your self to your best knowledge that the Statutes of Winchester for Watch Huy and Cry and the Statutes made for the punishment of sturdy Beggars Vagabonds Rogues and other idle Persons coming within your Office be truly executed and the Offenders punished And you shall endeavour upon complaint made to apprehend Barreters and riotous Persons making Affrays and likewise to apprehend Felons and if any of of them make resistance with force and multitude of mis-doers you shall make Out-cry and pursue them till they be taken and shall look unto such Persons as use unlawful Games and you shall have regard unto the maintenance of Artillery And you shall well and duely execute all Process and Precepts sent unto you from the Justices of Peace of the County and you shall make good and faithful presentments of all Blood-sheds Out-cries Affrays and Rescues made within your Office and you shall well and duely according to your Power and knowledge do that which belongeth to your Office of Constable to do for this year to come So help c. 10. To the tenth The Authority is the same in substance differing onely in extent The pety Constable serving onely for for one Town Parish or Borough the Head Constable serving for the whole Hundred Neither is the petty Constable subordinate to the Head Constable for any commandment that proceeds from his own Authority but it is used that the Precepts of the Justices be delivered unto the High Constables who being few in number may better attend the Justices and then the Head Constables by vertue thereof make their Precepts over to the petty Constables 11. To the eleventh In case of necessity he may appoint a Deputy or in default thereof the Steward of the Court Leet may which Deputy ought to be sworn Now to conclude the Office of Constables consists wholly in these three things viz. Their Office concerning 1. The conservation of the Peace 2. The serving the Precepts and Warrants of the Justices 3. Their attendance for the execution of Statutes CHAP. XXI Of the Jurisdiction of Justices Itinerantes in the Principality of Wales THese Justices have power to hear and determine all criminal Causes which are called in the Laws of England The Pleas of the Crown and herein they have the same Jurisdiction that the Justices have in his Majesties Bench commonly called the Kings Bench. They have Jurisdiction to hear and determine all civil Causes which are called in the Laws of England Common Pleas and do take knowledgement of all Fines levied of Lands or Hereditaments without suing out any Dedimus potestatem and herein they have the same Jurisdiction that the Justices of the Common Pleas do execute at Westminster Also they may hear and determine all Assises upon Disseisins of Lands or Hereditaments wherein they equal the Jurisdiction of the Justices of the Assize Justices of Oyer and Terminer may hear and determine all notable Violences and Outrages perpetrated or done within their several Precincts of the Principality of Wales In the Kings Gift are 1. The Prothonotory his Office is to draw all Pleadings and to enter and engross all Records and Judgments in civil Causes 2. The Clerk of the Crown his Office is to draw and engross all Proceedings Arraignments and Judgments in criminal causes In the disposing of the Judge 1. The Marshal whose Office is to attend the Persons of the Judges at their coming sitting and going from the Sessions or Court 2. The Crier He is tanquam publicus Praeco to call forth such Persons whose appearances are necessary and to impose silence to the People There is a Commission under the great Seal of England to certain Gentlemen giving them power to preserve the Peace and to resist and punish all turbulent Persons whose misdemeanours may tend to the disquiet of the People and these be called the Justices of the Peace and every of them may well and truly be called and termed Eirenarcha The chief of them is called Cusos Rotulorum in whose custody all the Records of their Proceedings are resident Others there are of that number called Justices of Peace and Quorum because in their Commission they have power to sit and determine Causes concerning breach of Peace and misbehaviour the words of their Commission are conceived thus Quorum such and such unum vel duos c. esse volumus and without some one or more of them of the Quorum no Sessions can be holden And for the avoiding of a superfluous number of such Justices for through the Ambition of many it is counted a credit to be burthened with that Authority the Statute of 38 Hen. 8. hath expresly prohibited that there shall be but eight Justices of Peace in every County These Justices being appointed by the Lord Keeper do hold their Sessions quarterly In every Shire where the Commission of the Peace is established there is a Clerk of the Peace for the Entring and Engrossing of all Proceedings before the said Justices And this Officer is appointed by the Custos Rotulorum Every Shire hath its Sheriff which word being of the Saxon English is as much to say as Shire Reeve or Minister of the County His Function or Office is twofold 1. Ministerial 2. Judicial As touching his Ministerial Office he is the Minister and Executioner of all the Process and Precepts of the Courts of Law and thereof ought to make Return and certificate 34 H. 8. c. 16. As touching his Judicial Office he hath Authority to hold two several Courts of distinct natures The one called the Tourne because he keepeth his turn and circuit about the Shire and holdeth the same Court in several places wherein he doth enquire of all Offences perpetrated against the Common Law and not forbidden by any Statute or Act of Parliament and the Jurisdiction of this Court is derived from Justice distributive and is for criminal offences and is held twice every year The other is called the County Court wherein he doth determine all petty and small Causes civil under forty shillings arising within the said County and thereof it is called the County Court The jurisdiction of this Court is derived from Justice Commutative and is held every Month The Office of the Sheriff is annual and in the Kings gift whereof he is to have a Patent Every Shire hath an Officer called an Escheator which is an Office to attend the Kings Revenue and to seize into his Majesties hands all Lands either escheated Goods or Lands forfeited and therefore is called Escheator And he is to inquire by good Inquest of the death of the King's Tenants and to whom their Lands are descended and to seize their Bodies and Lands for Ward if they be within age and is accountable for the same and this Officer is named by the Lord Treasurer of England There are in every Shire two other Officers called Crowners or Coroners they are to enquire by Inquest in what manner and by whom every Person dyeth of a violent death and to enter the same of Record which is matter criminal and a Plea of the Crown and therefore they are called Coroners or Crowner as one hath written because their enquiry ought to be publick in corona populi 34 H. 8.20 These Officers are chosen by the Free-holders of the Shire by vertue of a Writ out of the Chancery De Coronatore elegendo And of them I need not to speak more because these Officers are in use elsewhere Forasmuch as every Shire is divided into Hundreds it is also by the said Statute of 34 H. 8. cap. 26. ordered that two sufficient Gentlemen or Yeomen shall be appointed Constables of every Hundred Also there is in every Shire one Goal or Prison appointed for the restraint of Liberty of such Persons as for their offences are thereunto committed until they shall be delivered by course of Law In every Hundred of every Shire the Sheriff thereof shall nominate sufficient Persons to be Bailiffs of that Hundred and Under-ministers of the Sheriff and they are to attend upon the Justices in every of their Courts and Sessions THE CONTENTS Of the Readings c. LEcture I. Pag. 3. The Definition of Treason 5. The first Case 20. Lecture II. 41. The Second Case 49. Lecture III. 62. The Contents of the Cases of Treason c. CHAP. I. CAses of Treason Pag. 73. Chap. II. The Punishment Tryal and Proceeding in Cases of Treason 78. Chap. III. Cases of Misprision of Treason 83. Chap. IV. The Punishment Tryal and proceeding in Cases of Misprision of Treason ibid. Chap. V. Cases of pety Treason 84. Chap. VI. The Punishment Tryal and proceedings in cases of Pety Treason 85. Chap. VII Cases of Felony 86. Chap. VIII The Punishment Tryal and proceedings in cases of Felony 93. Chap. IX Cases of Felony de se with the Punishment Tryal and Proceedings 98. Chap. X. Cases of Premunire 99. Chap. XI The Punishment Tryal and proceeding in Cases of Premunire 102. Chap. XII Cases of Abjuration and Exile and the Proceedings therein 103. Chap. XIII Cases of Heresie and the Tryal and Proceedings therein 106. Chap. XIV The King's Prerogative in Parliament 107. Chap. XV. The Kings Prerogative in matters of War or Peace 108. Chap. XVI The Kings Prerogative in matters of Moneys 110. Chap. XVII The Kings Prerogative in matters of Trade and Traffick 111. Chap. XVIII The Kings Prerogative in the Persons of his Subjects 112. Chap. XIX An Answer to the Question proposed by Sir Alexander Hay Knight touching the Office of Constables 114. Chap. XX. Three ends of the Institution of the Court Leet 118. Chap. XXI The Jurisdiction of Justices Itinerantes in the Principality of Wales Pag. 132. FINIS
THE LEARNED READINGS OF Sir Robert Holbourne Knight Attorney General to King Charles I. UPON The STATUTE of 25 Edw. 3. Cap. 2. Being the Statute of TREASONS To which is added Cases of Prerogative Treason Misprision of Treason Felony c. Written by the Right Honourable FRANCIS BACON Lord Verulam Viscount St. Alban And now Reprinted for the Publick Benefit Indici conjurationis praemia constituta Salust in Conjur Catil LONDON Printed for Sam. Heyrick at Grayes-Inn-Gate in Holborn and Matthew Gilliflower in Westminster-Hall 1681. ERRATA PAge 5. Line 4. for Dejective read Directive pag. 20. lin ult for kill read kills pag. 21. lin 12. for Case r. Care pag. 23. l. 14. for mysteries are read mistress is ibid. l. 15. for there read she p. 35. l. 19. for without read within p. 36 l. 7. for Regne read Rigne p. 37. l. 10. for Aid r. Ayel ibid. l. 18. for Heires Facus r. Haeres Factus p. 49. l. 15. for I. S. r. I. D. p. 55. l. 6. for word r. Ward ibid. l. 14. l. 15. l. 17. for Costigase read Cesty que use THE LEARNED Readings OF Robert Holbourne Esq Lecture I. BEfore the Statute Trespasses were made Felonies Felonies were made Treasons and we could not judge which were Felonies and which were Treasons but it did rest in the breast of the Judges that were in those days For the preventing of which mischief this Statute which I now Read upon was made which hath two Parts The parts of the Statute are first Declarative A Declarative part and that doth declare what shall hereafter be judged Treason And Treason also is commonly divided into two parts that is First High Treason High Treason that is against the Person of the King and that will fall out for this days Work Secondly Petty Treason Petty Treason which is in the latter part of the Statute as will appear hereafter The second part of this Statute is the Dejective part And secondly Dejective High Treason and directs the Judges how far to proceed upon a Fact that is not within the Statute High Treason is against the person of the King or against his Government viz. as against his Judges Seals and Coyns These are the Divisions that I shall make of this Law The definition of Treason It is Lesa Majest The definition of Treason which comprehends the Person of the King and his Officers of Justice For the Person of the King and the Treasons that are committed more immediately against his Person and they are Acts and Persons Persons they are of two sorts Persons against whom and the Persons by whom these Treasons are committed The Acts and they are divers As first Compassing thâ— Death of the King And foâ— explanation of this word Compassing it is an old word signifying not a bringing tâ— pass only but a going about as you shall find it in Brittoâ— and the Mir. of Just but it is since called in Latine Machinatio and a going about 1 Mar. Bro. tit Treas 24. or compassing is Treason though no effect do follow as a compassing to kill the King though he be not kild so a compassing without any other Act is Treason But there may be an Act done that doth effect the death of the King and yet no Treason if there be no compassing as in the Case of Sir Walter Terril who shooting at a Deer his Arrow glanced against a Tree and struck King William Rufus upon the breast that he died Hollingshead and this was not Treason because there was no compassing And so it is in the Case of a Physitian as if the King takes Physick and dyes of the Physick working yet if it be not notoriously gross and it doth not appear that he did any way compass the Death of the King this is not treason within this Law for in the Case of a common person if a Physitian give one Physick whereof he dyes this is not Felony in him although the Physitian had no License to practice Physick for it is his fault that he will take Physick of him and volenti non fit injuria If the Prince in person assaults a man and drives him so hard against the Wall that if he do not defend himself he will kill him and he cannot do it without danger to the Prince in that Case he ought not to defend himselfe but ought rather to dye than hazard the person of the Prince because he is Caput salus Reipub. and yet Nature doth teach a man to defend himselfe against all danger And thus much for Acts without compassing And yet some of these Acts that are without compassing are left to the Jury to judge of and some others are left to the Judges to judge of as by presumption of Law as in Murder theâ—â— ought to be malice foreâ—thought and yet if an Officer in executing of his Office bâ— slain this is Murder by thâ— Law and yet in this Casâ— there do not appear any malice fore-thought and so in this Case the Law makes an Evidence for the Jury and so in deeds of the like Cases The second Act is Violating and this word is derived of vi perdendo but yet it may be done without any force at all The third Act is Levying War against the King And what shall be said of Levying War that may be divers ways As if the Inhabitants of a Town will gather themselves together to pull down the Fences of a Common See Saint John's argument in Sherly of Shefield's Case in which they have no Interest or Common nor ever had this is Treason within this Law but if they had an Interest or Common there then it is no Treason but if they shall do it by Force of Arms in a War-like manner Qu. but in the first Case it is a Levying of War against this Government Another Levying of War may be against the King Nota. as if it be to the displacing of his Officers as in the Earl of Essex his Case in his coming to the City of London for to remove Officers that were about the Queen this was Treason and so it is also to the same purpose in 1 Mar. Dyer 24. and so it appears 1 Mar. Dyer 24. A man may Levy War against the King although he hath no intent to meddle with the person of the King or any way to hurt him and so you shall find also in Bro. Tit. Treason 14. Brok tit Treason 14. And if any Levy War without the King this is a Levying of War within the Law 8 Hen. 8. 8 H. 8. If two conspire to Levy War and one alone doth it this is Treason in both The fourth part is to Adhere to the King's Enemies Nota. â—nd first who shall be said â—o be Enemies within this Law â—econdly who shall be said Adhering to them that are Eâ—emies within this Law This word Enemy cannot extend â—o Subjects for they are Rebels
there is an express proviso for him being the Companion for he is a Companion to the Queen A second Difference between our Case and the Case of the Mistress is that she is his Mistress but gratia and under the power of her Husband but in our Case the King marital hath a Superiority over his Wife as he is her Husband and so our Case is a farre stronger Case If a Child kills his Father or Mother this is Petty Treason and so it was also at the Common Law before the making of this Statute 21 E. 3.17 Bro. tit Sanctuar 2. Bro. tit Treas 6. 21 E. 3.17 Bro. Tit. Sanct. 2. and Bro. Tit. Treas 6. because there is a higher majority of Reason than that of a Servant which is the Reason of the Submission and Duty that is to the Father and Mother from the Child and where there is a majority of Reason or a parity of Reason for the one Case as there is for the other there is always the same Law But you will Object 1 2 Ph. Mar. c. 9. there is a Statute made 1 2 Phil. Mar. cap. 9. that if any shall imagine the death of the King that it shall be Treason and therefore he was not provided for before this Statute and therefore this Statute was made if it were Treason before this Statute then this Statute was made in vain and to no purpose That that Statute doth provide as well for the preservation of the Queen Answ as for the King and makes it Treason for any to compass the death of the Queen and therefore â—t cannot be concluded from â—hence that it was not Treason to compass her death before that Statute The second Reason is because that Statute doth provide for other matters as it doth there appear The next Point is the declaring of this his imagination to I. D. which is an Overt Act 1 Mar. Bro. tit treas 24. The second point for an overt Act is the declaring of his Mindand Intentions to others by such words as imply an Act to follow or by bidding a man to do what he hath intended or to do any thing that may tend to his purpose or by writing to declare his mind but if a man have a thought of Killing the King this is onely Primus motus and although he afterwards tells another that he had such a thought this is no Overt Act but iâ— he doth cherish this thought then it becomes his own and then he tells it to another that he hath such an intention this is an Overt Act for the words he doth speak are words executory and imply that he will do such an Act Or if A. conspire with B. to kill the King this is an Overt Act but to imagine with himself is not because it cannot come to be known words of encouragement to others is an Overt Act also For conspiring to levy War is the next and this is Treason within this Law although it be not within the words of the Statute but yet it is within the meaning and reason of the Statute for how is it possible for any to Levy War but he must conspire the death of the King Nota. or his deposing at least and the conspiring to do either of these is Treason within this Law as aforesaid and that within this word Compassing which as I said before â—s of a very large extent but I must confess the Intention is not so bad as an actual Levying of War and yet it is as bad in him that doth intend it And this Levying oâ— War doth mediately look aâ— the person of the King though not immediately and so in that respect it is Treason and so it is of deposing and so is the Statute of 1 E. 6. cap. 12. and so you shall find it in Doctor Storie 's case 13 Eliz Dyer 298. b. 1 E. 6.12 Dyer Story 's Case 13 Eliz. Dyer 298. who did conspire with a Foreign Prince to invade this Land and shewed him a means how to conquer this Kingdom and yet there was no Act done by that Prince against the Queen yet this is adjudged Treason and the reason there yielded was because this Invasion could not possibly be without great hazard and peril to the person of the Queen which is a very full Case in proving of this point 19 H. 6.47 But a conspiring to Coyn Money is not Treason within this Law because it is not against the person of the King but yet if two shall conspire to coyn Money and one doth it alone without the other yet this is Treason in both The third point is that I. S. after he became mad kills the Queen this is Treason within this Law first because a man may counterfeit himself to be mad and he may do it so cunningly as it cannot be discerned whether he be mad or no. The second Reason is in respect of the great esteem that the Law gives to the person of the King for he is the Fountain of Justice and for the proof of this point that it may be understood we ought to see what the Common Law was before the making of this Statute as to this Point and then we ought to enquire and see how the Law is altered since the making of the Statute and by this means we shall find out the Law and the reason thereof it is true that the Law without special words will not bind an Insant or a Mad-man as to the punishment of their Bodies but yet it will extend to their Lands and Estates but this our Law is no new Law but only a Declarative Law and in that Case general words will bind an Infant or a Mad-man without any special words That it was Treason at the Common Law is apparent in Britton and the Mirrour of Justice and this Statute doth not declare who shall be Traytors but what shall be Treason and therefore by this Act it is Treason in a Mad-man or whomsoever shall commit it for a Mad-man is not excepted out of this Law and to make this appear more fully you may be pleased to read the Case of Beverly See Beverleys Case Com. 124. in Com. 124. That a man that is non composmentis may commit High Treason although he cannot commit Petty Treason nor Felony Daltons Just 206. and so it is also in Dalton's Justice of Peace 206. that if a man that is non compos mentis shall kill the King this is High Treason Nay Beverley's Case goes farther and sayes That if he shall offer only to kill the King this is High Treason Nota. because the King is Caput salus Reipub. Ã Capite bona valetudo transit in omnes and for this Cause his person is so Sacred that none must offer the least violence to him but he is Reus criminis laesae Majestatis pereat unus ne pereant omnes The second Conclusion is That I. S. is
not a Traytor within this Law for imagining the death of the Grandchild yet he is within the Care and Protection of the Law for he is not within the Words of the Law but without the Intention and Reason of the Law for the words are That if any man shall compass the death of the Kings Eldest Son that is Treason but in the French Language in which this Law was first written it is Le Regne fils heir and yet if the Eldest Son dyes the second Son is within the Law because he is then the Eldest Son and so it is of the third Son for then he is also Heir Apparent and he is within the intention and meaning of this Law And so to this purpose is the Princes Case in Report 8. where it is Princes Case 8. Report that the Second Son shall be Duke of Cornwal after the death of the Eldest and yet it is only limited to the Eldest Son A collateral Heir is also within this Statute because as he conceiveth this Statute intends to provide that the next Heir to the Crown shall be secured from danger And the Case that may be likened to this is that where a Writ of Aid may be brought by the next Heir for the Writ saith Cujus haeres ipse est F. N. B. 221 F. N. B. 221. so that it appears that it lies only for the Heir Lineal or Collateral Male or Female The Eldest Daughter is also within our Law Heires Facus is also a grand Heir within this Law but this imagining or compassing the Death of the Grandchild or of any other Heir is not Treason unless there be a sufficient Declaration of it to another for no man can judge of the thoughts for the imagination only can be no Overt Act and this Declaration of his imagination or compassing to I. D. is not a sufficient Overt Act to make him a Traytor within this Law for he told him that he had only such an imagination which is but Primus motus for he doth not say that he will do it in the Future Tense for that may be Treason for that it doth imply an Act to be done afterward but the other is onely against that is past Then for violating the Wife after she is divorc'd this is not Treason within this Law And yet the divorce is but a mensa thoro but it is such a divorce as deprives her of his Company and so she is not his Companion within this Law but yet she is his Wife and a Wife divorc't a mensa thoro shall have her divorce because that divorce doth not dissolve the Marriage but she remains his Wife still but yet if she hath any Children during that divorce they are all Bastards because she is not to keep her Husband Company A Queen Dowager is not within this Law because she is not Companion to the King that then is and is not provided for by this Law for the words of the Statute are If any shall violate the Kings Companion Lecture II. THE Second Lecture The Second Lecture according to my first Division is concerning the Government and that is First in the Seal which is Clavis Regni The Second in his Money and Coyn. The Third in his Offices For the First which are the Seals and they are first The Great Seal Secondly the Privie Seal And Thirdly the Seal of the Exchequer And of all these Seals the Common Law takes special notice as that the King may grant to one Power to make one Attorney under the Privie Seale and so is 37 H. 3.27 b. Co. 2.17 Lams Case 37 H. 3.27 Co. 2.17 Lams Case and so of the other Seals but our Law takes notice of the great Seal only as for point of Treason for the words are exclusive to all other Seals for that being the greatest excludes all other inferior Seals that are the least Now what shall be said of counterfeiting of this Great Seal and that must be by making another Seal like to this and for to Seal Patents with it for to make a Seal like the Great Seal to put this to a piece of Wax onely is no counterfeiting of the Great Seal but there ought to be a Writing annexed unto it and then it is a Counterfeiting within this Law Nota. but if the Lord Keeper doth Seal a Patent without special Authority from the King yet this is no Counterfeiting within this Law or if any one do find this Great Seal or other wayes obtain it and Seals Patents therewith this is not Counterfeiting neither within this Law for if the Seal be truly and in due manner put to a Patent and afterwards the Patentee doth raze or add to the Patent in any place this is no Counterfeiting as it is in Lakes Case Lakes Case 4 Jac. 4 Jac. and yet the razing of a Deed is the forging of a Deed. Secondly concerning counterfeiting the Kings Coyn and this ought to be intended only of the Kings own Money for that only is meant by this Law and not any Foreign Money but Foreign Money is provided for by another Law The coyning of Copper if it be made Currant is also within this Law for it is only in the power of the King to imbase Coyn as it is apparent in the Case of Money in Davices Reports Case of Money in Davices Reports for the King is Master of the Coyn but in the Mirrour of Justice it is said the King cannot alter his coyn for those things are not in this Law because they are not Currant within this Realm Foreign Money is not within this law because at the time when this Law was made all Foreign Money that was brought into this Realm was but Bullion because it was a great deal worser than that of this Nation and Foreigners afterwards did make their Coyn finer and than it was made Currant here by a Statute and so within this Law If any that have Authority and Power to Mint or Coyn and he coyn pieces that are less in weight than they ought to have been by the Authority by him given this is a counterfeiting because he hath not pursued his Authority and so is as if he had no Authority to make it of that weight which he hath made it And so is the 3 H. 7. c. 10. to counterfeit Foreign Money 3 H. 7. c. 10 and to bring it over is not a counterfeiting within this Law but if one counterfeit the Coyn of this Kingdom beyond the Sea and brings it over and Merchandizes with it 6 H. 7.13 and thereby deceive our Merchants this is a counterfeiting as in the Book aforesaid And if one counterfeit the Coyn of this Kingdom although he doth not put it to others yet this is a counterfeiting within this Law 6 H. 7.13 1 H. 31. Bro. Tit. Treas 27. Stamf. Pleas 3. D. 1 R. 3.1 Bro. Tit. Treas 27. Stam. pl. 3. D. What shall
we say to the bringing in of Money what not the bringing in of Foreign Money ought to be intended of Money that is counterfeited in another Realm and like unto ours for the words are so Money and not of Foreigners Money If two conspire to Coyn and Counterfeit and one of them doth it 19 H. 6.43 Stam. pl. 3. it is Treason in both 19 H. 6.43 Stamf. Pleas 3. a. but an intention to counterfeit is not Treason within this Law The Barons of the Exchequer are within this Law and it is agreed in Tanfields Case who was one of the Barons of the Exchequer that he was within the words of the Statute and the words of Oyer and Terminer are within this Law but all other Judges are not as the Ecclesiastical Judges are not within this Law for they hold with the Court of Rome and did derive their Authority from him in ancient Time Neither is a Constable within this Law The second Case I. S. Slits the Great Seal The second Case and closeth it to a Commission and coyns Money in the form of Shillings invertendo the Arms kills the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal in Chancery and brings in false Money like English to Merchandize knowing it to be false but doth not offer it and I. S. knowing this doth succour him The Conclusion is that I. D. is a Traytor in omnibus and I. D. also within this Law the first Act is slitting of the Seal and putting of it to the Commission and that is Treason first because that is slit whereby it is become now no Seal at all it cannot be said that this half is the Broad Seal or that the other half is the Broad Seal for they both together make but one Broad Seal and when he hath closed them together again and joyned them to a Commission he hath made the Seal a new for it was no Seal when it was slit but now it is The second Reason is in respect of the mischief that doth come by this translating of an old Seal to a new Commission for both the King and his Subjects are as much abused as if it had been counterfeited and the Reason of Laws and not Authority ought to be our Rule to go by for judicandum est legibus 40 Ass 33. Bro. Tit. Treas 17. Brit. cap. 4. fol. 10. non exemplis and so he conceiveth the Case in Bro. Tit. Treas â— to be no grand Law This was Treason also at Common Law as you shall find it exprest in Britton cap. 4. fol. 10. and in the Mirror of Justice cap. 1. sect 6. and since the Statute in the same Kings time that this Statute was made in and they who knew best the Reasons and Grounds of this Statute and the meaning thereof and were at the making thereof by all likelihood did adjudge it Treason to take an old Seal from an old Patent and to put it to a new one as in 40 Ass pl. 33. and 2 H. 4.33 and Stamford saith 40 Ass pl. 33. 2 H. 4.33 that it was so adjudged in his time In all Treasons that do concern the person of the King the judgement ought to be That he shall be hanged drawn and quartered but for other Treasons that do not immediately concern the person of the King the judgment ought to be That he shall be drawn and hanged only and not that he shall be quartered 1 H. 6.5 19 H. 6.47 6 H. 7.13 As it is in 1 H. 6.5 19 H. 6.47 The second Act is The Counterfeiting of the Kings Money and the inverting of the Arms of the King whereby the Kings Liege people and others may be deceived for that is a sufficient Alteration to make it Treason although it be such a one as cannot be discerned without special notice taken of it And this doth appear by the judgment given in the Star-Chamber for the counterfeiting of Farthings And it is Treason for any man to bear the Kings Arms as it appears in the Earl of Surreys Case The third Act is The killing of the Officers of the King as of the Lord Keeper and that is Treason within this Law for the Lord Keeper is now Chancellor although at that time when this Statute was made the Lord Chancellors Office and the Lord Keepers Office were two several and distinct Offices yet they are made now both one Office 5 Eliz. c. 18 15 E. 3. c. 2 and that is by the Statute of 5 Eliz. cap. 18. and this Statute of 15 E. 3. cap. 2. may and doth extend to that Statute of 5 Eliz. which comes after as is very fully exprest to the purpose though not to this Case in Co. 4. fol. 4. Vernon's Case the Statute of Marleborough which was made 52 H. 3. gave the word of the Tenant that held by Knight-service notwithstanding he had made a Feoffment by collusion from which time and for 200 years and more till the Statute of the 4. of H. 7. cap. 17. which gave the Ward of the Heir of Costigase the Heir of Costigase was not in Ward and yet it is held in the 27 of H. 8.9 that if Costigase after the Statute of 4 H. 7. makes a Feoffment in Fee by collusion to defraud the Lord of his Ward that this is taken within the Equity of the Statute of Marleborough and so of divers other Cases that you may see there cited in Vernon's Case above mentioned The Fourth Act is The bringing in of false Money like unto our English Money for to Merchandize withal and this is Treason for here is not only an intent but there is also an Act joyned with this intent for he brings over this Money which is the Act with an intent to Merchandize The second Conclusion is that I. D. is a Traytor within this Law and his Treason doth go or extend to all the other four Treasons that were committed by I. S. for this succouring of him after the Fact committed makes him a Traytor within this Law And at the Common Law before the making of this Statute if a man had succoured one that had committed Treason knowing him to have committed it he had been a Traytor And so if one doth now succour a Felon it is Felony in the Succourer And why should it not be so in our Case For the Reason of Law in our Case is far stronger that the Succourer of a Traytor should be a Traytor than the succouror of a Felon should be a Felon because the Offence is greater and therefore it is an aggravation of his punishment to make him that no man shall receive or succour him for we see the Law inflicts a greater punishment upon a Traytor than upon a Felon and that is to deterr men from such Acts as those are And so it appears that there is Reason why he should be a Traytor although he be not within the words of the Statute And therefore it is in the Reason of the
adjudged and declared in Parliament And all other Treasons that are not here declared ought to be Felonies at the least because Felonies were made Treasons before the Stattute and because the words of the Statute are that it ought to be Treason or Felony but if it be but once declared in Parliament unless there be a Proviso that the Judges shall not proceed upon the like Cases they may afterwards proceed by force of this Statute There are Treasons at the Common Law notwithstanding the Stat. of 1 Mar. for that did take away those Treasons and Declarations of Treasons that were made in Parliaments from the time of our Statute to 1 Mar. but doth not take away the declarative Power in our Statute mentioned nor the Common Law but they do remain still as before FINIS CASES OF TREASON CHAP. I. WHERE a man doth compass or imagine the Death of the King the King's Wife the King 's eldest Son and Heir apparent if it appear by any overt act it is Treason Where a man doth violate the King's Wife the King 's eldest Daughtter unmarried the Wife of the King 's eldest Son and Heir apparent it is Treason Where a man doth levie War against the King in the Realm it is Treason Where a man is adherent to the King's Enemies giving them aid and comfort it is Treason Where a man counterfeiteth the King's Great Seal Privy Signet Sign Manual it is Treason likewise his Money Where a man bringeth into this Realm false money counterfeited to the likeness of English with intent to merchandise or make payment thereof and knowing it to be false money it is Treason Where a man counterfeiteth any Coyn current in payment within this Realm it is Treason Where a man doth bring in any money being current within the Realm the same being false and counterfeit with intent to utter it and knowing the same to be false it is Treason Where a man doth clip waste round or file any of the King's money or any Foreign Coyn current by Proclamation for gain-sake it is Treason Where a man doth any way impair diminish falsifie skale or lighten money current by Proclamation it is Treason Where a man killeth the Chancellor the Treasurer the King's Justices in Eire the King's Justices of Assises the Justices of Oyer and Terminer being in their several Places and doing their Offices it is Treason Where a man procureth or consenteth to Treason it is Treason Where a man doth persuade or withdraw any of the Kings Subjects from his obedience or from the Religion by his Majesty established with intent to withdraw any from the Kings obedience it is Treason Where a man is absolved reconciled or withdrawn from his obedience to the King or promiseth obedience to any Foreign Power it is Treason Where any Jesuit or any other Priest ordained since the first year of the Reign of Qu. Elizabeth shall come into or remain in any part of this Realm it is Treason Where any Person being brought up in a Colledge of Jusuits or Seminaries shall not return within six months after Proclamation made and within two dayes after his return submit himself to take the Oath of Supremacy if otherwise he do return and not within six months after Proclamation made it is Treason Where a man committed for Treason doth voluntarily break Prison it is Treason Where a Jaylor doth voluntarily permit a man committed for Treason to escape it is Treason Where a man relieveth or comforteth a Traitor and knoweth of the Offence it is Treason Where a man doth affirm or maintain any Authority of Jurisdiction Spiritual or doth put in ure or execute any thing for the advancement of setting forth thereof the third time it is Treason VVhere a man refuseth to take the Oath of Supremacy being tendred by the Bishop of the Diocese if he be any Ecclesiastical Person or by Commission out of the Chancery if he be a temporal Person such Offence the second time is Treason CHAP. II. The Punishment Tryal and Proceeding in Cases of Treason IN Treason the Corporal Punishment is by drawing on an hurdle from the place of the Prison to the place of Execution by hanging and being cut down alive bowelling and quartering and in VVomen burning In Treason there ensueth a corruption of blood in the Line ascending and descending In Treason Lands and Goods are forfeited and Inheritance as well intailed as Fee-simple and the profits of Estates for Life In Treason the Escheats go to the King and not to the Lord of the Fee In Treason the Land forfeited shall be in the Kings actual possession without Office In Treason there be no Accessaries but all are Principals In Treason no Sanctuary nor benefit of Clergy or peremptory Challenge is allowed In Treason if the Party stand mute yet nevertheless Judgment and Attainder shall proceed all one as upon Verdict In Treason no Counsel is to be allowed nor Bail permitted to the Party In Treason no Witnesses shall be received upon Oath for the Parties Justification In Treason if the Fact be committed beyond the Seas yet it may be tryed in any County where the King will award his Commission In Treason if the Party be non sanae memoriae yet if he had formerly confessed it before the Kings Council and that it be certified that he was of good Memory at the time of his Examination and Confession the Court may proceed to do Judgment without calling or arraigning the Party In Treason the death of the Party before Conviction dischargeth all Proceedings and Forfeitures In Treason if the Parties be once acquitted he should not be brought in question again for the same Fact In Treason no new Case not expressed in the Statute of 25 E. 3. or made Treason by any special Statute since ought to be judged Treason without consulting with the Parliament In Treason there can be no Prosecution but at the King's suit and the Kings Pardon dischargeth In Treason the King cannot grant over to any Subject Power and Authority to pardon it In Treason a Trial of a Peer of the Kingdom is to be by special Commission before the Lord high Steward and those that pass upon him to be none but Peers The Proceeding is with great Solemnity the Lord Steward sitting under a cloth of Estate with a white rod of Justice in his hand and the Peers may conferr together but are not any ways shut up and are demanded by the Lord Steward their Voices one by one and the plurality of Voices carries it In Treason it hath been an ancient Use and Favour from the Kings of this Realm to pardon the Execution of hanging drawing and quartering and to make Warrant for their beheading The Proceeding in case of Treason with a common Subject is in the Kings Bench or by Commission of Oyer and Terminer CHAP. III. Cases of Misprision of Treason WHere a man concealeth high Treason only without any consorting or abetting it is misprision of Treason
Entry or Recovery in a Writ of Escheat or Death of the Party attainted In Felony there can be no proceeding with the Accessary before there be a proceeding with the Principal If he dye or plead his Pardon or have his Clergy before Attainder the Accessary can never be dealt with In Felony if the Party stand mute and will not put himself upon Tryal or challenge peremptorily above that the Law allows he shall have Judgment not of hanging but of penance of pressing to death but there he saves his Lands and forfeits only his Goods In Felony at the Common Law the benefit of Clergy or Sanctuary was allowed but now by Stat. it is taken away in most cases In Felony Bail may be admitted where the Fact is not notorious and the Person not of ill name In Felony no Councel is to be allowed to the Party no more than in Treason In Felony if the fact be committed beyond the Seas or upon the Seas super altum mare there is no Tryal at all in one case nor by course of Jury in the other but by the Jurisdiction of the Admiralty In Felony no witness shall be received upon Oath for the Parties Justification no more than in Treason In felony if the Party be non sanae memoriae although it be after the fact he cannot be tryed nor adjudged except it be in course of Outlawry and that is also erroneous In felony the Death of the Party before Conviction dischargeth all Proceedings and Forfeitures In felony if the Party be once acquit or in peril of Judgment of Life lawfully he shall never be brought in question again for the same fact In felony the prosecution may be either at the King's Suit or by way of Appeal the Defendent shall have his course and produce Witnesses upon Oath as in Civil Causes In Felony the King may grant hault Justice to a Subject with the Regality of Power to pardon it In Felony the Tryal of Peers is all one as in case of Treason In Felony the Proceedings are in the King's Bench or before Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer or of Goal-delivery and in some case before Justices of the Peace CHAP. IX Cases of Felony de se with the Punishment Tryal and Proceedings IN the Civil Law and other Laws they make a difference of Cases of Felony de se for where a man is called in question upon any capital Crime and killeth himself to prevent the Law there they give the Judgment in all points of forfeiture as if they had been attainted in their Life-time And on the other side where a man killeth himself upon impatience of Sickness or the like they do not punish it at all but the Law of England taketh it all in one degree and punisheth onely with loss of Goods to be forfeited to the King who generally grants them to his Almoner where they be not sormerly granted unto special Liberties CHAP. X. Cases of Premunire WHere a man purchaseth or accepteth any provision that is collation of any Spiritual Benefice or Living from the See of Rome it is Premunire Where a man shall purchase any Process to draw any People of the Kings Allegiance out of the Realm in plea whereof the cognizance pertains to the Kings Court and cometh not in Person to answer his contempt in that behalf before the King and his Council or in his Chancery it is Premunire Where a man doth sue in any Court which is not the King's Court to defeat or impeach any Judgment given in the Kings Court and doth not appear to answer his Contempt it is Premunire Where a man doth purchase or pursue in the Court of Rome or elsewhere any Process Sentence of Excommunication Bull or Instrument or any other thing which toucheth the King in his Regality or his Realm in prejudice it is Premunire Where a man doth affirm or maintain any Foreign kind of Jurisdiction Spiritual or doth put in ure or execution any thing for the advancement or setting forth thereof such Offence the second time committed is Premunire Where a man refuseth to take the Oath of Supremacy being tendred by the Bishop of the Diocese if it be an Ecclesiastical Person or by a Commission out of the Chancery if he be a Temporal Person it is premunire Where a Dean and Chapter of any Church upon the Conge de Lier of an Archbishop or Bishop doth refuse to elect any such Archbishop or Bishop as is nominated unto them in the Kings Letters missive it is Premunire Where a man doth contribute or give relief to any Jesuit or Seminary Priests or to any Person brought up therein and called home and not returning it is case of Premunire Where a man is a Broker of an usurious contract above ten in the hundred it is Premunire CHAP. XI The Punishment Tryal and Proceeding in Cases of Premunire THe Punishment is by Imprisonment during Life forfeiture of Goods forfeiture of Lands in fee simple forfeiture of the profits of Lands Intailed or for Life The Trial and Proceeding is as in cases of Misprision of Treason and the Tryal is by Peers where a Peer of the Realm is the Offender Striking any man in the face of the King's Courts is forfeiture of Lands perpetual Imprisonment and loss of that hand CHAP. XII Cases of Abjuration and Exile and the Proceedings therein WHere a man committeth any Felony for the which at this day he may have priviledge of Sanctuary and confesseth the Felony before the Coroner he shall abjure the Liberty of the Real and chuse his Sanctuary and if he commit any new offence or leave his Sanctuary he shall lose the Priviledge thereof and suffer as if he had not taken Sanctuary Where a man not coming to the Church and being a Popish Recusant doth perswade any the Kings Subjects to impugn his Majesties Authority in Causes Ecclesiastical or shal perswade any Subject to come to any unlawful Conventicles and shall not after conform himself within a time and make his submission he shall abjure the Realm and forfeit his Goods and Lands during Life and if he depart not within the time prefixed or return he shall be in the degree of a Felon Where a man being a Popish Recusant and not having Lands to the value of 20 Marks per annum nor goods to the value of 40 l. shall not repair to his dwelling or place where he was born and there confine himself within the compass of five miles he shall abjure the Realm and if he return he shall be in case of a Felon Where a man kills the King 's Deer in Chases or Forests and can find no Sureties after a years Imprisonment he shall abjure the Realm Where a man is a Trespasser in Parks or in Ponds of fish and after three years Imprisonment cannot find Sureties he shall abjure the Realm Where a man is a Ravisher of any Child whose Marriage belongs to any Person and marrieth the said Child after years
to enquire of onely and certifie to the Justices of Goal Delivery but those that are against the peace simply they are to enquire and punish 3. The third is To enquire of punish and remove all publick Nusances and grievances concerning Infection of Air corruption of Victuals ease of chaffer and contract of all other things that may hurt or grieve the people in general in their health quiet and welfare And to these three ends as matters of policy subordinate the Court Leet hath power to call upon the pledges that are to be taken for the good behaviour of the Residents that are not Tenants and to enquire of all Defaults of Officers as Constables Ale-tasters c. and for choice of Constables as aforesaid The Jurisdiction of these Leets is ever remaining in the King and in that case exercised by the Sheriff in his turn which is the grand Leet granted over to Subjects but yet it is still the Kings Court. 2. To the second as was said The Election of the pety Constable is at the Court Leet by the Inquest that makes the Presentments the Election of the Head Constables is by the Justices of the Peace at their Quarter Sessions 3. To the third The Office is annual except they be removed 4. To the fourth They be men as it is now used of inferiour yea of base condition which is a meer abuse or degenerating from the first Institution for the pety Constables in Towns ought to be of the better sort of Resiants in the said Town save that they ought not to be Aged or sickly but men of able Bodies in respect of keeping Watch and toil of their place neither ought they to be in any mans Livery And the High Constables ought to be of the ablest sort of Freeholders and of the substantiallest sort of Yeomen next to the degree of Gentlemen but they ought to be such as are not incumbred with any other Office as Mayor Under-sheriff Bailiff c. 5. To the fifth They have no allowance but are bound by Duty to perform their Offices gratis which may the rather be endured because it is but Annual and they are not tyed to keep or maintain any Servants or under-ministers for that every one of the King's People are bound to assist them 6. To the sixth Upon complaint made of his refusal to any one Justice of Peace the said Justice may bind him over to the Sessions where if he cannot excuse himself by some just allegation he may be fined and imprisoned for his Contempt 7. To the seventh The Authority of Constables as it is substantive and of it self or substituted and astricted to the Warrants and Commands of the Justices of Peace so again it is Original or Additional for either it was given them by the Common Law or else annexed by divers Statutes And as for subordinate Power wherein the Constable is onely to execute the Commandments of the Justices of Peace and likewise the additional power which is given by divers Statutes it is hard to comprehend them in any brevity For that they do correspond to the Office and Authority of the Justices of Peace which is very large and are created by the branches of several Statutes which are things of divers and dispersed natures But for the original and substantive Power of a Constable it may be reduced to three heads 1. For matter of Peace only 2. For matter of Peace and the Crown 3. For matter of Nusance Disturbance and Disorder although they be not accompanied with violence and breach of Peace For pacifying of Quarrels begun the Constables may upon hot words given or likelihood of breach of peace to ensue command them in the Kings name to keep the Peace and to depart and forbear and so he may where an Affray is made part the same and keep the Parties asunder and arrest and commit the Breakers of the Peace if they will not obey and call Power to assist him for the same purpose For punishment of breach of Peace past the Law is very sparing in giving any Authority to Constables because he hath no power judicial and the Use of his Office is rather for preventing or staying of Mischief than for punishing of Offences for in that part he is rather to execute the Warrants of the Justices or when suddden matter ariseth upon his view or notorious circumstances to apprehend Offenders and carry them before the Justice of Peace and generally to imprison in like cases of necessity where the case will not endure the present carrying before the Justices And thus much for the matters of Peace For matters of the Crown the Office of the Constable consisteth chiefly in four parts 1. The first is Arrest 2. The second is Search 3. The third is Hue and Cry 4. And the 4th is Seisure of goods All which the Constable may perform of his own Authority without any Warrant of the Justices of Peace 1. For first If any man will lay Murder or Felony to another's charge or do suspect him of Murder or Felony he may declare it to the Constable and the Constable ought upon such Declaration or Complaint carry him before a Justice and if by common voice or Fame any man be suspected the Constable of Duty ought to arrest him and bring him before a Justice though there be no other accusation 2. If any house be suspected for the receiving or harbouring of any Felon the Constable upon complaint or common fame may search 3. If any fly upon the Felony the Constable ought to raise Hue and Cry and search for his goods and keep them safe without impairing and to inventary them in the presence of honest neighbours 4. For matters of common Nusance and grievance they are of a very variable nature according to the several comforts which mans Life and Society requireth and the contraries which infest the same In all which be it matter of corrupting Air Water or Victuals or stopping straitning or indangering passage or general deceits in Weights Measures Sizes or counterfeiting Wares and things vendible the Office of the Constable is to give as much as in him lies Information of them and of the offenders in Leets that they may be presented But because Leets are kept but twice in the year and many of these things require present or speedy remedy the Constable in things of notorious and vulgar nature ought to forbid and repress them in the mean time 8. To the eighth They are for their Contempt to be fined and imprisoned by the Justices in their Sessions 9. To the ninth The Oath they take is in this manner YOV shall swear that you shall well and truly serve the King and the Lord of this Law-day and you shall cause the Peace of our Lord the King to be well and duely kept to your power And you shall arrest all those that you see committing Riots Debates and Affrayes in breach of Peace And you shall well and duely endeavour