will say vnto it Then either hée doth confesse the offence and the inditement to bée true or he estrangeth himselfe from the offence and pleadeth Not guiltie An offendour pleadeth one of thrée pleas or else hée doth answer indirectly and so in effect he standeth mute and maketh no answer Of the which later two I will intreate héereafter 2 And therefore beginning with the prisoners Confession of the offence vpon his arraignement That confession may be made in two sorts Confession in two sorts and to two seuerall ends whereof the one is he may confesse the offence whereof he is indited openly in the Court before the Iudge and that he hath committed that act whereof he is indited and arraigned and submit himselfe to the censure and iudgement of the Lawe Which Confession of the offence by the prisoner himselfe in person is the most assured answer and best satisfaction that can be deliuered to the Iudge to condemne the offendour and to all the hearers to giue approbation thereof So that the said Confession do procéede fréely and of his owne good will without menace Confession must be trée and without menace threats rigor or other extreamities For if the Iudge doe perceiue that the offendors confession doth growe vpon either of those extreamities he ought not to record the confession but to cause the prisoner pleade to the offence not guiltie As a woman was indited for the felonious stealing of bread to the value of two shillings 27. As p. 40 and being arraigned thereof she confessed the felonie and saide that she did it by the commaundement of her husband and the Iudges for pitie would not record her confession but caused her to pleade not guiltie to the felonie whereupon a Iurie being charged it was found that she did steale the bread by the compulsion of her husband against her will by which meanes she was discharged And in like sort if the Iudges doe perceiue that the offendour doth confesse the offence in mistaking of the Lawe they may shew him that fauour as not to record his confession but cause him to pleade to the inditement not guiltie As a man being indited of the death of another man pleaded that he and one B. hauing a quarrell 22. As p. 71 and fighting each with the other the party of whose death he was indited came betwéene them to part the fray and he against his will by misfortune gaue him a blowe whereof hée died For though by the Lawe this was felonie in him being fighting and intending to hurt or kill B. yet he did mistake the Lawe therein and did not take it to be so for that his quarrell was not towardes him which he slue but to B. who had no hurt And further this confession of the Offence is not so penall to the prisoner though he doth it fréely and without menace or other extreamitie that he is thereby presently attainted or condemned of that felonie but in many cases he may be saued from death the most bitter rigour of the Lawe by the benefit of his cleargie or by the Kings pardon He that confesseth doth become an Approuer 3 The other kinde of confession of felonie that is made by a prisoner at his arraignement openly in court before the Iudge is when the prisoner doth confesse the inditement to be true and that he hath committed the offence whereof he is indited and then doth become an approuer viz. an accuser of others who haue committed the same offence whereof he is indicted or other offences with him and then doth request the Iudge to haue a Coroner assigned vnto him to whome hée
enquest of twelue women before the Iustices 22. As p. 71 25. Ed. 3. 42. 12. As p. 11 23. As p. 2. Fitz. Cor. 240. 253. who being then sworne to examine and trie the trueth shall take that woman into a chamber and search and trie whether she be quicke with childe or not and if she be found to be quicke with childe then execution of her shall be staied vntill she shall be deliuered But if shée be not quicke with child she shal be hanged presently for it will not auaile her to be yong with childe And yet whether shée be with child or not Iudgement shall not be delayed but shal be presently giuen against her that she shal be hanged but only the execution of that iudgement shal be stayed If after she is repried and deliuered of her childe and before the next Gaole deliuerie she be with child againe though she be quicke with childe execution shall not be staied but she shal be put to execution presently And yet in that case the truth of the matter being inquired of and found the shirife marshall or gaoler which had the custodie of her shal be fined for kéeping her so slackly that shée had the company of a man 13 If a man attainted of felonie be adiudged to be hanged Fi. Cor. 335 and the sherife doth carrie him to the place of execution and doth hang him and he breaketh the Rope and falleth downe before he be dead A man hanged falleth downe before he be dead In this case the sherife must take him and hang him againe for his iudgement is that he shal be carried to the place of execution and there be hanged vntill he be dead And so vntill he be dead the iudgement is not fully executed ⧠Forfeiture AFter an offendor is attainted of treason or felonie A felon shal forfeit lands and goods and hath had iudgement of death hée shall presently thereby forfeit his goods and also his lands sauing in certaine cases hereafter expressed though it be not mentioned in the iudgement And notwithstanding there is a difference betwéene treason and felonie concerning the forfeiture of lands yet touching the forfeiture of goodes they be all one for they shall be forfeited to the King St. 17. Ed. 2 16 as it appeareth by the Statute intituled Prerogatiua Regis which hath ordained That the King shall haue all the goodes of felons which be condemned and which be fugitiue wheresoeuer they be found and if they haue any fréeholde it shall be forthwith seised into the Kings hands and the King shall haue the profites thereof by the space of a yéere and a day and the land shall be wasted and destroyed in the houses woodes and gardeins and in all things belonging to the same except men of certaine priuiledged places And after the King hath had the yeare day and waste the land shall be restored to the chiefe Lord of the same Fée vnlesse that before hée redéeme the same yéere day and waste of the King by payment of a fine But there is a custome in the countie of Gloucester that after a yeare and day the lands and tenements of felons in that Shire shall reuert and be restored to the next heire to whom they ought to haue descended if the felonie had not béene committed And in Kent in Gauelkinde the Father to the Bough the Sonne to the Plough there all the heires males shall diuide their inheritaunce and likewise women but women shall not make partition with men And a woman after the death of her husband shall be endowed of the moitie And if a woman doe committe fornication in her widdowhoode or take any husband she shall loose her Dower 22. As p. 96 Fit forfeiture 35. 2 A man being indicted before the Coroner of the death of an other man Forfeiture of goods and if it be further found by the same indictment that hée did flie for the said felonie although after he be acquitte of the same felonie 7. Eli. 35. Dy. 238. Co. l. 5. 109 and notwithstanding that the Enquest which did acquitte him doe say that he did not flie for the felonie yet his goodes shall be forfeited to the King For the King shal take holde of that Record which is most for his benefit and that is the Coroners Record And in like sort if one that is indicted of felonie Fitz. forf 32. Fi. Cor. 290 344. is acquitte thereof by verdict Flying for felonie if the Iury which did acquitte him will say that he did flie for the felonie he shall forfeit his goodes which he had at the time of the verdict giuen which being an auncient lawe of this Realme is grounded vpon this reason that notwithstanding his acquitall of the felonie yet he is to be suspected of the felonie for the vehement presumption which is risen of him as well in respect of his flying away as by the indictment And though the Enquest which did finde that he fled for the felonie be as touching that part of their verdict but an Enquest of office yet it is not trauersable because it is onely touching goodes for the which goodes no trauerse against the King is allowed by the Lawe for the Lawe doth accompt goodes inter minima de minimis non curat lex And though goods be in comparison of mans life or his lands in the eie of the Lawe called and accompted Minima yet they be not of so small value or so little to be regarded but the Iudge or the Coroner ought with all due circumspection foresée that the Iurie be not vpon ignoraunce or small euidence seduced to finde an vntrueth to the vtter vndooing of the partie indicted or accused Fi. Cor. 308 338. And in like sort if a man be indicted and arraigned of felonie and it is found by the Enquest or the Coroners Roll that hée fledde for the felonie he shall forfeit his goodes though hée hath the Kings pardon of the felonie for the charter of pardon doth containe the presumption of him that he is guiltie of the felonie An accessorie fled for the felonie 3 If a man be indited before the Coroner as accessorie to the death of an other man and it be found that he fled for the felonie 4. H. 7. 18 in this Case hée shall forfeit his goodes if hée were accessorie before the felonie committed But if it be found before the Coroner that hée was accessorie to the felonie after the offence committed and that he fled for the felonie hée shall not forfeit his goodes for the Coroner hath no authoritie to meddle with any that was accessorie after the homicide committed but onely with such by whose meanes the dead man was slaine or who were the causes of his death which the accessorie after the offence committed could not be And therefore when hée indicted one for receiuing of a murderer and that he fled this inditement of the receipt of the