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A85670 Bouleutērion, or A practical demonstration of county judicatures. Wherein is amply explained the judiciall and ministeriall authority of sheriffs. Together with the original, jurisdiction, and method of keeping all countrey courts. / By Will: Greenwood, philomath. Greenwood, Will. William. 1659 (1659) Wing G1870; Thomason E1789_1; ESTC R209680 323,562 484

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before the return of the same E. L. Knight late Sheriffe of the County aforesaid and that this Writ so as above indorsed and returned was delivered to me R. S. Esquire now Sheriffe of the County aforesaid by G. T. under-Sheriff of the aforesaid E. L. late Sheriff of the County aforesaid R. S. Esquire Sherif I hereby certifie the Justices within written That the Lands and Tenements which were of the within named F. B. the same day and year within mentioned in which judgement of the debt and accompts within specified was rendred are and yet be in the hands of our Soveraign Lord the King in his Court of Wards and Liveries by reason R. B. Gent. Tenant of the Lands and Tenements aforesaid hath not yet sued forth his Livery of the Lands aforesaid in the Court aforesaid Therefore to the execution of this Writ I may not proceed as within it is commanded R. S. Esq Sherif An Inquisition indented taken at W. in the County aforesaid the day of Ianuary in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred fifty eight before me R. S. Esquire Sheriffe of the County aforesaid by vertue of a Writ of his Highnesse the Lord PROTECTOR to me directed and ro this Inquisition annexed by the oath of M. P. and so to the number of twelve honest and lawfull men of my Bayliwick who say upon their oaths that H. S. in the said writ named was seized in his Demesne as of see the fourteenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred fifty in the same writ mentioned of one Capital Messuage with the appurtenances with five acres of Lands six acres of Meadow and eight acres of Pasture scituate and being in Br. in the County aforesaid of the cleer yearly value in all issues above reprises forty shillings And the said Jurors further say upon their oaths that the said H. S. hath not any other or more Lands or Tenements the said fourteenth day of June abovesaid nor at any time since nor any goods or Chattels at the day of taking this Inquisition in my Bailiwick to the knowledge of the said Jurors the moyety of all and singular which said Messuage Lands Tenements and premisses that is to say the said Capitall Messuage and the said five acres of Land and the six acres of Meadow I the said Sheriff the said day of taking this Inquisition have caused to be delivered to T. C. in the said Writ also named to hold to him the said T. and his Assignes as his Free-hold according to the forme of the Statute in this case made and provided untill the debt and damages in the same Writ mentioned shall thereof be fully levied In witnesse c. Otherwise untill the said T. C. in the said writ also named shall be fully satisfied of his debt and damages in the same writ mentioned In witness c. R. S. Esquire Sheriff The within named A. B. is not found in my Bailywick The residue of the execution of this Writ appeareth in a certain indented Inquisition hereunto annexed R. S Esquire Sheriff An Inquisition indented taken at I. in the County aforesaid the one and twentieth day of October in the year of our Lord 1658. before me R. S. Esquire Sheriff of the same County of N. By vertue of a Writ of His Highnesse the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging to me directed and to this indented Inquisition annexed By the oath of H. S. and so to the number of twelve at least good and lawfull men of my Bailywick who say upon their Oath that R. T. in the aforesaid writ named the twentieth day of A. in the year of our Lord 1657. in the same Writ mentioned on which day the said R. T. became debtor to his Highnesse Oliver late Lord Protector in the aforesaid also mentioned was seised in his Demesn as of fee of and in one Messuage with the Appurtenances five acres of Land sixe acres of Meadow and eight acres of Pasture scituate lying and being in F. in the County aforesaid now in the tenure and occupation of J. G. or his Assignes of the cleer yearly value in all Issues above reprises 10 l. All which said Messuage Lands and Tenements with the Appurtenances I the said Sheriffe the same day of the taking this Inquisition have taken and seised into the hands of his Highnesse Richard now Lord Protector as by this Writ it is commanded And the same Jurors say upon their Oath that the aforesaid R. T. at the day of the taking this Inquisition is seised in reversion when it shall happen after the death of C. Widow in his Demesn as of Fee of one Messuage with the Appurt six acres of Land 5 acres of Meadow and 12 acres of pasture scituate lying and being in H. in the foresaid County of N. and now in the tenure and occupation of the same C. widow And that the aforesaid C. widow is now living so that at present the said Messuage Lands and premisses in H. aforesaid are worth nothing But after the death of the said C. widow will be of the cleer yearly value in all Issues above reprises 8 l. The reversion of which said Messuage Lands and Premisses with the Appurt in H. aforesaid when it happens I the same Sheriffe have also the same day of taking this Inquisition taken and seised into the hands of his Highnesse the Lord Protector according to the exigence of his Highnesse said Writ And moreover the said Jurors say upon their oaths that the above named R. T. at the time of the taking this Inquisition was and is possessed of all the Goods and Chattels severally mentioned comprised apprised and valued in a certaine schedule to this indented Inquisition annexed as of his owne proper Goods and Chattels and that the whole value of the same Goods and Chattels is forty shillings Which goods and Chattels the same day of the taking this Inquisition I the aforesaid Sheriffe have likewise seised into the hands of his said Highnesse the Lord Protector And the same Jurors further say upon their Oath that the same day of the taking this Inquisition R. J. of G. in the County of N. aforesaid Yeoman was indebted to the above named R. T. in the whole sum of twenty pounds for Rent And also that there is now in the hands of the same R. J. divers Goods and Chattels of the said R. T. that is to say one long Table c. which goods and Chattels together are of the value of 40 s. All which said debt of twenty pounds and the Goods and Chattels of the said value of 40 s. l the Sheriff aforesaid the same day of the taking of this Inquisition have also seised into the hands of his said Highnesse the Lord Protector as in the hands of the aforesaid R. I. And the aforesaid Jurors moreover say upon their Oaths that the within named
its Originall or Prototype Quia origo rerum attendenda● And first of the Shire Shire is a Saxon word scyra and hath its etymology from shiran id est partiri to divide as Mr. Lambert saith in his explication of Saxon words Verb. Centur. And Mr. Cambden in his Britania reporteth that Alfred a Saxon King of England was the first that divided this Common wealth into Shires those Shires into Ridings and those Ridings into Weapentakes or Hundreds c. Likewise as Sir Henry Spelman in his Glossarie saith Sunt qui Comitatum distinct ones sub Berengariis Othonibus vel sub Carolo magno apud exteros accidisse opinautur quod de plurimis forte verum fuerit nounullae autem antiquius deprehenduntur Rem apud nos perspicuam facit Ingulphus si sane fides Rex Alfridus alias Aluredus Aethelfridus qui regnum iniit Anne 871 totius inquit Angliae pagos provincias in Comitatus primus omnium commutavit Comitatus in centurias hundredas in decennas id est tithingas divisit Which strenous authorities are sufficiently valid to prove the originall of Shires and their divisions The Republick being thus disunited or dissected into Shires every Shire is intirely governed by one Officer called a Sheriffe or Shire-reeve Vicecomes compounded of these two Saxon words scyr viz. Satrapia a Shire and reue viz. Praefectus a Governour of the Shire Mr. Cambden thus describes his Office Singulis vero annis nobilis aliquis ex incolis proficitur quem Vicecomitem quasi vicarium comitis nostra lingua Sheriff viz. Comitatus praepositum vocamus qui etiam comitatus vel provinciae Quaestor recte dici potest But in Seldeni Jani fol. 53. 54. you have two Governours of the Shire assigned where he saith Praefectus provinciarum qui antea vice-domini ad Ingulphum reversus est Aluredum in duo officia divisit 1. in Judices quos nunc justiciarios vocamus in Vicecomites qui ad huc idem nomen retinent Facessat ergo Polidoras urbinas qui primos a Normanno petit Vicecomites which we now call Vicount a Vice-comite which cometh from our Conquerors the Normans as Sheriffe from our Ancestors the Saxons Also Sir Henry Spelman in his Glossarie saith Quinem autem tunc essent magistratus quos Ingulphus hic vocat Justiciarios Vicecomites non plàne assequor Reor Aldermanni provinciarum Grevii Saxonice Ealdormen gerefas De Grevii saith he tamen munere nec habeo definitum discrepare enim videtur a Vicecomite quod hic tum adhuc comitis esset vicarius ille regis officialis unde in Anglo-Saxonum legibus atque ipsius Aluredi Cyninger gereþan id est Grevius regis vel ut Latine sae●ius reditur Praepositus regis appellatus est And that he is Governour of the County the words of his Patent import as much viz. Commissimus tibi custodiam comitatus So that he is an Officer of great antiquity trust and authority having formerly from the King as now from his Highnesse the Lord Protector the custody tuition and command of the whole County Co. l. 4. 33. Mittons case The aforesayd Alfred at the division of the Kingdome into Shires or Counties instituted this Court called the County Court and established Jurisdiction in it granting power and authority to the Sheriffe to heare and determine such matters as by just cause of appellation either for Law or Equity should be brought unto him This Court as it is recorded by Mr. Selden in his Treatise of Tythes was joyntly exercised by the Bishop of the Diocesse and by the Sheriffe or Alderman of the sciregemot or Hundred or County Court where the one sate to give Godes fight the other for puruldre right that is the one to judge according to the Lawes of the Kingdome the other to direct according to Divinity And Sir Henry Spelman in his Glossary saith Comitatum simul regebant pariterque in foro considentes judicia publica exercebant hic secundum jus humanum ille vero divinum LL. Canuti MS. ca. 44. Habeatur ter in anno Burgesmotus i. Civitatis conventus Schiresmotus i. pagi vel comitatus conventus bis nisi Saepius opus sit intersit Episcopus Aldermannus doceat ibi Dei rectum seculi uterque scil Pro suo munere Idem Ladgari LL. ca. 5. sed pro Aldermannus illic comes extat ut supra demonstravimus utrumque recte Nam in comitatu simus considisse reor Comittem relpub partes tueretur Episcopum qui Ecclesiae Aldermannum qui Legem diceret exponeret But at the Norman Conquest this kinde of holding Ecclesiasticall Pleas in the Hundred of County Court was taken away as may appeare by this Mandate of William the Conqueror recorded in Seld. Jani lib. 2. fol. 76. Willielmus Dei gratia Rex Anglorum Comitibus Vicecomitibus omnibus Francigenis Anglis qui in Episcopatu Remigii terras habent salutem Sciatis vos omnes caeteri mei fideles qui in Anglia manent quod Episcopales leges quae non bene nec secundum sanctorum Canonum praecepta usque ad mea tempora in regno Anglorum fuerunt communi consilio Archiep. meorum caeterorum Episcoporum Abatum omnium principum Regni mei emendandas judicavi Propterea mando regia authoritate praecipio ut nullus Episcopus vel Archidiaconus de legibus Episcopalibus amplius in hundredo placita teneat nec causam quae ad regimen animarum pertinet ad judicium secularium hominum adducant sed quicunque secundum Episcopales leges de quacunque causa vel culpa interpellatus fuerit ad locum quem ad hoc Episcopus elegerit nominaverit veniat ibique de causa sua respondeat non secundum hundredum sed secundum Canones Episcopales leges rectum Deo Episcopo suo faciat All actions whatsoever were brought in this Court before the Sheriff as it is reported by Mr. Lambert in his Archeion in that particle of the Lawes of Edgar to our matter in hand Viz. Let no man seeke to the King in matter of variance unlesse he cannot finde right at home But if it be too heavy for him then let him seeke to the King to have it lightned The very like whereof in effect is to be seene in the Lawes of Canutus the Dane sometimes King of this Realme out of which Lawes may be collected foure things First That every man had meanes and was authorized to sue and commence their Actions in this Court in their owne Shire or County Secondly That no man ought to sue out of the County or to remove or draw his plea from thence without good cause both which things do plainely appear in the letter of this Law Thirdly That the King himself had a high Court of Justice wherein it seemeth that he sate in person as these words do demonstrate Let him not seek to
the King c. And lastly That the same Court of the Kings did judge not onely according to meer right and Law but also after equity and good conscience And after this order and in these two Courts was all Justice administred This Court continuing untill the time of William the Conqueror and ever since during the times and raignes of the ancient Kings and doth yet continue in manner the same forme and substance that it then was and will doe in despite of those Sycophants that have had their Primum mobile from it and now endeavour its subversion that Viperous brood of Birds that have so much defiled their owne Nest that the whole Countrey laughs at their folly and that the pleas ought no more to be taken from it now in our dayes without cause than they ought then to have been which may evidently be proved by those ancient Writs of Pone Recordare Writ of false Judgment and Accedeas ad curiam which are yet in use to this day and to this onely end to remove suits upon cause out of this Court into superior Courts But because this requireth great search of Records to make any further progression whereunto I have no accesse I must leave it to such whose abilities are more strenuous to travell in that so intricate a path This Court is no Court of Record but onely a Court Baron though it had in ancient times the cognition of great matters as may appear by Glanvile lib. 1. cap. 23. 4. by Bracton and Britton in diverse places and by Fleta lib. 2. cap. 62. but it was abridged by the Statute of Magna Charta cap. 17. and much more by 1 E. 4. cap. unico therefore pleas holden in this Court by Plaint nor pleas holden by Writ of Justicies are not taken as matters of Record for those pleas are holden by reason of the Court which the Sheriff holdeth by reason of his Office This Court as Dalton reporteth in his Office of Sheriffs was ordained for the Sheriff to hold Pleas there for particular or private matters under forty shillings between party and party It is now as it was alwaies holden once every moneth upon a day certaine the moneth being computed according to twenty eight dayes in the moneth and not according to the Kallander 9 H 3. c. 35. 2 E. 6. c 25. It holdeth no plea of debt or damages to the value of forty shillings or above because a Fine is due thereby to the Lord Protector yet if the debt be forty shillings or above and the Plaintiff will acknowledge in his Declaration the receit of so much as to bring it within forty shillings in this case the plaint is good But if the debt be above forty shillings as five pounds the Plaintiff cannot divide this into five severall actions to make this Court hold plea of it for in this case the Defendant may wage his Law And of Debt Detinue Trespasse and other actions personall above forty shillings the Sheriff may hold plea by force of a Writ of Justicies to him directed for that is in nature of a Commission to him and is not returnable Neither doth this Writ alter the nature of the Court for therein the Sheriff is not Judge but the Freeholders or Suitors yet all Judgments shall be pronounced by the Sheriff This Court may be kept at any place within the County at the pleasure of the Sheriff but not out of it Yet the Sheriff of Northumberland by the Statute is to keep his County Court in the Towne or Castle of Alnewicke and in no other place The Sheriff of Sussex by the Statute is to hold his County Court one time at Chester and the other time at the Burrough of Lewes and so to be kept alternis vicibus for ever And also the Sheriff of the County of Chester is to keep his County Court in the Shire Hall of the sayd County Daltons Office of Sheriffs fol. 157. 158. To this Court all persons dwelling within the County owe suit by reason of their resiance No Fine can be imposed in this Court upon any offendor because it is no Court of Record Co. 8. 41. 60. 11. 43. Fitz. 73. d. But a man may be amerced for a contempt or a disturbance of the Court in the presence of the Court. This Court will entertaine no suits for Charters of Land or for Inheritance or for Freehold of Land or any titles of Land or to make severall plaints upon one entire debt by Bond or Trespasse Vi armis or actions touching life nor actions to compell one to render an account The Office of the County Clarke THe Sheriff being elected which is done yearly in the morrow after All soules in the Exchequer Chamber by the Statutes 9. E. 2. 14 E. 3. cap. 7. And his Letters Patents do commonly beare date the sixth day of November 1 2 E. 4. e. 1. unlesse it be in cases of necessity that the Court is sorced to adjourne it Crook fol. 595. before the next County day after his election and discharge of the old Sheriff he ought to be very diligent in deputing and constituting a County Clarke such a one as is sufficient and able to keep the Court that no corrupt dealing be in it as he will answer the contrary and that he be very skilfull in entring the proceedings in it He ought to be endued with these qualities according to the description of Fleta Provideat sibi Vice com' de Clerico circumspecto fideli viro provido discreto gratioso humili pudico pacifico modesto qui in legibus consuetudinibusque provinciae officio Commit ' Cleric ' se cognoscat jura in omnibus teneri affectei quique sub-balivos in suis erroribus ambiguis sciat instruere docere c. Which is thus Paraphrased That a County Clarke ought to be endued and qualified with circumspection fidelity providence humility peace and modesty and must know himselfe or be expert in the Lawes and customes of the Countrey and to have ability to instruct or direct the Bailiffs or other Ministers in dubious things wherein they may erre He must neither be attracted by price nor lucratory corruption nor any sinister affection to wander out of the way of right Qui nec as Bracton adviseth ad dextram nec ad sinistram vel propter prosperitatem terrenam vel adversitatis metum à tramite justiciae declinet The Sheriff and not the Protector hath power to delegate this Office to whom he pleaseth as it appears in Myttons case in the fourth Reports where Queen Elizabeth by Letters Patents did grant the Office of Clarkship of the County Court of Somerset to Mytton with all Fees c. for life Arthur Hopton Esquire Sheriff of the same Shire interrupted him because it was incident to his Office Mitton complained to the Lords of the Councell and was referred to the two chiefe
and grant to and with the said E. F. his Executors Administrators and every of them that if the said A. B. his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assignes shall or may be relieved saved harmlesse or indempnified for and concerning the fore-recited covenants and agreements by the sayd C. D. his Executors and Assigns and his sureties that then he the said A. B. his Executors Administrators or Assignes shall or will not take any benefit or advantage of the said covenants and agreements against the said E. F. his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assignes or any his sureties or any of them In witnesse whereof c. Or Thus. THIS INDENTURE made c. in the year c. Betweene A. B. of R. in the County of Yorke Esq now high Sheriffe of the said County of the one part and C. D. of c. in the said County Gentleman of the other part Whereas his Highnesse RICHARD Lord Protector of the Common wealth of England Scotland Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging By his Highnesse Letters Patents under the Great Seale of ENGLAND bearing date the seventeenth day of this instant November have made nominated constituted assigned and appointed the said A. B to be High Sheriffe of the said County of YORKE during his pleasure Now this Indenture witnesseth That the said A. B. for the good opinion which he hath conceived of the said C. D. and of the trust and confidence which hee reposeth in him hath deputed assigned constituted and ordained and by these presents doth depute assigne constitute and ordaine him the said C. D. to be his Under-sheriff of for and in the said County of Yorke during all the time that he the said A. B. shall be and remaine Sheriffe of the said County by force of the Letters Patents aforesaid and doth hereby authorize the said C D. to serve exercise and execute the said Office of Under-sheriffe of the said County under him the said A. B. in his name during all the time aforesaid And the said A. B as farre as in him lyes doth also by these presents grant unto the said C. D. that it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said C. D. by force hereof to appeare answer and serve and minister as Under-sheriffe of the said County of York for and in the name of the said A. B. as well in all places of the said County of York as in all and every the Court and Courts within the Common-wealth of England and before all and every the Justices of Oyer and Terminer Justices of Assize and Goal-delivery Justices of the Peace Coroners and Escheators and other Officers and Commissioners of this Common-wealth where the said A. B. by vertue of the said Office of Sheriff-wicke for the said County of YORKE shall be bound or ought to appeare answer serve or be attendant and to breake open answer returne and execute for him the said A. B. in his name all Processe VVrits Precepts VVarrants Mandates and Commandements to the Sheriffe of the said County directed or hereafter to be directed out of any the Courts aforesaid or from any the Justices Coroners or Escheators aforesaid and to doe performe and execute for him the said A. B. and in his name all and every thing and things which by him the said A. B. by vertue of his Office of Sheriff-wicke of the said County of YORKE is to be performed executed and done saving alwayes and excepting the said C. D. shall not by vertue thereof be authorized to open returne send or execute any VVrit or VVrits for electing any Knights of the Shire or Burgesse of Parliament for the said County of YORKE or any Burrough within the said County nor open execute or answer any the Letters of his Highnesse the LORD PROTECTOR or the Councell to bee directed unto the said Sheriffe of the said County of YORKE without the speciall warrant direction or Commandement of him the said A. B. for that purpose And further the said A. B. doth by these presents grant unto the said C. D. for the executing of the said Office all the Fees Duties and Profits to him due arising and growing by the County Courts to be kept within the said County of YORKE and all other fees rewards duties allowances and profits incident to the office of Sheriffe-wicke or thereunto belonging for which the said A. B. is or shall be allowed by the Common Lawes of this Nation or customes of the said County either for the opening returning or executing of any VVrit Precept or Processe Warrant or Commandement whatsoever or for other executing of the said office and which have not beene accepted heretofore the ordinary Fees of any other his Bayliffs or other Officers to have and enjoy the said duties fees rewards allowances and other profits to his owne use without an accompt to be rendered to the said A. B. his Executors or Administrators for the same And the said C. D. for and in consideration of the benevolence aforesaid and for the free gift and grant of the said A. B. doth for himself his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assignes and every of them covenant promise grant and agree to and with the said A. B. his Heirs Executors and Administrators and Assignes by these presents that he the said C. D. shall and will at all times from and after the day of the date of these presents duely diligently lawfully and carefully serve the said A. B. as his Deputy and Under-sheriffe of in and for the said County of YORKE without doing or committing any kinde of extortion or wilfull mis-behaving of himself in the said office and shall and will duely and respectively execute the said office of Sheriff-wicke under the name of the said A. B. in all points so farre forth as these presents the LAWES of the LAND or other Licence or Commandement of the said A. B. shall warrant or give liberty and shall and will in the name of the said A. B. and as his Deputy in the said office of under-Sheriff of the said County of Y. be answerable attendant and minister in all Courts of his Highnesse the Lord Protector by and before the said Justices of Assize Justices of the Peace and all Commissioners Escheators Coroners and other Officers of his Highnesse the Lord Protector before whom the said A. B. shall be bound or required to Minister answer or be attendant in respect of the said office of Sheriffwick for the said County and shall and will execute and make answer true and sufficient return of all such processe writs precepts and commandments directed from his said Highness or from every or any of the said Courts Justices Commissioners Escheators and other Officers aforesaid as shall be delivered to or come to the hands of him the said C. D. his Deputie or Deputies Assignee or Assignes or shall and will discharge and save harmlesse the said A. B. his heires Executors and Administrators and his
Lord Protector and for the Lord of this Court or Law day draw near and hear your charge all the rest keeping silence whilst the charge is in reading upon pain and peril that shall fall thereon Before the charge gather the common fine which the tenants do pay every Leet or Law day acording to the custome of the Mannor The Exhortation before the Charge My Masters YOU of the Jury the charge which you by oath have promised to observe toucheth and concerneth divers good Lawes and Statutes instituted and made for the preservation of the publick Peace and also for the private tranquillity of every one of you and your posterities which matters the Sheriffe or the Lord of this Franchise considering and wishing your security and desiring likewise good orders to be observed and kept among you that right and equity may be administred to every of you hath therefore caused his Highnesse the Lord Protectors Leete to be summoned and kept here this day I will therefore by your favour before I enter upon the principals of your charge declare unto you by what authority you are brought hither and wherein you are obliged to observe The causes hereof are two 1. The first is for that his Highnesse and royall predecessors have given and granted unto the Sheriffe or Lord of this Mannor authority and power to keep a Leet or Law day twice in the year at which Leet or Law-day all the Headboroughs Tithingmen Dezmers and all other persons that are resident or inhabiting within the Jurisdiction of this Leet being above the age of twelve yeares and under the age of sixty are bound by the Lawes of the Commonwealth to appeare to the intent that the Lawes and Statutes may be there published and declared so that knowing the dangers of the not observing of them they may avoid divers inconveniences which otherwise would have much prejudiced them and further to inquire of the breakers of the same and present them that such offenders may receive condign punishment The other cause or authority is for that you being the Lords tenants are bound by reason of your tenure at the Lords Court Baron when it shall happen to be kept according to law that is to say at every three weeks end or according as the custome is and being here by these two authorities you are bound to serve in all such things as you are legally and joyntly charged withall as well concerning His Hignesse the Lord Protectors Leet as the Lords Court-Baron Now to the intent that you may have better cognizance of your oath I think it convenient with your patience to insist a little upon it What things are to be considered by a Jury in swearing IN swearing three things are principally to be considered 1. That you swear to seclude all favour and affection to the parties not fearing the rich nor pitying the poor not considering the simplicity of any person nor the smallnesse of the offence but having an affection to truth before your eyes declare that which is truth to your knowledge and no further 2. The second is you must swear in righteousness viz. for the very zeal and desire you have in declaring the truth for the executing of justice for the observing of Covenants honest promises Statutes Lawes and good Customes and having a respect in doing and performing these things you do that which tends to the glory of God the honour of the Lord Protector the preservation of the People and Common-wealth which kinde of swearing is the mandate of the Almighty Thou shalt feare the Lord thy God and serve him and shalt sweare by his Name That is we must onely serve and feare him acknowledging his holy Name which is done by a legall swearing It is also commanded in many places of the divine Writ but conditionally to wit we must sweare in truth in Judgment and righteousnesse c. 3. In swearing and taking an Oath you must do it with Judgement not rashly nor unadvisedly but soberly and with caution considering what an oath is which in briefe I will declare to you An Oath is the recording or calling to witnesse the name of God to confirme the truth of that we say and which is according to the testimony of St. Paul An oath for confirmation is among men an end of strife For in ambiguous and obscure matters where the knowledge of men is brittle and faileth we betake ourselves to God that he which is the only Truth may give a Testimony unto the truth and he that useth God for a Witnesse doth also call for revenge of perjury at his hands if he deceive and speak not the truth now at the imposition of your hands upon the Booke you sweare truly to enquire and make a true presentment of these things wherewith you are charged and not to let from declaring the truth either for favour fear affection or envy of any person consider that in this Book is recorded Gods eternall verity whereby we have remission of errors and offences and an enjoyment of eternall salvation I am confident of your knowledge of the plagues and threats in the Gospel to the obstinate and perjured bearers of false and unjust testimony condemners of innocent and guiltlesse persons so that it you voluntarily perjure your selves you absolutely deny God his mercy truth and the merits of our Saviour betaking your selves and adhering to that Destroyer of mankinde the Devil the author of all pejury and persidiousnesse and by forswearing and forsaking the truth you forsake Christ the light and truth it selfe And although that perjury doth escape sometimes unespied and punished and be kept secret betweene some of you and others yet your hearts will judge and repute one another false and be suspitious of each others actions But God that faithfull one of Israel will not deny himselfe neither will he suffer the profanation of his Name to go unpunished when at the last day the secrets of all mens hearts shall be apparent then the truth and your Consciences shall be your accusers and Christ the righteous Judge shall justly condemn you to eternall death and damnation Which sin of perjury the most High by his Prophet hath threatned to punish Thus referring this to your serious considerations and not to trouble you with prolixities Verbum sat sapienti a word 's enough to the wife I will proceed and declare to you the Articles of your charge The Charge of the Court. YOu must understand That High treasons petty treasons and Felonies which are against His Highnesse the LORD PROTECTOR are to be enquired of and presented in this Court but not punishable here the which offences you must set down in writing indented and sealed the one part to remain with the Steward the other with the Jury and the same must be delivered to the Justices of the next Assizes holden within the County The Charge of the Court-Leet Judgment 1. You shall first
necessary to be done in for or about the better effecting of the premisses as fully and amply to all intents and purposes as I my selfe might do in person or otherwise and whatsoever my said Attorneyes or either of them shall joyntly or severally do in the premisses according to the true intent and meaning of these presents I do hereby allow of ratifie and confirme In witnesse c. The Grant of a Stewardship TO all to whom these presents shall come A. B. Knight sendeth greeting Know ye that I the said A. B. for divers good causes and considerations me thereunto moving have for me my heires and assignes given and granted and by these presents do give and grant unto John Preston of B. Gent. the Office of chiefe Steward and the place and execution of the Stewardship of my Mannor of Skipton in Craven in the County of York And the holding and keeping of all Courts Court-Leets viewes of Frank-pledge and of all other Courts of what kinde soever the same be to the said Mannor belonging or in any wise appertaining To have hold execute and enjoy the aforesaid Office of chiefe Steward and the place and execution of chiefe Stewardship and the holding and keeping of all manner of Courts usually held and kept within the same together with all manner of fees wages rewards profits advantages and emoluments to the said office of chiefe Steward or Stewardship of the said Mannor or Lordship belonging or appertaining or at any time heretofore accustomed and used to be paid rendered to or received by the chiefe Steward or Stewards there for the time being for or by reason of the said office of chiefe Steward or Stewards there for the time being from henceforth for and during the naturall life of him the said Iohn Preston In witnesse c. THE COURT OF Pypowders The definition of it what it is and why it was instituted together with its jurisdiction THis word Pypowder hath its definition from the French words pied i. pes and puldreux i. pulverulentus or as Skene de verb. significat Pede pulverosus dusty feet a Vagabond Pedder or Scotch Merchant who hath no certaine dwelling place and by whom Fares are usually kept to whom justice should be summarily ministred within three flowings and ebbings of the Sea or as some define it to be curia parvi ponderis and this is to be pedis-pulverizati and so the Lord chiefe Justice Anderson did use to define it for the speed and celerity there used in the present dispatch of businesse This Court of Pypowders is a Court of Record instituted and set up for the speedy and sudden dispatch of matters and differences arising in a Fare or Market and for the speedy doing of Justice and this in case of necessity for the sole benefit of Tradesmen and Merchants and for the present determination of all doubts and questions there then arising and that only upon sales and contracts had in the Fare and Market during the time thereof but not for matters acted and done before or at any time after the Fare or Market held but for matters happening and arising in pleno Mercato or in plenaferia 8 H. 7. fol. 4. b. This Court is of two kindes viz. 1. Either by prescription and this is an absolute jurisdiction 2. To be in a Fare and Market and to this a Court of Pypowders is incident And here two things are requisite viz. 1. This Court to be for matters arising in the Fare or Market 2. The matters to be determined there within and during the continuance of the Fare and Market and this appeares to be so by the Statutes of 17 E. 4. cap. 2. and 1 R. 3. cap. 6. and this is in a Court of Pypowders annexed unto a Fare or Market But in a Court of Pypowders which one hath by Prescription there they may heare and determine matters done before Bolstrod 2. part fol. 21. Goodson against Duffill Cro first part fol. 33. For in case of a Prescription such a Court may well be without a Fare from time to time and from day to day 13 E. 4. fol. 8. b. it was so adjudged in point of a Writ of Error where the error assigned to reverse a judgment given in curia pedis pulverizali there alledged to be held secundum consuetudinem ejusdem civitatis the Error insisted upon was because he shewed not that the matter upon which the action was brought was in pleno Mercato or in plena feria it is there expresly adjudged that this was no Error because the same was layd to be held secundum consuetudinem civitatis so that such a Court may be held without a Fare or Market and that the King may well grant such a Court to be held from day to day and such a Court may well be held by Custome without any Fare or Market and its proper denomination is from the speedy dispatch of businesse there so that the jurisdiction of this Court held by prescription may be extended unto all contracts and bonds to actions of trespasse and actions upon the Case and to this purpose was the case betweene Chambers Plaintiffe against Pert Defendant Hill 33. Eliz. Rot. 124. where an action of trespasse for an assault and battery was brought in a Court of Pypowders for an assault done long before and well maintainable as it was held But this Court held by prescription doth much differ from the ordinary Court of Pypowders and that by many circumstances This Court may be thus used and held viz. 1. Either by way of Grant 2. By way of confirmation And being thus held it differs from the ordinary Court of Pypowders which is incident to every Fare as appeareth by 12 H. 7. fol. 16. b. and 13 H 7. fol. 19. And the same Court is thus incident to a Fare and that of common right as it appears 13 E. 4. fol. 8. b. Old book of Entr. fol. 168. Fit dette en Gailor placito 1 f. 18. Fit account in Execution placito 3. If one will declare upon a matter in this Court in Fare there in such a case of necessity he ought to set forth in pleading that the same was done in pleno ferio or in plena Mercata otherwise not good But it is not so in case where a man hath and holdeth this Court by prescription in which Court they may heare and determine actions upon the case for words but not so in an ordinary Court held during the time of the Fare And by 6 E. 4. fol. 3. b. If a man in his Fare hath this Court here the Steward is Judge and no other for there are no Suitors and for a Judgment given in this Court a Writ of Faux judgment lieth not but a Writ of Error and with this agrees 7 E. 4 fol. 23. And where one claims to hold this Court by prescription and also by Charter if the Charter be not contrary
Justices Wray and Anderson and after many arguments concerning the validity of that Grant and conference had with all the other Justices It was resolved by all the Justices Nullo contradicente aut reluctante that the sayd Letters Patents were voyd and their reasons were That the Office of Sheriff was an ancient Office before the Conquest and of great trust and authority for the King committeth unto him Custodium Comitatus And although the King may determine the Office ad beneplacitum yet he cannot determine this in part as for one Town or Hundred nor abridge him in any incidents to his Office for the Office is entire and ought to continue so without any fraction or diminution unlesse by Parliament and the County Court and the entring of all Proceedings therein are incident to the Sheriffs Office c. And though it was granted when the Office of Sheriff was void yet the new Sheriff shall avoid it as Scroges case in the time of Vacation in the Office of Chief Justice of the Common Bench Queen Mary granted the Office of the Exigenter of London resolved that the next chief Justice shall avoid it for it was incident to his Office Also in all Writs directed to the Sheriff concerning the County Court the King sayes in comitatu tuo and in return of Exigents made by him he sayes ad comitatum meum tent c. and the stile of the Court proves it and by the Statute of 33 H. 8. the Sheriff of Denbigh shall keep his Shire Court at c. In a false Judgment it is said in pleno com tuo recordari facias c. and in a Precept of Tolt it is said summoneas c. quod sit ad comitatum meum and it should be very inconvenient that another should have the custody of the Enteries and Rolls of Court which may be imbezzelled and the Sheriff responsible for them And it was resolved that the custody of all the Goales within every County appertains to the Sheriff by right and are annexed and incident by Law to the Sheriffs Office vide an 14 E. 3. cap. 10. But note that his late Highnesse in the year 1653. granted the Office of Clark-ship for the County of York to one Master R. H. though dissonant to common Law yet consentaneous to a gladiatorie power like those in Livie in armis jus ferre omnia fortium virorum esse that all Lawes are engraven on the hilt of a victorious Sword to whose Mandamus both Statute and common Law must submit He cannot execute the Office of a County Clark and practice as an Attorny both at one time it being prohibited by the Statute of 1 H. 5. 4. being a cause of encreasing Suits and a hinderance in dispatch of Clyents causes He cannot act any thing without the assent of the Suitors if he do an Action of Trespasse lyeth against the Sheriff He must be carefull in deputing honest able and sufficient men as Bayliffs for the executing of the Precepts issuing out of the Court. He ought to enter no Plaints except in case of Replevins out of Court but in full County sedente curia yet the case is otherwise at this day and as it seems good enough verifying the Diverbe communis error facit jus He must make sufficient Precepts after the Plaints entred but not before against the Defendants directed to his Bayliffs to attach or warn the Defendants to appear at the next County Court and answer the Plaintiff The County Clark and Plaintiff upon complaint of the party grieved may be examined by one Justice of Peace concerning the taking or entring of Plaints in the County Court and book against the Statute If thereby the Justice find any fault or offence committed that shall stand for a sufficient conviction and attainder without any further inquirie or examination And the said Justice must certifie the examination within a quarter of a year into the Exchequer by the Statute of 11 H. 7. cap. 15. If a Writ of discharge of the ancient Sheriff be delivered to the County Clark sitting in the County Court the authority of the said Sheriff although absent shall presently cease At the adjourning of every Court he must appoint a day certain for the next Court to the intent the Country may know at what time they may resort thither to hear the Lord Protectors Writs of Exigent and Proclamations read The Office of a Coroner in this Court A Coroner is one of the principall Officers of this Court being chosen in it by a Writ de Coronatore elegendo directed to the Sheriff by the Freeholders or Suitors in open and full Court and is published there and after the Sheriff is to returne and certifie into the Chancery the election of every such Coroner and their names likewise the County Clark in Court must administer to the Coroner his oath for the due execution of his Office The Coroner being thus elected and sworn he is to sit there with the Sheriff every County Court to give Judgment upon Outlawries which Judgment shall be given and pronounced by him in the fifth County and there the Sheriff is to returne the Outlawry with the Exigent But by this Judgment no goods are forfeited before the Outlawry appear upon Record neither shall such an Outlawry disable the party Exigents and Proclamations are to be proclaimed five County dayes one after another and once in the open Sessions and once at the Parish Church doore where he doth or did lately dwell that he appear or else that he shall be outlawed And if Proclamation be made five County dayes and at the fifth County day the Defendant appear not then the Coroner shall give Judgment that he shall be out of the Protection of the Lord Protector and out of the ayd of the Law F. N. B. 163. But before I conclude let me give you in brief why a man is said to be outlawed and a woman waived viz. A man is said to be outlawed because he was sworn to the Law and now for his contumacy he is put from the Law and said outlawed as it were extra legem positus but a woman is not so but she is waived and not outlawed because she was never sworn to the Law Of Attorneys in this Court IT was once objected to me that no Attorney could legally practice in this Court and that every man ought to prosecute his own cause himself Epitomie of the Statute of Westminster 2. cap. 10. That every man which oweth Suit to the County Court may make a generall Attorny to prosecute and follow his Suits in all Pleas And likewise in the Statute of Merton cap. 10. Quod quilibet liber homo qui sectam debet ad Com. c. libere possit facere Atturn suum ad sectas illas pro eo faciendas and an Attorny may doe every thing in the name and as the act of him who gave him the authority as if he did it himself he
day of June in the year of our Lord 1656. By the Sheriff If the Defendant do not appear the next Court after the Distringas executed then farther Processe issueth against him viz. a Duces tecum to cause him to appear If not upon the first Duces tecum he appear you may have an Alias Duces tecum and a Plures Duces tecum ad infinitum untill he appear and no other remedy here The form is thus Duces tecum Y. ss I. B. Esq Sheriff c. to all c. greeting I command you and every one of you joyntly and severally that you bring with you and have at the Castle of Y. at my next County Court all those goods and Chattels of R. B. which late by vertue of another Precept of mine to you first directed you distrained at the Suit of S. D. and that you farther distrain the said R. B. by his other Goods and Chattels in the said County so that he be at the Castle of Y. at my next County Court to be holden on Munday the c to answer to the said S. D. in a Plea of debt And have you then and there this Precept Given under the Seal of my office the twentieth day of July in the year c. If you have your Distringas or Duces tecum speciall Then the form is thus Speciall Y. ss I. B. Esq Sheriff of the County aforesaid to all my Bayliffs and their Deputies in and through the County aforesaid more especially to R. S. and T. W. my Bayliffs in this behalf specially deputed greeting c.   then proceed as in the former Of the Writ of Justices THis Writ issueth out of the Chancery directed to the Sheriff giving him power to hold Plea in this Court in Actions for forty shillings or above and though it be directed to the Sheriff yet are the Suitors Judges It is called a Justices because it is a Commission and no originall to the Sheriff to do a man Justice and Right and though it be quod Justices B. yet the Sheriff is not Judge therein but the Suitors and a Writ of false Judgment lyeth upon their erroneous Judgment and it requires no return unlesse the Action be removed by a Writ of Recordare and then the Writ must be returned together with the Record The form of the Precept upon the Writ is as followeth Yo. ss G. M. Esq Sheriff of the said County to all and singular my Bayliffs within the said County and to their Deputies greeting By vertue of a Writ of Justicies of Oliver Lord Protector c. to me directed I command you and every one of you joyntly and severally that you or some of you do Justice to I. C. so that he be and appear at my next County Court to be holden at the Castle of Y. on Munday c. to answer unto E. L. in an Action of debt and that you or some of you certifie your doings herein Sealed with the Seal of my office the two and twentieth day of August in the year of our Lord 1657. By the Sheriff A Replevin IF any goods be taken wrongfully as before I have more at large declared then the party grieved may have a Replevin which must be made after this manner Yo. ss G. M. Esq Sheriff c. to all and every my Bayliffs c. greeting Because G. A. hath comed before me and given sufficient security to prosecute his Suit and make return of his goods if return thereof shall be adjudged Therefore by vertue of my Office I command you and every of you that you or some of you Replevie deliver to the aforesaid G. A. two kine which H. H. hath taken and unjustly detained against the said G. A. and his Pledges and also that you summon and take safe Pledges of the said H. H. so that he be and appear at the Castle of Y. at the next County Court there to be holden upon Munday c. to answer the aforesaid G. A. in an Action for the taking and unjust detaining of his said goods and that you or some of you then and there make return of your doings together with this Precept Given under the Seal of my Office c. And if the Cattell be not delivered by vertue of the said Replevin then the Plaintiff may have an Alias Replevin with these words vel causam mihi signifie with which Replevin must be made after this manner Yo. ss Alias Replevin G. M. Esq c. to all and singular my Bayliffs c. greeting Because G. A. hath comed before me and given sufficient security to prosecute his Suit and make return of his goods if return thereof shall be adjudged Therefore by vertue of my Office I command you and every of you as formerly I have commanded you that you or some of you Replevie and deliver to the said G. A. two Kine without delay you cause to be replevied or the cause to me you signifie wherefore my Mandates to you therefore directed execute you would not or might not which H. H. hath taken and unjustly detained c. as before in the other Replevin And if the Cattell be not delivered upon this Replevin nor shew sufficient cause why he did not then the Party may have a Plures Replevin vel causam mihi signific which must be made verbatim as the Alias Replevin was made and if return be made upon any of these Replevins quod averia elongat sunt ad loca sibi ignot ita quod averia ill ' praef G. A. non potuit deliberar then the Plaintiff may have a Withernam which must be made in this manner Yo. ss Withernam G. M. Esq c. to all c. greeting Because G. A. hath com'd before me c. as in the former I command you and every of you as diverse times I have commanded you that you or some of you replevie and deliver to the said G. A. two Kine which H. H. hath taken and unjustly detained and doth unjustly detain as it is said and that you upon diverse of my Precepts for Replevie to be made to you directed we have certified that the same two Kine elongated are to places unknown so that view of the same have you could not therefore I charge and also command that you take in Withernam Chattells to the value of the said two Kine of the Chattels of the said H. H. to be delivered to the said G. A. for the two Kine aforesaid elongated and also that you summon and take safe Pledges of the said H. H. so that he be and appear c. as before in the Replevin Yo. ss Alias capias in Withernam G. M. Esq c. to all c. greeting Because you have at my County Court held at the Castle of Y. on Munday c. the year c. to me returned that by vertue of my Warrant to you many times directed you came to the Pound of H. H. to the place where the
two Kine aforesaid impounded and detained were by the said H. H. and these two Kine going and elongated were before your coming out of the Pound aforesaid to places to you unknown by the aforesaid H. H. for which the two Kine aforesaid Replevie you could not wherefore it is considered by the Court willing to meet with the malice of him the said H. H. that the Beasts of the said H. H. be taken in Withernam to the value c. and these to the aforesaid G. A. be delivered safely and surely to be kept untill to the same G. A. his Beasts aforesaid according to Law you can Replevy and according to the tenure of my Mandate aforesaid Therefore you and every of you joyntly and severally I command that you take or c. the Beasts of the aforesaid H. H. to the value c. in Withernam and these to the aforesaid G. A. to be delivered you cause or c. safely and securely to be kept untill c. and distrain you or c. the aforesaid H. H. so that he be at the Castle of Y. at the next County Court to be held on c. to answer the aforesaid G A. in the Plea aforesaid and the answer of my Precept known make you c. at the next Court Given under the Seal of my Office such day and year c. Note that when a Replevin is granted there must be a Bond taken of him to whom it is granted or of some other for him with one or two sureties to appear at the next Court and to prosecute his Suit with effect or else it may be prejudiciall both to the Grantor of the Replevin and to the Executioner thereof and the form of that Bond and Condition thereof is this An Obligation upon a Replevin Know all men by these presents that we G. A. of Skipton in Craven in the County of Y. Gent. and I. B. of the same Town and County Yeomen are held and firmly obliged to G. M. Esq Sheriff of the County aforesaid in the summe of 100 l. of lawfull mony of England to be paid to the said G. M. or his certain Attorney his Executors or Assigns to which payment well and truly to be made we bind us our heirs Executors and Administrators firmly by these presents with our Seals sealed Dated the tenth day of July in the year of our Lord 1656. The Condition of this Obligation is such That if G. A. do appear at my next County Court to be holden for the County of Y. at the Castle of Y. on Munday the c. next and do prosecute there with effect his Suit which he hath commenced against H. H. for the taking and unjust detaining of two kine of the goods of him the said G. A. and to make return of the goods if return of the same shall be adjudged That then this present Obligation shall be void and of none effect c. Or thus The Condition c. that whereas G. A. hath obtained from the above named Sheriff a Replevin for the delivering of two kine and other goods distrained and detained by H. H. and others if therefore the said G. A. do prosecute his Suit upon the said Replevin with effect and do make return of the goods if return thereof shall be adjudged and also to save and keep harmlesse the said Sheriff by reason of the said Replevin to him granted as aforesaid That then this present Obligation to be void c. A Tolt TOlt comes from the Latine word tollo viz. to take away It is a Precept by which a cause depending in a Weapentake or Hundred Court or other inferiour Court Baron may be from thence removed into this Court The form is this Yo. ss I. B. Esq Sheriff of the County aforesaid to the Stewards and also to the Bayliff of the Hundred of H greeting Whereas I am informed that you are favorable and not equall in a certain Plaint depending before you in your Court between W. A. Plaintiff and R. M. Defendant therefore on the behalf of his Highnesse the Lord Protector and by vertue of my office I command you and either of you that you take the Plaint so depending before you in your Court between the said parties so that I may have the same at my next County Court to be held at the Castle of Y. on Munday c. next in the same state and Condition as it is now depending before you and that you give notice to the said parties of the same day that they may be there ready to prosecute the said Plaint as to Justice and Right shall appertain and that in further prosecution of the said Plaint in your Court you altogether supersede and no further proceed therein and this c. given under the Seal of my Office the c. The return Hundred of H. ss At the Court Baron holden at W. within the Hundred of H. aforesaid upon Wednesday the last day of Iuly the year c. in the time of I. B. Esq Sheriff of the County aforesaid The Plaint W. A. Plaintiff complains of R. M. Defendant in a Plea of debt damages twenty shillings By vertue of this Precept to us directed to be recorded and taken we have caused the Plaint depending before us in our Court betwixt the parties above named and in the same state and condition as it is now depending and to the same parties we have prefixed and given notice that they be at the County Court within written at the day and place within mentioned to prosecute the said Plaint as to Justice and Right shall appertain and as this Precept exacts and requires In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our Hands and Seals c. I. S. Steward T. L. Bayliff Judiciall Processe JUdiciall Processe issue out after Judgment either by default or Nihil dicit against the Defendant or Non-suit against the Plaintiff The form of Judiciall Processe or a Fieri facias is this Y. ss I. B. Esq Sheriff c. to all and singular my Bayliffs c. greeting I command you and every one of you joyntly and severally that of the Goods and Chattels of T. B. you or some of you cause to be made as well a certain debt of thirty shillings which H. S. in my County Court hath recovered against him as also 13 s. and 10 d. which to the said H. S. in the same Court were adjudged for his costs and charges about his Suit in this behalf expended and have you the mony at the Castle of Y. at my next County Court there to be holden upon Munday c. to render to the said H. S. of the debt and damages aforesaid whereof he is convict And this given under the Seal of my Office c. I. B. Esq Sheriff c. to all and singular my Bayliffs c. greeting I command you and every of you joyntly and severally that you or some of you levy of the goods and
chattels which late were W. W. deceased at the time of his death and now remaining in the hands of I. W. Executor of the Testament of the said W. W. and not administred of as well a certain debt of 40 l. which T. L. in my County Court by vertue of a Writ of Justicies recovered against him as also 20 s. which to the said T. L. in the same Court was adjudged for his costs and damages which he sustained by reason of the detaining of the said debt If the said I. W. Executor of the Testament of the said W. W. have so much goods or chattels in his hand which were the said W. W. at the time of his death sufficient to satisfie the debt and damages aforesaid If he have not so much goods or chattels in his hands which were the said W. W. at the time of his death sufficient to satisfie the said T. L. of the debt and damages aforesaid That then you or some of you levy of the proper goods and chattels of the said I. W. the damages and costs aforesaid so that I may have the said mony at my next County Court to be holden at the Castle of Y. c. to render to the said T. L. the debt and damages aforesaid whereof he is convict And this given under the Seal of my Office the c. I. B. Esq c. to all and singular my Bayliffs c. greeting I command you and every of you that of the goods and chattels of T. O. you levy 20 s. which S. D. in the County Court according to a Statute provided in that case were adjudged for his costs and damages which he sustained in his own defence in a certain Plea of debt which the said S. D. against the said T O. of late brought because the said T. O. did not prosecute his Suit but was thereupon non-suited and convicted so that I may have the mony at my next County Court at the Castle of Y. holden on Munday c. next to satisfie the aforesaid S. D. of his costs and damages aforesaid And this c. Given under the Seal of my Office the c. I. B. Esq c. to all c. greeting I command you that of the goods and chattels of T. C. you levy 40 s. which to P. P. in my County Court were adjudged for his damages which he sustained in his own defence in a Plea of debt by the said W. against him the said P. P. lately brought whereof the said P. P. was quieted and by Verdict of his Country whereof the said T. C. was convict have you the mony at my next County Court to be holden at the Castle of Y. on Munday c. to satisfie the said P. P. of his damages aforesaid And this c. given under the seal of my office c. I. B. Esq c. to all c. greeting I command you and every of you joyntly and severally that of the goods and chattels which late were of E. S. Esq who dyed intestate as it is said and now in the hands of R. M. Gent. and A. his wife Administratrix of the goods and chattels which were the said E. S. at the time of his death remaining to be administred you cause to be made as well a certain debt of 4 l. which I. W. hath recovered against the said E. S. in my County Court as 30 s. which to him the said I. W. in my same Court were adjudged for his costs and damages which he had by occasion of detaining of the same debt by vertue of a Writ of Justices so that I may have the said mony at my next County Court to be holden at the Castle of Y. c. to render the aforesaid I. W. of the debt and damages aforesaid whereof the aforesaid E. S. was convict And whereupon it was considered in my same Court that the aforesaid I. W. should have Execution against the aforesaid R. M. c. of the debt and damages aforesaid of the goods and chattels aforesaid by his the said R. M. his default And this given under the seal of my office the c. I. B. Esq c. to all singular my Bayliffs c. greeting I command you and every one of you joyntly and severally especiall to F. P. Bayliff of the Liberty of S. and his Deputies who hath the goods taken upon an Execution issuing out of this Court that those twenty weather Sheep of which each you cause to be apprised at eight shillings of the goods of I. C. Esq which you took and remain in your hands unsold for want of buyers as you your self returned to my Court you expose to sale and the mony thereof which in the whole amounts to eight pounds you have at my next County Court at the Castle of Y. holden on Munday the tenth day of May next to render to W. G. which to him the said W. G. in my Court were adjudged for his damages which he had by occasion of a certain Trespasse to him committed by the aforesaid I. C brought whereof he is convict And this given under the Seal of my Office the 18 day of October in the year of our Lord 1657. By the Sheriff Of a Scire Facias IF a Fieri facias do not issue out within a year and a day after Judgment entered it cannot be had till there be a Scire facias first sued out to summon the Defendant to shew cause why Execution should not be done and if now he neglect to answer or cannot be found to be summoned then a second Judgment shall be given that that Execution be done of the first Judgment If Judgment be given against a Testator albeit it be within a year after Judgment had yet there must first issue out a Scire facias against the Executor or Administrator before Execution to shew cause why it should not be had Or if a man recover against a Feme-sole and she become covert viz. take a Husband within the year and the day then he that shall recover must have a Scire facias against the Husband Scire facias post diem annum I. B. Esq Sheriff c. greeting Whereas W. F. of late in the Court of the aforesaid County by Judgment in the said Court of the County aforesaid held at the Castle of X on Munday the tenth day of February 1654. before the Suitors of the said Court recovered against G. L. as well a certain debt of thirty two shillings which the said W. F. in the same Court recovered against him as thirteen shillings and ten pence which to the said W. F. in the same Court were adjudged for his damages which he sustained by the occasion of the detaining of the debt of which he is convicted for as by the proceedings from thence in the same Court residing notwithstanding the manifest Execution of the aforesaid Judgment remains to be done as by
Scire facias 00-02-00 Tolt 00-01-02 Precept upon an accedas ad curiam 00-02-04 Supersedeas 00-02-04 Procedendo 00-02-00 Warrant of Attorney upon every Distringas 00-00-02 Warrant of Attorney upon a Iusticies 00-00-04 Entring Essoynes for every name 00-00-04 Entring Imparlance 00-01-00 Copying the Declaration 00-01-00 Allowing the answer 00-01-00 Copying the answer 00-01-00 Allowing the Replication 00-01-00 And for copying the Replication and allowing the Rejoynder c. and so of the rest 00-02-00 Entring a Rule 00-00-04 Entring a Default by Nihil dicit 00-00-04 Entring a Non-suit 00-00-04 Dividing a Plaint for every name 00-00-04 Entring Judgment 00-02-00 Transcript upon a Plaint 00-01-08 Transcript upon a Writ of Iusticies 00-03-04 Allowing a Recordare 00-04-00 Allowing a Pone 00-04-10 Allowing a Writ of False Iudgment 00-06-08 Fees to the Attorney FOr drawing every Declaration 00-01-00 Drawing every answer 00-01-00 Drawing the Replication 00-01-00 Drawing Rejoynder 00-01-00 Drawing Sur-rejoynder 00-01-00 For every Court day wherein he proceeds in the Action allowed as his Fee 00-02-00 Fees to the Bayliff for executing of Processe FOr executing a Distringas of the Plaintiff 00-00-04 and of the Defendant 00 00-08 A Duces tecum of the Plaintiff 00 00-04 And of the Defendant 00-00-08 A Iusticies of the Plaintiff 00-01-00 and of the Defendant 00-02-00 A Replevin of the Plaintiff 00-02-00 A Venire facias 00-02-00 If tried for the Habeas corpora 00-02-00 A Fieri facias 00-02-00 A Scire facias 00-02-00 The Order of the Judges of Assize at York the 24. day of July 1654. concerning Essoins illegally returned into this Court. WHereas of late Judgements have been surreptitiously obtained in this Court by reason of Essoins unduly brought into the Court by Bailiffs or their Deputies and others after attachment of goods for appearance which pretended Essoins being afterwards disavowed by the defendant have occasioned sundry complaints and suits when the defendants goods were taken in execution for preventing whereof it is ordered upon advice and consultation had with the Judges of Assize at Y this day that henceforth no common Essoin shal be entred and allowed by the Court to save a default unlesse it be warranted in writing under the proper hand-writing or under the hand seal or mark of the defendant thereby specially authorizing the party being the Essoiner to cast such Essoin for him and in his name for the truth of which subscription or sealing the same Essoin is to be sworn in open Court and no Essoin is to be admitted or received from henceforth being not affirmed and sworn unto and so entred upon the back of the warrant of attachment which is to remain upon the file amongst the Rolls or proceedings of the Courr and if any other person not being a Bailiff shall be the Essoiner he is to bring the like warrant from the Defendant in writing as is aforesaid and be sworn for the truth thereof which is to remain in Court as aforesaid And no jugdement shall be given where there is no other appearance but an essoin Unlesse the Essoin shall appear to be warranted as aforesaid To swear to warrant Essoyns in this Court is contrary to the Statute of Marlbridge cap. 19. which saith De essoniis autem provisum est quod in Com. c. nullus habeat necesse jurare pro Essonio suo warrantizand Of the nature and Return of those Writs that do remove actions out of this Court into superiour Courts WRits removing suits out of this Court may be without shewing cause in the writ if the remove be by the Plaintiff but not without shewing good cause if it be by the Defendant As that the suit is for Charters of land or for inheritance or for freehold of Land or any titles of Land or actions touching life or actions to cause one to render an accompt or trespass vi armis all which are not within the cognizance of the Court. Or that he before whom the action depends is a favourer of him that is on the other side or that the Defendant avoweth for damage feasant and the Plaintiff doth justifie for common of pasture which is a plea touching Freehold and thrrefore the prosecution in this Court ceaseth First of a Recordare facias loquelam A Recordare is a writ issuing out of the Chancery directed to the Sheriff commanding him to send a plaint that is before him in his County Court without writ of Iusticies into the Court of Vpper Bench or Common Pleas to the end that the cause may be there determined And the Shiriff is hereupon to summon the other party to be in that Court into which the Plaint is to be sent at a day certain And of all this he is to make a certificate under his own Seal and the Seals of four Suitors of the same Court By vertue of this Writ to me directed at my County of Y. held at the Castle of Y. within written such a day and year to be Recorded I caused the Plea of which within is made mention which appears in a Schedule to this Writ annexed and that Record I have before the Iustices within written at the day and place within contained under my Seal and the Seals of W. H. E. R. c. four good and legall Knights of the same County of them who at the Record present were and to the parties within written that day I have prefixed that then they be there in that Plea as just it may be to prosecute as within to me is commanded The residue of the Execution of this Writ appears in a certain Schedule to this Writ annexed At my County Court held at the Castle of Y. in the County aforesaid such day and year before I. R. M. L. I. S. and S. D. four Suitors of the said Court amongst other matters is contained R. S. complaineth against B. W. of a Plea of debt or as the case requires I. B. Esq Sheriff pledg of prosec I. S. I. D. In testimony of c. By vertue of this Writ to be recorded I have caused the Plea which is in my County without Writ of Oliver Lord Protector c. betwixt A. B. and C. D. concerning the Beasts of him the said A. B. taken and unjustly detained as it is said and that Record I have before the Justices within written at the day and place within contained under my seal and the seals of E. B. S. D. R. B and I. L. four legall Knights of my County of those who at the Record present were as it appeareth in a certain Schedule to this Writ annexed according to the Exigency of this Writ At my County held c as before By vertue of this Writ in form within written I came to the Court within written and in that full Court to be recorded caused the plea within written and that Record as it appeareth in a Schedule to this Writ annexed I have before the Justices within written at
the day and place within contained and to the parties within written that day have prefixed that then they be there in that Plea as just it may be to proceed as within to me is commanded A. B. complaines of C. D. in a Plea of taking of the Beasts of him the said A. B. in testimony of which matter E. B. S. D. I. W. and I. R. four legall men of those who at the Record present were in full Court at the Castle of Y. in the County aforesaid the tenth day of Aug in the year c. to the same Record their Seals severally have put the day and year abovesaid Note that though the Plea be discontinued in the County yet the Plaintiff or Defendant may remove the Plaint into the Common Pleas or Upper Bench by a Recordare c. and it shall be good and he shall declare upon the same And the Court shall hold Plea upon the fame Plaint for if the Plaint be continued in the County and issue joyned upon it yet nothing shall be removed but only the Plaint and in the Common Pleas the Plaintiff may declare anew c. Likewise if the Recordare bear date before the Plaint was entred in the County it is good enough and the Record is well removed The nature of a Pone A Pone doth nothing differ from a Recordare but that a Pone is allwayes to remove such Suits as are before the Sheriff by Writ of Iusticies and not by Plaint onely but the Recordare is to remove the Suit that is by Plaint onely without Writ F. N. B. 70. 11. By vertue of this Writ to me directed I have put before the Justices c. of the Common Bench at Westminster the Plea which is in my County by Writ of his Highness the Lord Protector of Iusticies betwixt A. B. and C. D. of a Plea of debt as it is said as it appeareth in a certain Schedule to this Writ annexed c. At my County Court held at the Castle of Y. in the County aforesaid upon Munday the twelfth day of August in the year of our Lord 1658. c. A. B. complaineth of C. D. of a Plea of debt in testimony of which matter R. L. S. R. T. O. and S. D. four legall men of those who at the Record present were in full Court their seals severally have put the day and year abovesaid A. B. complaineth of C. D. of a plea of debt 20 l. That if a plea be removed by Pone at the suit of the Defendant or Plaintiff and afterwards they proceed in this Court in the plea and give judgement and award execution c. then the Defendant or he against whom the judgement was given and execution awarded shall have an attachment against the Sheriff directed to the Coroner to answer as well his Highness the Lord Protector for the contempt as the party his damages c. Of the Writ of Prohibition THe Writ of Prohibition is of the same nature of a Recordare and a Pone but not in use Of the Consultation or Procedendo THese two Writs are both of one nature though the Writ of Consultation be obsolete and the writ of Procedendo stept up into its place it lieth where a cause hath been formerly removed by Pone or Recordare from this Court into the Vpper Bench or Common Pleas and for want of sufficient cause of removeall is sent back again Fitz. old Natura brevium 50. The nature of a Writ of False Judgement A Writ of salfe Iudgement lieth where an erroneous Judgement is given in this Court being no Court of Record then the party grieved by the Judgment may have this Writ and remove all processe of the suit into the Common Bench and there it shall be examined if it be found erroneous the Judgement shall be reversed and the suiters of the Court who gave the Judgement amerced Note that a Writ of false Judgement lieth not but in a Court where there are Suitors for if there be no Suitors there the Record cannot be certified by them F. N. B. 43. H. By vertue of this Writ to me directed to be Recorded I have caused the Plea which is in my County together with the proceedings and the Judgement betwixt the parties beneath and to the same parties day have prefixed to be before the Justices within written at the day place within contained as the Writ exacts and requires which plea with the proceedings and judgment appeareth in a certain Schedule to this Writ annexed A Plaint by Writ in the County Court holden at the Castle of Y. in the County aforesaid on Monday the 23. day of August the year c. before the Suitors of the same Court in the time of I. B. Esquire Sheriff of the County aforesaid according to the Customs and Priviledges of the same Court time whereof the memory of man is not to the contrary have been used and approved in the same At this Court came A. B. in his proper person and brought here into Court a Writ of his Highnesse the Lord Protector of Iusticies which said Writ follows in these words O LIVER Lord Protector of c. To the Sheriff of Y. greeting A. B. hath complained to us that C. D. upon him the said A. B. at the Castle of Y. hath made an assault and hath beaten wounded and evil intreated him so that of his life it was despaired and hath done him other wrongs to the great damage and grievance of the said A. B. and therefore we command you that you hear the said plaint and after cause them to be therefore brought to justice for the same that we hear no more complaint therein for want of justice Witnesse our selves at Westminster the 10. day of August in the year of our Lord 1656. And thereupon found Pledges to prosecute the said plaint that is to say Io. Doo and Ric. Roo And thereupon the said A. B. put in his place S. D his Attorney in the plaint aforesaid and by his said Attorney required processe to be made to him upon the same And it was commanded by the said I. B. Esquire Sheriff of the said County to all and singular his Bailiffs jointly and severally and their Deputies that they or some of them should do justice to the said C. D. so that he should be and appear at the next County Court to be holden at the Castle of Y. on Monday the 20. day of September then next in the year aforesaid to answer the said A. B. in the plaint aforesaid At which day came the said A. B. by his Attorney aforesaid and offered himselfe against the said C. D. in the plaint aforesaid and then and there came I. P. one of the Bailiffs in the County aforesaid of the said I. B. Sheriff of the said County and returned the said precept so directed as aforesaid served and executed on him and the said C.
P. for the honour of P. the 12. day of June in the year of our Lord 1656. before I. H. T. H. I. G. and R. H. suicors of the said Court R. S. complains against I. N. of a plea of Trespasse upon the case to the damage of 30 s. By vertue of this Writ to me directed at the Court aforesaid holden the day and year abovesaid in full Court there to be recorded I have caused the plaint of which within is made mention which plaint doth appear above written and that Record I have returned sealed with my seal and the seals of the aforenamed four lawful men being in the said Court present at the said Record And to the parties within written I have prefixed the day in the Writ specified that then they be ready to proceed as just it may be in the said plaint as within to me is commanded W. O. Steward I. H. T. H. I. G. R. H. Suitors By vertue of this Writ to me directed in form within written I came to the Court within written and in that full Court to be recorded I caused the plea within written and the Record as it appeareth in a Schedule to this Writ annexed I have before the Justices at the day and place within contained under my seal and the seals of T. R. A. B. C. D. and E. F. four legal men of my Shire of those who at the Record present were and to the parties c. Or thus if the Record be not returned By vertue of this Writ to me directed and in my proper person having taken with me R. S. c. good and lawfull Knights of my County I came to the Court Baron of G. S. I. K. c. holden at P. for the Honour of P. to Record the Plea within written at the day and place within contained as within to me is commanded whereupon the Suitors of the Court aforesaid at P. aforesaid in full Court me the within written Sheriff the said Writ there to execute or as to the said plea in any manner to intermit altogether denied for which execution of the Writ aforesaid make I could not c. It is a good return for the Sheriff to say that after the receipt of the Writ and before the return thereof that no Court was holden and that also he required the Lord to hold his Court and he would not so as he could not execute the same The Return of a Writ for the Election of a Coroner after the death of another AT my County Court held such a day and year in full County aforesaid by vertue of this Writ of the assent of the same County in the place of R. O. within named who deceased is I have chosen a Coroner viz. I. M. who as the manner is hath taken his oath corporal that he will do and keep those things which to the office of a Coroner in the County aforesaid belong to be done as within c. The Return of the Writ of Exigent BY vertue of this writ to me directed at my County held at the Castle of Y. in the County of Y. within written on Monday c. the year c. within written I. C. and the rest of the Defendants within named if there be above two in the writ first were exacted and appeared not at my County of Y. there holden on Monday c. the year aforesaid the foresaid I. C. and the rest of the Defendants within named the second time were exacted and appeared not at my County of Y. there holden on Monday c. in the year aforesaid the said I. C. and the rest of the Defendants within named the third time were exacted and appeared not at my County of Y. there held on Monday c. in the year aforesaid the aforesaid I. C. and the rest of the Defendants within named the fourth time were exacted and appeared not At my County of Y. there held on Monday c. in the year aforesaid the aforesaid I. C. and the rest of the Defendants within named the fifth time were exacted and appeared not And therefore I. C. and the rest of the Defendants within named by Judgement of I W. and W. R. Gent. Coroners of the Common-wealth of the County aforesaid according to the Law and Custom of the Common-wealth of England outlawed are and every of them is outlawed I. B. Esquire Sheriff By vertue of this writ to me directed at my County held at Y. in the County of Y. within written on Monday c. in the year within written the said I. R. within named first exacted was and appeared not this Writ so above indorsed to be delivered was by I. B. Esquire late Sheriff of the County within written my next Predecessor in his going out from his office as above upon the back of this writ And at my County c. as before Or thus This Writ so above indorsed together with the Writ of Oliver Lord Protector of c. of Supersedeas to it annexed to me delivered was by I. B. Esquire late Sheriff of the aforesaid County my next Predecessor c. If it be against a woman she cannot be said to be outlawed for the reasons I shewed before but waved so that the latter part of the return must be thus viz. Therefore according to law and custom aforesaid B. D. waved is By vertue c. at my County held on Monday c. the said year c. within written the aforesaid I. C. the fifth time exacted was and appeared not and for defect of N. B. and R C Coroners of the County aforesaid further thereupon to prosecute I could not By vertue c. and at my County c. and that there were not more Counties in the County aforesaid held from the day of the receipt of this writ to the day of the rerurn of the same wherefore nothing done is at present Or thus And therefore in the Execution of this Writ further to be done nothing acted is By vertue c. of my County aforesaid held on Monday c. in the year c. within written the aforesaid C. D. the fourth time exacted was and appeared and brought forth to me the Writ of his Highnesse the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of c. of Supersedeas which to this Writ annexed is wherefore the execution of this Writ further to be done I have superseded altogether Or thus As in the foresaid Writ of his Highnesse the Lord Protector of c. of Supersedeas to me is commanded Or thus As to exact take outlawed or at all molest the within named I. R. by vertue of this Writ to the Justices c. within written at the day and place within contained I certifie that by vertue of a certain other Writ of his Highnesse c. to me directed to this annexed I have superseded altogether as by that Writ to me is commanded By vertue c. at my
facias is onely against the goods as Leases for years or moveable goods as Corn Houshold stuffe Cattle Apparrel Money Plate c. and it ought to be sued out within the year after the Judgement Co. 3. 13. After a Fi. fa. a man may have an Elegit but on the contrary after the Elegit he cannot have a Fi. fa. because the Elegit is of a higher nature then the Fieri facias An Elegit is a Writ whereby the Plaintiff is to have Execution of the half of all the Defendants lands and chattels except Oxen and beasts of the Plough till the debt and damages be wholly levied and paid to him and during the term he is tenant by Elegit Terms of the Law The Proceedings upon the Writ of False Judgement YOu must call of the County Clerk for a return of the Writ together with the whole Record of all the proceedings from the original and beginning of the cause in the County Court The Writ being returned you must assign Errors and take Copies thereof and thereupon sue forth a Scire facias to the Plaintiff in the Action to hear Errors To which the Plaintiff may appear and plead the common plea which is that The action nor proceedings in the County Court are in nothing erroneous Then must the Desendant endeavor to get a Rule or day given for the arguing of the same Errors But if the Defendant doth delay and doth not call for a return of the writ nor proceed then the Plaintiff may sue forth another Scire facias against the Defendant to shew cause why he should not have Execution upon the Judgement had in the County Court And if at the Return of the second Scire Facias Errors be not assigned then Judgment is confirmed in that Court into which the Writ is returnable If Errors be found and allowed to be sufficient and good then is the said Judgment to be reversed and made void But if Errors be not found good then is the Judgment in the County Court affirmed and further costs for delay of Execution allowed to the Plaintiff who may presently sue forth Execution out of that Court into which the Writ was returned against the Defendant Note that if the Judgment be reversed and made void yet notwithstanding it takes not away the Plaintiffs cause of action for he may commence a new action against the Desendant for the same cause The same proceedings are upon an Accedeas ad Curiam See the Record upon it The manner and form of drawing up Records upon a Writ of False Judgment and Accedeas ad Curiam THe Sheriff is commanded that if A. B. shall secure the same Sheriff to prosecute his plaint then in his full County he cause to be recorded the plaint which was in the same County by writ of his Highnesse the Lord Protector c. between W. B. and the same A. B. in a certain Trespasse upon the case to the same W. B. by the same A. B. done c. And whereupon the same A. B. did complain that False Judgment was done to him in the same County and that he should have here at this day that is to say Octab. pur under his Seal and by four lawfull Knights of the same County who should be present at the Record and that he should have here the Summoners the names of the four Knights this Writ and another Writ And now here at this day came aswell the same A. B. by Simon Dunn his Attorney as the said W. B. summoned c. by Phit Prince his Attorney And the Sheriff to wit Geo. Mar. Esquire now returneth that the same A. B. had found to the same Sheriff Pledges to prosecute his said Writ to wit Iohn Doo and Ric Roo And that he by vertue of that Writ to him directed at his County held at the Castle of York in the County asoresaid the 10. day of May in the year of our Lord 1657. made the same plaint to be recorded which was in the same County between the same A. B. and W. B. and the Record of the same plaint before the Justices here at this day under his seal and the seals of H. M. and four lawfull Knights of the same County hath ready of those who were present at the Record And that he summoned the same W. B. that he should be here at this day to hear the Record by R. S. and F. L. as by the same Writ to him it was commanded c. which said Record followeth in these words OLIVER Lord Protector c. To the Sheriff of York greeting W. B. hath requested that A. B. of C. in your County husbandman although the same W. B. be our true and faithfull subject and as our true and faithfull subject from the time of his nativity hitherto hath carried and behaved himselfe and of good name and same among many of our saithfull subjects was noted called and reputed notwithstanding the same A. B. not ignorant of the premisses the same W. B. unjustly to vex and him of his goods name fame and opinion whereof from his nativity to deprive conspurgate And the same W. B. into perturbation vexation and infamy amongst his neighbours and many other saithfull subjects and people of this Commonwealth to induce plain salse and scandalous words of the same W. B. at C. in the presence of many faithfull subjects and people of this Commonwealth said published and pronounced in these English words following to wit W. B. the same W. B. meaning hath stoln my horse By speaking publishing and pronouncing which same words the same W. B. not only in his good name and same is hurt but also in his doings and businesses with honest persons with whom the same W. B. in buying selling and lawfull bargaining before used is much prejudiced and made worse to the no little damage and losse of the same W. B. c. And therefore we command you that you hear the said Plaint and afterwards cause the same to be with-drawn that we hear no more clamour thereof for defect of Justice Witnesse c. Pleas held at the Castle of York in the County of York upon Monday the second day of June in the year of our Lord 1657. AT this Court W. B. complaineth of A. B. in a plea of Trespasse upon the case W. B. by P. P. his Attorney complaineth of A. B. in a plea of Trespasse upon the case for that to wit that whereas the same W. B. is a good true and faithfull subject of this Common-wealth of England from the time of his nativity hitherto hath carried and behaved himself and of good name same credit and reputation honestly with good and grave men as well his neighbours as other saithfull subjects of the said Cōmonwealth was had noted called and reputed without any falshood thest perjury selony deceit or stain of any other fault or hurtfull crime unspotted and untouched by the whole time aforesaid carried
and governed himselfe Notwithstanding the said A. B. not ignorant of the premisses out of his meer and wicked malice preconceived indeavouring the name and same of the same W. B. to hurt detract make worse darken and utterly to destroy and also into perturbation vexation and insamy to lead and induce certain salse and scandalous words and lies of the same W. B. the 8. day of April in the yeare of our Lord 1656. at c. and within the liberty and jurisdiction of this Court in the presence and hearing of many faithfull subjects of the said Commonwealth said repeated and spread abroad in these English words following to wit W. B. meaning the same W. B. hath stoln my horse out of my Close which I will prove By pretext of speaking and spreading abroad of which said salse scandalous words the same W. B. not only in his good name and same is hurt but also in performance of his businesse with honest persons with whom the said W. B. in buying selling and lawfull bargaining is much hindred and damnified and also some subjects and people of this Common-wealth for that occasion will draw themselves from the company of the same W. B. and to converse with him or any wayes to intermeddle refused and yet do refuse whereupon c. damages to 39 l. And thereof he bringeth suit c. And the said A. B. by S. D. his Attorney cometh c. And saith that the said W. B. his action aforesaid against him ought not to have because he saith that he is not guilty of the speaking and spreading abroad of the words in the Declaration aforesaid specified nor of any part of them in manner and form as the said W. B. above against him complaineth And this c. Therefore according to the custom it is commanded to the Bailiff of the Weapentake of Ouze and Dar that c. that he cause to come before the Steward of the same Court at the next Court of the County aforesaid such a day 12. c. And that he then have there the same Precept together with the pannel of the names of the Jurors aforesaid the same day c. At which County Court held at the Castle of Y. aforesaid according to the custom before the Steward there upon Monday the 2. day of April came as well the same W. B. by his Attorney aforesaid as the same A. B. by his Attorney aforesaid c. and the same Bailiff of the Weapentake aforesaid returned the precept to him directed in all things served together with a Pannel of the names of the Jurors Annexed to the precept to wit in the same pannel are named L. M. N. R. c. to make a Jury between the parties aforesaid in the plea aforesaid who to speak the truth of the premisses being elected tried sworn say upon their oath that the said A. B. is guilty of the speaking spreading abroad of the said words in the said Declaration specified and they assessed the damages of the said W. B. by occasion of the speaking of the same words besides his costs and expences by him about his suit in this behalf laid out to 4 l. 5 s. for those costs expences to 8 d. Therefore at the same Court that the said W. B. should recover against the said A. B. his said damages by the Jury aforesaid in form aforesaid assessed and also 3 s. 8 d. for his costs and expences which said damages in the whole do amount unto 5 l. 17 s. 4 d. In witness whereof the seal of the Steward of the Court aforesaid is put Dated at the Castle of Y. the 12. day of March in the year of our Lord 1657. And hereupon the same VV. B. prayeth that the same A. B. may shew to the Court here and assign the defects wherein false Judgment is made in the said plaint if any be done to him whereupon the same A. B. saith that the same Record is vitious and much defective to wit in that it doth not appear by the Record before whom the first Court was held and in this that the said VV. B. by his Declaration did complain himself to be damnified and made worse to the value of 40 l. whereas by the law of the land that Court cannot hold plea of 40 s. In this also that the same Court held the 12. of March was held before the Steward whereas it ought to be held before the Suitors of the same Court and the Sheriff of the County for the time being so that the same Judgment was given Coram non Iudice Also in this that by the same Record it appeareth that the same VV. B. appeared by P. P. his Attorney and the same A. B. appeared by S. D. his Attorney but in the Record is not mentioned any Warrant of Attorney for the same VV. B. or for the same A. B. in the said plaint And to the same A. B. saith that divers manner of ways in the County Court aforesaid false Judgment is made to him in the said plaint And hereupon prayeth that the said Judgment for the said defects and others being in the same Record as false and erroneous may be adnulled and altogether taken for nothing And the same A. B. to the said 5 l. 17 s. 4 d. which the said A. B. by vertue of the same Judgment for his damages by occasion of the premisses recovered against him and unto all things which he by occasion of the same Judgment lost may be restored c. And the same W. B. saith that in the Record aforesaid there is no errour nor to the same A. B. in the same County Court held at the Castle of Y. aforesaid false Judgment is made in the same plaint and prayeth that the Justices here proceed to the examination of the same Record and to resorm and correct the false Judgment if any be found therein proved or can be made appear And because the Justices here will advise themselves of and upon the premises before they further proceed therein day is given c in Oct. pur to hear thereof what the Court hereof and upon the premises shall consider because the Justices hear thereof not as yet c. At which day here came aswell the said A. B. as the said W. B. by their Attorneys aforesaid And because the Justices here further will advise themselves of and upon the premisses aforesaid before they proceed further therein further day is given c. in Mens Pas to hear thereof what the Court hereof and upon the premisses aforesaid shall consider for that the Justices hear thereof not as yet c. If any errors and defects be found in the proceedings then will the Judgement be reversed and a Writ of Restitution awarded It was commanded the Sheriff if A. B. and C. D. should secure the same Sheriff of prosecuting their complaint then in his full County he should make to be recorded the plaint which was in
if he hath Assets there 16 E. 3 Execution 49. and a man may well pray Execution of the body in one County and an Elegit of the land in the other County Execution 38. If a Statute Merchant be sued of parcel of the Lands of the Conusor in the name of all his Lands he shall never extend on the rest of the lands Mic. 22. E. 3. f. 14. If three are bound to one in a Statute Merchant and every one of them by themselves quemlibet eorum perse I may sue Execution against one of them only or against them all at my pleasure If an Infant bind himselfe in a Statute-Merchant or Statute-Staple he may avoid this during his Non-age by Audita Querela and also he may have his Audita Querela after his full age to avoid this Statute by matter of fait and the like law if the Statute be acknowledged by dures of imprisonment Statute Staple WE now come to the laying open a Statute-Staple which is duplicate to use the words of Mr. West viz. either 1. Properly so called or 2. Improperly 1. A Statute-Staple properly so called is an Obligation acknowledged before the Major of the Staple in the presence of one or two Constables of the same Staple And by vertue of such Statute-Staple the Creditor or Recognisee may forthwith have execution of the body lands and goods of the Debtor or Recognisor and this is founded upon the Statute of 27 E. 3. c. 9. 2. A Statute-Staple improper is an obligation of Record founded upon the Stat. of 23 H. 8. c. 6. of the nature and validity of a proper Statute-Staple as touching the form and Execution thereof and acknowledged before one of the chief Justices and in their absence before the Major of the Staple at Westminster and Recorder of London You have the forms of all these Obligations or Statutes in West part 1. Symb. L. 2. Sect. 152. 153. 154. 155. It is sealed with three seals viz. with the seal of the Conusor with the seal of the Protector and of one of the said Iustices or of the Major and Recorder 23 H. 8. c 6. And note that all Statutes Staple and Merchant shall be brought to the Clerk of the Recognisance within four months and inrolled within six months otherwise such Statute shall be void against Purchasors c. 27 Eliz. c. 4. The maner of the proceeds upon it are the same with the Statute-Merchant saving that in a Statute-Staple presently after the Certificate into the Chancery the Conusee shall have a Writ to take his body and extend his Lands and goods returnable in Chancery and this writ is a Commission directed to the Sheriff of the County where the Lands and goods lie for the valuing of the same whereby all the lands goods and chattels of the Conusor shal be apprised and valued at a reasonable rate by a Jury of men sworn charged by the Sheriff for that purpose which Inquisition so taken is to be returned by the Sheriff and thereupon the lands goods and chattels are to be taken into the Sheriffs hands and by him to be delivered to the Conusee which the Sheriff may do if he will without any Writ to hold unto the Conusee until he be satisfied his debt and damages And if the Sheriff refuse so to do the Conusee shall have a writ out of the Chancery called a Liberate to compell him to deliver to the Conusee the lands goods and chattels so found by inquisition and taken into his hands upon the Extent which the Sherif need not return Fitz. Accompt 97. Execution in toto Broo. Stat. in toto Stat. Acton Burnel de Mercat 27 E. 3. 9. F N B. 130. 131. 132. Dyer 180 Coo. 4. 67. Plow 61. 62. 82. Co. super Lit. 290. Coo. 5. 87. c. See more of the proceeding in Statute-Merchant It was adjudged in B. R. Hil. 42. Eliz. that a debt recovered in the Kings Court by Judgment shall be paid before a Bond in nature of a Statute-Staple or Merchant because the Judgment is a matter of a more high and worthy nature then private portable pocket Records also it shall be preferred before a Recognisance acknowledged in any Court by assent which may also be privately done and a Judgment so given in the Kings Court upon ordinary and judicial proceedings which remain in the custody of a sworn Officer are Records which are preferred in Law before such Statutes non refert whether the Judgment or Recognisance or Statute be first for be the Judgment first or last it shall be first satisfied c. And so it was holden per totam curiam in the Common Pleas in Pemberton and Bartams case Plow 32. El. Rot. 235. which see in the end of Sadlers Case in the 4. Reports Dyer 80 53. Recognisance what it is WE now come to the third which is Recognisance and that is an Obligation or Bond of Record acknowledged in a Court of Record testifying the Recognisor to owe to the Recognisee a certain summe of money and is acknowledged in some Court of Record or before some Judge or other Officer of such Court having authority to take the same as the Master of the Chancery the Judges of either Bench of the Exchequer Justices of Peace c. And those that be meer Recognisances are not sealed but inrolled And yet some are sealed with the seale of the party and may be with condition annexed or may be single and then to have Indentures of defeasance If the money be not paid at the day the Conusee proceeds upon it after this manner The Conusee his Executor or Administrator is to bring a Scire facias against the Conusor or if he be dead against his heirs when they be of full age or if the Lands the Conusor had at the time of the entering into the Recognisance be sold against the Purchasors of those Lands which the Conusor had at any time after the Recognisance entred into to warn them to come into that Court whence the Scire facias cometh and to shew cause why Execution should not be done upon the said Recognisance And if the party or parties cannot be found to be warned or being warned do not appear at the time or appearing shew no cause why the debt should not be levied then the Conusee shall have Execution of a moyty of his Lands by Elegit or if the Conusor be living of all his goods by Levari or Fieri facias at his Election but he cannot have Execution of his body unlesse he bring an action of debt upon the Recognisance or it be by course of the Court as it is in the Upper Bench upon a Bail in which case a Capias doth lie Dyer 360. 315 West 2. 18. Broo Execution 129. Co. 3. 11. 15 H 7. 16. Kitch 117. And the proceeds against Sureties in Statutes shall be as the
vertue of this Writ I have delivered to the within named I G. the Mannors Messuages Parks Woods and all and singular the Lands and Tenements with the appurtenances within mentioned To hold to him and his assigns as his Freehold until he shall be fully satisfied of his debt within mentioned with his damages charges and expences reasonably sustained as by this Writ it is commanded And I further hereby certifie his Highness that the within named R. W. is not found in my Bailiwick R. S. Esquire Sherif By vertue of this Writ to me directed in form within written in full Court I recorded the Plaint within mentioned And that Record as it appeareth in a Scedule to this Writ annexed I have before the Justices within written at the day and place within contained under my seal and the seals of R C. M C. T Y. and R E. four honest and lawfull men of my Bailiwick of those which were there present at that Record And I have prefixed the same day to the parties within written that then they may be there ready to proceed in the said plaint as shall be just according to the exigence of this Writ R. S. Esquire Sheriff B. ss At the Hundred Court of B. holden at C. the 12. day of A. in the year of our Lord 1658. in the said Hundred before I. K. and L M. free Suitors of the same Hundred B. ss A B complaineth against C D. of a plea of taking and unjust detaining of his goods and chattels R. S. Esquire Sherif By vertue of this Writ to me directed in my full County Court of N. held at N. in my said County the 12. day of A. in the year of our Lord 1648. I caused the Plaint to be recorded between the parties within written whereof within is made mention which plaint appeareth in a certain Scedule to this Writ annexed And I have that Record ready before the Justices within mentioned at the day and place within contained under my seal and the Seals of W H. L E. I B. and T C. four lawfull freeholders of the same County of those which were present at that Record and I have prefixed the same day to the parties within written that they be then there ready to proceed in the said plaint as shall be just according to the exigence of this Writ R. S. Esquire Sheriff N. ss At my County Court of N. held at I. within the said County the 12. day of A. in the year of our Lord 1658. before I G. H K. Freeholders of the same County amongst other things it is thus contained N. ss F I. doth complain against F. S. of a plea of taking and unjustly detaining of his cattel R. S. Esquire Sheriff Before the coming of this Writ the within mentioned Mare was by the within named G H. conveyed unto places unknown to me so that I could not cause return of the said Mare to be made to the within named I N. and H. as within it is commanded and I hereby further certifie the within mentioned Justices that by vertue of this Writ I have taken the body of the within named G H. whose body before the said Justices at the day and place within contained I have ready as within it is commanded R. S. Esquire Sheriff The execution of this Wtit appeareth in a certain Scedule hereunto annexed R. S. Esquire Sheriff By vertue of this writ to me directed and to this Scedule annexed I made a certain Warrant to one W R. my Bailiff to arrest and take I S. in the said Writ named My which Bailiff by vertue of my aforesaid Warrant the 11. day of February in the year of our Lord 1658. within written at B. in my County arrested and took the body of the aforesaid I S. as by my Warrant he was commanded and him the said Iohn so arrested taken and in my custody as aforesaid under the aforesaid arrest being one G. S. of B. aforesaid together with the aforesaid Iohn Spalding by force and armes that is to say with staves pitchforks and knives upon him the said W. R. my Bayliff then and there did make an assault and him did beat wound and evilly handle so that it was despaired of his life And the aforesaid G. S. him the said I. S. so as aforesaid under the foresaid arrest being out of my custody then and there tooke and rescued and of his owne right suffered him to go at large And the same I. S. so as aforesaid under arrest being out of my Custody then and there likewise rescued himselfe against the publique peace And afterwards the same Iohn is not found in my Bayliwick R. S. Esq Sheriff Returne of Jurors HEe must returne sixe Jurors where the Venue lyeth if there be so many within the Hundred viz. within the place where the demand is made yet by the Stat. 27 Eliz. cap. 6. upon the tryall of an issue joyned in any personall action if two sufficient hundreders do appear it is sufficient He must return their names and a true addition of their dwelling places or some other addition by which the party may be known No persons are to be returned above the age of 7 yeares nor persons of a languishing sicknesse or disease at the time of their summons no Alien Infant under the age of fourteen Clergy men or Ministers Lamb. 382. Fitz. 165. d. 166. a. d. None shall be impannelled upon a Jury for tryall of any matter out of their proper County except such Jurors may spend in Lands and Tenements 5 l. per annum nor to try any matter within the County except they have in Lands and Tenements 40 s. per ann of estate of Free-hold within the County where the Issue is to be levyed F. N. B. 166. d. But after the Statute 27 Eliz. cap. 6. None are to be returned for the tryall of any Issue in the upper Bench Common Pleas Exchequer or before the Justices of Assize but such as have estate of Free-hold in Lands Tenement or Hereditaments of the clear yearly value of 4l at least out of Ancient Demesne Though the current of the Venire facias be but to returne Duodecem bonos legales homines yet must he returne twenty and four if he return but three and twenty and 12 appear and give their verdict this is Errour Coo. 5. 36. 37. He is to summon and returne the Grand Iury to the Assizes and the Juries for the Quarter Sessions of the peace and is to array his pannell sixe dayes at the least for the speciall Assizes and before the sessions of the Justices so that view and copies of the pannels may be had if they be required which copies must be indented by the Sheriff and delivered to the Plaintifs Defendants or Tenants Upon an Indictment he ought to returne none but probi legales homines viz. such as are not attaint by
Copy of the warrant upon the writ 00 00 04 For the returning of a Mandavi ballivo 00 00 04 For Writs of executions upon the Judgment upon bils sued in personal actions the debt or damage being under 40 s. 00 01 00 Upon Bils sued above 40 s. in actions personal for the return of every such bil 00 00 04 For every writ of Execution 00 02 00 For executing of every writ of Elegit in personal actions 00 06 08 In all reall or mixt actions sued by Original writ for return of every original writ 00 02 00 And for return of every other writ of Judicial processe depending upon the same before Judgment 00 02 00 And for every-Writ of Execution after Judgment upon every original in action real or mixt 00 02 00 For executing every Habere fac seisinam 00 06 08 For attachments upon Capias or other processe sued by Original or Judicial writ if the return be Cepi corpus 00 02 00 For a Reddidit se upon an Exigent of felony in appeale of murther or maim or upon an indictment of selony or murther 00 02 00 Upon a Reddidit se upon an Exigent of debt trespass detinue and all other actions personals 00 01 00 For the making of a Repleg 00 01 00 and Withernam upon the same 00 01 00 For return of every writ of appeal of murder felony or maim 00 01 00 And upon all Processe growing upon the same as Venire facias Tales Habeas corpora and Distringas 01 01 00 For every prisoner delivered by acquittal or by Proclamation for any manner of felony 00 01 00 For a Replevin 00 02 00 For the returne of a Recordare 00 00 04 For the return of an Accedas ad cur 00 00 00 For the allowance of a Supersedeas after the returne of the Exigent 00 02 00 The sheriffe is to be compounded and agreed with for these For executing of a Writ to enquire of Waste Also for executing a Writ to enquire of damages Likewise for executing a Statute For executing of a writ of Right For serving of a Writ de partition facienda For removing the over-charge of Common of pasture For enquiry upon an Elegit For Writs of forcible entry or holding with force whereupon the party amoved is to be restored to his possession For execution of a Judgement upon a Writ The Vnder-sheriffe of Middlesex useth to take these Fees following in the Court of Common Pleas. FOr a warrant for a Capias upon every name 00 00 04 For the return of a Venire facias 00 02 00 For a warrant upon a Capias utleg 00 00 04 For return of a Habeas corpora juratorum 00 04 00 For summoning the Jury for every name 00 00 04 For return of a Proclamation 00 01 00 For return of a Scire Facias 00 02 00 For return of a Nihil overat and Fieri facias 00 01 00 For executing an Exigent or execution upon body Lands goods and Chattels twelvepence for every twenty shillings where the summ exceeds not one hundred pounds and six pence for every twenty shillings where the summ exceeds one hundred pounds that is to say for every twenty shillings that he or they shall levy or extend and deliver in Execution or take the body in execution Of Sheriffs Accompts with a particular of some usuall Charges or Fees payd by them at the rendring of their Accompts THe Sheriff giveth his Accompts into the Exchequer and there is charged with his casualties which are all manner of Debts of Casualties and Relièss Fines Amerciaments upon the Sheriff debts recovered and such like as are drawn down either from any Record of any of the Remembrancers of the Exchequer or from any other matter ground or seisure of the Court. And the Sheriff musst answer to every summ charged upon him as he hath cause that is to say such a summ within such and such a Liberty and sheweth whose they be He is charged with old seizures which are Lands and Tenements seized before by his Predecessors upon the Processe of the Court and likewise with his own feizures which are Lands and Tenements seized in his own time by Processe of the Court and so addeth to these such Felons goods as he hath seized himselfe There the Sheriff hath such allowances as are allowed him by act of Parliament together with the Justices of Peace wages of his Shire out of the Fines and Forfeitures before the Justices of Peace thereof if the streat will bear them layd out before the Sheriffs for the Justices wages according to the Statute of the which allowance and of the particular names of the Justices the foreign opposer doth deliver a Roll into the Pipe for the Clerk of the Pipes warrant to allow the sames wages to the Sheriff After which things done viz allowance of all payments deductions and annual charges then hath he his Quietus est The fees are as follow Imprimis to his Attorney for his warrant of Attorney c. for his own sees and his mans sees and to another for entring the warrant 02 00 02 To the Punie-Baron for ministring the oath for the Apposel upon the summons of the Pipe his see for the Vicontels and his mans see for the same 01 07 00 To the Marshal Criers Tipstaves there 01 06 08 The fees of the foreign Opposer his men are 04 00 00 For his writ of assistance from his Attorney 00 05 06 His Attorneys sees in the Pipe and his mans fees 06 00 00 The sees of the Deputy of the Pipe 01 03 04 To the Controlier of the Pipe his man and other Officers of the Pipe 02 15 02 His Attorneys see in the Remembrancers Office and his mans fee 00 06 10 To the Master of the Wardrop for his see for a Talley to have thereby an allowance given for it and for joyning of that Talley in the Pipe 05 16 05 To the Master of the Pipe for his see 18 05 00 The foreign Opposers see for allowance of Justices wages to the Sheriffe upon the extracts of the peace and for the casting up of the Debet upon the Scedules of the Greenwax and to his men for their see 02 18 04 To the Auditor assigned for the Shire for declaring of the Accompt 12 00 00 To the Attorney of the Pipe for giving allowance of the Justices wages before allowed by the foreign opposer in the Sheriffs accompt and for the foot of the accompt to his man 02 06 08 To the Baron for declaring of the accompt and to his man for his see 00 08 08 To the Attorney in the Remembrancers Office for examining of the accompt and to one for the receiving of the accompt 00 05 00 For Copies of the seizures which the Sheriff makes himselfe in his year comonly at the least 05 00 00 For copies of the new seizures according to the number of them in some Counties but twenty shillings but most commonly in
and their and every of their Lands Tenements Goods and Chattels of and from all fines issues and amerciaments and other penalties forseitures paines corporall and pecuniary whatsoever whereby or wherewithall the said A. B. his heires executors or administrators or his or their Lands Tenements Goods or Chatels shall or may be charged or chargeable for his the said A. B. or the said C. D. not executing not filing neglecting mis-executing evill returning not serving mis-returning or mis-filing any of the said Writs Processe Precepts Warrants or Commandments aforesaid or for the absence evill attendance or not attendance of the said A. B. or of the said C. D. or his Deputy as aforesaid or other misdemeanors in the executing not executing or misexecuting of the said office in any thing which the said C. D. might by vertue of these presents by himselfe or his Deputies execute or performe other then from such fines issues amerciaments and other penalties as shall be imposed or adjudged upon or against the said A. B. for or in respect of any offence sault or negligence by the said A. B. at any time after the day of the date of these presents committed omitted or done or to be committed omitted or done by himselfe in his own person or by any other except the said C. D. by his the said A B. his commandment or appointment without the consent of the said C. D And that the said C. D. shall himselfe or his sufficient Deputy or Deputies duly and lawfully keep or cause to be kept within the said County of Y. all and singular County Courts of the said County at such times and places as heretofore hath been accustomed And that he the said C D shal and will make and appoint one or more Attorney or Attorneys Deputy or Deputies of Record in the Courts of Record now commonly called the Upper Bench Common Bench and Exchequer and in all other Courts and Offices wherein Attorneys are commonly appointed And so shall and will ordain appoint and make one or more able Deputy or Deputies for him the said A. B. in every hundred within the said County of Y. according to the Lawes and Statutes in these cases provided so that the said A. B. shall not hereafter be liable to any penalty or forfeiture for want of any such Attorney or Deputy And shall and will at his own proper costs and charges appear and make ready all such place and places where the Assizes Goal-delivery or Sessions shall be from time to time holden meet and convenient Courts Bars and all other things necessary and convenient for the Justices of Assize and other Justices to keep their Assizes and Goal-delivery and Sessions in and shall and will from time to time give notice in convenient time to the said A. B. of every such time and times place and places where the personall attendance of the said A. B. shall be requisite and necessary so as the said A. B. may be personally present at such times and places when and where his personal appearance and attendance shall be necessary And furthermore that the said C. D. by and during the continuance of the said office shall and will well and truly collect levy gather and seize to the use of his Highnesse the Lord Protector all the goods and chattels of selons and fugitives and of all persons outlawed and put in Exigent and of all persons attainted and convicted of treason murder or felony which shall happen within the said County of Y. during the time aforesaid which shall be due or forfeited to his Highnesse the Lord Protector by any wayes or means aforesaid And shall and will from time to time well and truly collect and gather up all Fines Amerciaments Extracts Certainties Fee-farms Pipe-silver for License Concord for Fines Green wax and all other sum and sums of money which to the collection of the said A. B. by reason of the Sherifwick of the said County shall appertain or belong and which the said C. D. shall have warrant or lawfull Authority to seize levy or collect or which he shall have notice of and may reasonably come by and thereof and of every part thereof and of all other the issues and revenues of the said County and of all sums of money due or hereafter during the continuance of the said Office of Sheriffwick of the said County doth or may appertain shal and will to his Highnesse the L. Protector in the Court of Exchequer aforesaid yield and give just accompt and asso that he the said C. D. his Executors or Administrators at such days and terms as he the said A. B. is or shal be required to enter into accompt of the Court of Exchequer for or touching the said Office the said C. D. shall and will enter into accompt in the said Court of Exchequer in the name of the said A. B. for and concerning the said Sherifwick of the said County of Y. in and upon which accompt the said C. D. his Executors and Administrators shall and will truly answer all such debts duties and sums of moneyes as the said C. D. his Deputies Officers or servants or any of the Bailiffs of any of the Hundreds of the said County shall have received or might have received or wherewith the said A B. as Sheriff of the said County shal be any ways charged or chargeable with upon the same accompt And the same accompt shall and will at his the said C D. his own costs and charges prosecute with effect untill the same accompt be fully finished and concluded without demanding any allowance or allowances of the said A. B. his executors or administrators for the same And also that the said C. D. his executors and administrators shall and will pay into the Receipt o● Exchequer all such summes of money as upon the said accompt shall be found in arrearages within one year next after the feast of S. Michael next ensuing the date hereof and in the name of the said A. B. obtain a lawfull discharge and Quietus est out of the said Court of Exchequer for him the said A. B. and the same shall and will deliver unto the said A. B. his heirs executors or assignes for a full discharge of him the said A. B his heirs executors admistrators and assignes or concerning the said Sherifwick of the said County of Y. within one year next after the said feast of S. Mich. and that the said C. D. his heirs executors administrators and asgnes or some or one of them shall and will at some or one of their owne proper costs and charges disburse and pay for the said A. B. all and all manner of sees duties charges summ and summs of money rewards gratuities and demands whatsoever which shall be required demanded or demandable of the said A. B. as due or accustomed to be paid or given by the Sheriff of the said County for or by reason of the said
accompt without demanding any allowance or allowances therefore of the said A. B. his heirs executors administrators or assignes and the said C. D. doth further for the consideration aforesaid for himself his heirs executors administrators and assigns for every of them covenant promise grant and agree to and with the said A. B. his heirs executors administrators and assignes by these presents that the said C D. his executors or administrators shall and will from time to time and at all times hereafter well duly and truly satisfie and pay all and singular such summ and sums of money as he the said C. D or any deputy Clark or Clarks Bayliff or Bayliffs substitute or substitutes under him shall at any time and times and all times levy and receive by vertue or reason of any writ or writs Processe of Extent Liberate Capias ad satisfaciendum Fieri facias Elegit Distringas nuper Vice-comes against any former Sheriff or any other writ or writs of execution or warrants whatsoever according to the purport and true tenure of any such writ or writs warrant or warrants respectively and in such manner as by the same respectively shall be limited required or appointed and shall from time to time sufficiently save harmlesse and defend the said A. B. his heirs executors and administrators of for and from all and every such summ and summs of money as aforesaid And further he the said C. D. his heirs executors administrators or assignes shall and will at his and their own proper costs and charges conduct and safe delivery make of all such prisoners as are or hereafter shall be in the Custody of the Goal for the said County of Y. to such person and persons and to such place and places as the said A. B. shall by writ warrant or other precept or commandment or by vertue and in respect of his said office be commanded or bound to deliver the same And further shall and will also at his and their own proper costs and charges execute or cause to be executed all such persons as at any time during the time aforesaid shall be convicted and put in execution according to their several judgments if the same person or persons be not by any lawfull authority reprieved into the said Goal And the said C. D. doth further for himself his heirs executors administrators and assignes and every of them covenant grant promise and agree to and with the said A. B. his heirs executors administratos and assignes by these presents that he the said C. D. his executors administrators shal wil upon the discharge giving up of the said office to such as shall succeed in the said office of Sheriff-wick of and for the said County of Y. in due form of law deliver or cause to be delivered by Indenture to be made between the said A. B. and his successors in the said office to the said successor of the said A. B. in the said office or to his Deputy for the time being all such prisoners as then shall be in the custody of the said A. B. or of any of his Deputies or Ministers with the causes of their detainments and imprisonments and all such iron implements and things as shall be in the custody of the said C. D. belonging to the common Goal of the said County or to the officers of the same And also all writs processe warrants and other things which then shall be in his hands and custody in respect of the office of Sheriswick of in and for the said County of Y. And the said C. D. dorh further for himselfe his heirs executors administrators and assigns covenant promise grant and agree to and with the said A. B. his heirs executors and administrators by these presents that he the said C. D. his heirs executors or administrators shall and will from time to time and at all times hereafter discharge defend and save harmlesse as well the said A. B. his heirs Executors and administrators and his and their lands and tenements goods and chattels aswell against his Highnesse the Lord Protector and all other whatsoever of and from all manner or pains corporal and pecuniary forfeitures fines amerciaments debts accounts duties and demands whatsoever hereafter lawfully to be commenced prosecuted imposed demanded or demandable of or against the said A. B. his heirs executors or administrators or his or their lands goods tenements and chattels for or by reason of any escape of any prisoner or prisoners whatsoever now under execution or under arrest or hereafter to be had in execution or under arrest for any manner of debt damage trespass account or other duties or wrong or for any treason selony or other offence whatsoever or for any other or by reason of not appearance of any person arrested at the day limited for the appearance in any Court or Courts or before any Judge or Judges or Justices whatsoever or for or by reason of any false return not return or mis-return of any writ warrant or processe or for any other misbehaviour negligence or larges of the said C. D. his Bailiffs or Officers in executing or negligence in executing or not in executing of the said office of Sheriswick for the said County of Y. of or for or by reason of the not levying answering or not paying of any sum or sums of money which shall or may or ought to be collected or received by vertue or by reason of the said office of the Sheriswick of the said A. B. or having relation thereunto or by reason of any writ or writs of assistance for the levying of any sums of money wherewith the said A. B. shall or may be charged or chargeable of or for any matter clause or thing having relation to the said office and to the intent that the said C. D. may the better perform the execution of the said office the said A. B. is contented and pleased and doth hereby grant unto the said C. D. that he the said C. D. shall have to his own use the benefit of such Bonds and Covenants as shall be taken of any person or persons wherein the same person or persons shall become bound unto the said A. B. as Sheriff of the said County of Y. with condition for their of any of their appearance in any Court or elsewhere before any Commissioners of his Highnesse the Lord Protector And of all Obligations taken or to be taken of any Bayliffes or their sureties and of all other Bonds and Covenants which are or shall be made to the said A. B. as the Sherif of the said County of Yorke except the Covenants herein contained and the Bonds and Obligations taken or to be taken for the performance of the said Covenants and every of them except before excepted and shall and may sue and prosecute the same in the name of the said A. B. his Executors and Administrators at the proper costs and charges of the
the day of the date hereof hath delivered to the hands of the within named C. D. and E. F. the Writ of execution for levying and extending the goods chattels and moyety of the lands tenements and hereditaments of one G. H. of c. to and for the use of the said A. B. whereby the same A. B. may be satisfied of the summe of two hundred pounds mentioned in the said Writ if in case the said C. D. and E. F. or either of them do lawfully execute or cause to be lawfully executed the said Writ according to the nature meaning and purport thereof by the impannelling of twelve lawfull and indifferent men to be sworn of the contents of the said Writ if then the said A. B. his Executors and Administrators do quietly permit and suffer the said Sheriffe or under Sheriffe to have take receive and detaine to his and their owne proper use and behoofe out of such moneys goods or chattels as shall be had levyed or received by vertue of the said Writ or the execution thereof so much in lawfull money of England or other benefit as they or the said Sheriffe or under Sheriffe or one of them shall think reasonable or sufficient for their satisfaction of and for such travel paines or charges as they shall be at in and about the execution of the said Writ and extent thereupon to be had or made otherwise within c. next after the said writ shall be executed and return made thereof accordingly do pay or cause to be paid unto the said Sheriffe or under Sheriffe or their Deputy or Deputies so much lawfull money of England as they shall for the causes aforesaid reasonably demand That then c. A Bargaine and sale of Goods made by the Sheriffe by vertue of his office TO all faithfull people to whom this present writing shall come Sir H. B. Knight Sheriffe of the County of Y. greeting Whereas by vertue of his Highnesses Writ of Fieri facias to me directed out of his Highnesses Court of Common Pleas at Westminster for the levying of an hundred pounds debt and forty shillings damages which Sir H. H. Knight Lord Chiefe Justice of the said Court of Common Pleas hath recovered in the said Court against E. F Administrator of the Goods and Chattels which late were of I. R. late of R. in the said County Gent. deceased at the time of his death to be levyed upon the Goods and Chattels which late were the said I. R.'s at the time of his death in the hands of the said E. F. to be administred if so much of them do remaine in the hands of the said E. F. to be administred And if not then the damages to be levyed of the proper goods of the said E. F. as by the said Writ returnable from the day of the holy Trinity in three weekes more at large appeareth I have taken into my hands all and singular the goods and chattels mentioned in an Inventory hereunto annexed be the goods and chattels which late were the said I. R's at the time of his death and found in the hands of the said E. F. unadministred Now know yee that I the said High Sherif by vertue of the said Writ and of my Office and for and in consideration of the sum of two hundred pounds of good c. to me the said High Sherif in hand payd do hereby as much as in me lyeth by vertue of my said Office fully and absolutely bargain sell and deliver to the said E. F. his Executors Administrators and Assignes all and singular the said Goods and Chattels TO HAVE AND TO HOLD and enjoy the same unto the said E. F. his Executors and Administrators for ever In witnesse whereof I have hereunto set my seale of Office the tenth day of May in the yeare of our LORD 1658. THE JUDICIAL AND MINISTERIAL OFFICE OF CORONERS THIS Office of Coroner hath its Etymologie or Derivation a Corona being an Offficer of the CROWN from antiquity and hath principall cognisance of some PLEAS called Placita Coronae He was established by pristine Kings ELFRED c. to be Principalis conservator pacis according to the Mirrour of Iustice which saith Auxi ordains fuer Coronours in Chescun County et Viscounts a garder le peace quant les Countees soy demisterent del gard et Bayliffes in lieu de centeners that is Coroners in every County and Sheriss were ordained and constituted to be Conservators of the Peace when the Earles dismist themselves of the custody of the Counties and in place of Hundredors but of his antiquity and jurisdiction Vide 2d Instit Magna Charta Cap. 17. Merton Cap. 3. Reddisseisin and Westminster 1. Cap. 10. and 26. and Articl super Chart. Cap. 3. This office of Coroner is duplicate General Special 1. Generall TO the office of generall Coroners appertaines the receiving of the Appeales of the whole County of Fellonies committed within the yeare to award the Exigents of contempts and to pronounce the Judgements of Out-lawries upon County dayes of which see more in the County Court and likewise in what pledge or Decenary they were or of whom mainprised and in whose ward 2. Speciall SPeciall Coroners are Coroners of Liberties and of priviledged places as Coroner of the Verge viz. Coroner of the Protectors Houshold c. to demonstrate the distinction of the Authority and Jurisdiction of generall and speciall Coroners by Wrote and Wiggs Case in the fourth Reports fol. 45. and 46. Where it was resolved That at Common Law the Coroner of the KINGS House had an exempt jurisdiction within the Verge and the Coroner of the County cannot intermeddle therein as appeares by the preamble of the Statute of Articuli super Chartas Because that before this time many Felonies done within the Verge have beene unpunished and the reason and cause thereof was because the Coroners of the County are not suffered to interpose to enquire of Felonies within the Verge but the Coroner of the KINGS hostel which is passant By which it appears that the Coroner of the County could not intermeddle with the death of a man within the Verge but the Coroner of the Hostell onely And so was it adjudged Pasch 24 Eliz. in the Kings Bench where Swift was indicted before the Coroner of the County of Middlesex of a Murther done at Tuthil in the said County of Middlesex which Indictment was removed into the Kings Bench and there Swift pleaded that Tuthil was at the time of the murther and yet is within the verge c. upon which the Attorney did demur in Law and it depended in advisement three Terms and at length the plea was adjudged good and thereupon he was discharged of the Indictment for as the Coroner of the houshold cannot intermeddle within the County out of the verge because his Office extendeth not to it so the Coroner of the County cannot intermeddle within the verge and it shall be contrary
HEe cannot enquire of the Statute of Labourers or indict one feloniously committing a Rape yet such Indictments must be delivered to the Justices of the Peace according to the Statute of 1 Ed. 4. Bract. praesent 16. Fitz. Tourne 3. 4 Edward 4. 8 Edw. 4. 5. He cannot commit any man to prison for his contempt neither can he take recognizance or binde a man to good behaviour as formerly he might and as the Sheriffe in his Tourne may do Yet Co. Instit 4. fol. 263. holdeth that he may take a Recognizance for the peace He cannot hold plea of any thing appertaining to the Crown nor touching Free-hold or Lands nor debt trespasse or otherwise This Court cannot take Indictment of any Felons for the death of any man or in any other case wherein it hath no cognizance If it doe it is Coram non judice and voyd neither can it take a presentment of an offence done to a Parish or a particular man Such things as are Trespasses by the Statute or offences against any Statute the Sheriffs Office doth not extend to it here except the Statute doth give in it an expresse authority to the Tourne or Leet for Nulla est generalis regula sed admittit exceptionem Nothing but Nusances and Grievances Offences or Trespasses as are popular and common to many persons And therefore Trespasses for breaking of Closes nor Assaults made to a sole and particular person is here inquirable except there be blood-shed It was the occasion of a very learned Contest or Argument Pasch 24 Car. B. R. whether a Court Leet may enquire of private Assaults and Batteries if there be no blood-shed in the case Bacon Justice and Walker an Apprentice of the LAW in the Inner TEMPLE held that a Court Leet might enquire of them But Justice Roll held the contrary because they are actionable at the COMMON LAW onely by the party injured and are not publique offences against the publique Upon all Presentments and Indictments taken before the Sheriffe in his Tourn he hath not power to attach arrest or put in prison nor to levy nor take any Fines or Amerciaments of any person so indicted or presented betore them by reason or colour of any Indictment or presentment taken before them in their Tournes but the Sheriffe shall bring and deliver all such Indictments and Presentments to the Justices of Peace at the Sessions that shall be holden for the said County if not a forfeiture for every one not delivered 40 l. What things are considerable in holding Tourns or Leets HAving demonstrated what things are to be enquired of here and what are not Now three things are considerable in the holding of Tourns or Leets viz. 1. Time 2. Place 3. Persons 1. As to the time it must be kept twice a yeare according to ALFRED quotannis celeberimus bis conventus agetur one moneth after EASTER and one moneth after MICHAELMAS At the Tourn after EASTER no Actions popular are to be enquired after c. but onely to take their suite who are Suitors and to take the view c. And at the Tourne after MICHAEELMAS then to enquire of such as are enquirable 2. Now to the place where it is to be holden and that must be within the Precinct and Libertie in loco debito consueto and if it be done otherwise what ever is acted in it is voyd coram non judice 3. Thirdly what persons are to appeare in this Court they are all the Freeholders within the Precinct or Liberty are obliged to come by the service of their Fees and all other people above the age of 12 years and under 60. only Ecclesiasticall and religious men all Earles Barons Tenants in ancient demesne and all women are excepted because they are never sworn upon any Inquest Jury What. THere must be at the Court twelve at the least of the most discreet and sufficient Freeholders such as are of repute and estimation and have Freehold Lands within the same County of the value of twenty shillings at the least who ought to be impannelled and sworn by the Sheriff to enquire of and present all things there inquireable and presentable who ought to take all Indictments by their oathes and must deliver in their rolls and inquisitions indented and sealed between the Sheriff or Steward and the Jurors And if there be not twelve to be sworn the Sheriffe or Steward may cause strangers that come within the view to be of the Inquest How Amerciaments are forfeited and what shall be causes to amerce c AMerciament in Latine is called misericordia because it ought to be assessed mercisully and ought to be moderated by affeerement of his equals otherwise a Writ de moderata misericordia lieth or because the party offending putteth himselfe on the mercy of his Highnesse And the difference betwixt a Fine and an Amerciament is That a Fine is assessed by the Court but Amerciament by the Countrey Of Amerciament BUT to demonstrate the cause of Amerciament viz. The not appearing of a Leet is a good cause to amerce a Re●iant and the Lord who distrains for the amerciament needs not shew for what he distraineth before the tenant hath tendered something for amends although the tenant doth not know the cause 45 E. 3. 9. Avowry 80. vi 11 H. 4. 89. 12 H. 7. 15. If a man be amercied for a thing done in a Towne wherein he dwelleth he may be distrained for it in any place within the Hundred or Leet 11 H. 4. 88. A Suitor at a Leet may be amercied for not presentting things presentable being sworne with others and a generall Avowry but he may say that there was nothing to be presented 11 E. 3. 9. Avowry 155. 10 H. 6. 7. Coo. lib. Enteries Det. 149. Coo. part 8. Griesleys case A Resiant was amercied for not clensing of a Ditch and a paine levied upon him that he clensed it after and a distresse taken for not doing of it c. 29 E. 3 36. 41 E. 3. 26. Resiants and tenants may be amercied in the Leet for refusing to swear 38 E. 3. 18. Conusance 23. The Lord of a Leet shall not prescribe to amerce the petty Jury for their false verdict the same being sound by the grand Jury for it is no good custome but they may be amercied for concealing of any thing which is presentable there and this is by custom M. 9. H. 6. 42. Custome An amerciament in a Leet may be well levied by an action of debt 12 H. 2. Ley 43. 10 H. 6. 7. One was amermercied for brewing Ale and selling it contrary to the Assize within the Hundred and it was holden that although he was resiant within another Leet yet the amerciament is good where it is made so it is where one sels Bread and Ale in a Market which is in another Leet then where it was brewed
they might redress misdemeanors within their precincts and to punish offences committed by their Tenants and to decide and debate controversies arifing within their Juridiction and these Courts were termed Courts Barons as it appears amongst the Lawes of Edward the Confessor where it is said Barones vero qui suam habent curiam de suis hominibus c. taking its name of the Baron who was Lord of the Mannor or according to Coo. com Lit. fo 58. a. for that properly in the eye of the Law it hath relation to the Freeholders who are Judges of the Court because in ancient time such persons were called Barons and came to the Parliament and sate in the Upper House but when time had wrought such an alteration that Mannors fell into the hands of inferiour men and such as were farre unworthy of so sublime a calling then it grow to a Custome that none but such as the King would should come to the Parliament such as the King for their extraordinary wisdome or quality thought good to call by Writ which Writ ran hac vice tantum yet though Lords of Mannors lost their names of Barons and were deprived of that dignity which was inherent to their names yet their Courts retain still the name of Court Barons because they were originally erected for such personages as were Barons neither hath time been so injurious as to irradicate the whole memory of their pristine dignity in their denomination there are yet stamps left of their nobility for they are still entituled by the name of Lords Court-Baron cannot be seperated from a Mannor THis Court-Baron is the chiefe Prop and Pillar of a Mannor which no sooner faileth but the Mannor is destroyed and therefore it cannot be separated from the Mannor for it is a wealth to a Mannor the like of a Court of Pypowder to a Faire of which more in its proper place and by granting the principall which is the Mannor the Court which is incident to it passeth without being named 12 Eliz. Dyer 288. if a Mannor be granted cum pertinentiis the Court passeth for it is an incident inseperable to the Mannor and one cannot grant his Court but he may grant the profits of it Brownlows Rep. 175. Yet though a Court-Baron is incident to a Mannor it must be understood of a Mannor in facto in reality and truth but not to be a Mannor only in intendment and a meer nominall Mannor Bolstrod first part fol. 54. Mich. 8. Jac. And as a Mannor at this day cannot be derived out of the CROWNE therefore ex consequente neither the Court-Baron which is incident to such a Mannor but a Court-Leet is not incident to a Mannor but he which hath a Mannor may also have a Court-Leet to be by him held within his Mannor but this ought to be by a speciall grant from the King and not otherwise and then he may punish offenders the which he cannot doe in his Court-Baron he cannot be ousted of his Court-Baron unlesse he be ousted of his Mannor for if he have a Mannor he ought to have such a Court-Baron for this as I have said is as an incident and follows the Mannor as a necessary consequent and adjunct unto the Mannor and therefore if he have the one viz. the Mannor he shall also have the other viz. the Court-Baron What parts a Court-Baron doth consist of THis Court-Baron appertaining to a Mannor consisteth of four speciall parts viz. 1. The Lord. 2. The Steward 3. The Tenant 4. The Bayliffe It is defined to be an assembly of these parts together within the same Mannor and it is likewise duplicate viz. 1. The first is for the taking care counsel and inquiry of causes concerning the same Mannor as for the triall of titles of the land and the taking and pasing of estates Surrenders admittances and grants and to see justice duly executed and the Acts and Ordinances there done to be recorded in the Rolls of the same Court which Rolls are the evidences of all Ordinances duties and customes and conveyances between the Lord and the tenants of the same Mannor and are to be entred by the Steward or an Officer indifferent between the Lord and his Tenants and the same Rolls to remain with the Lord thereby to know his Tenants his Rents his Fines his Customes and his service And the particular grant of every Copy-hold to be copied out of the Rolls and the copies thereof to be delivered to every particular tenant neither can they make any other title to their said tenements but by their said Copy And this is called the Copiholders Court and herein the Steward is judge 2. The other is for the triall of actions under the sum of forty shillings of the nature of the County-Court of which we have copiously treated in the first part of this worke and therefore here not necessary And herein the Freeholders are Judges But to returne to the Copyholders Court And herein the Lord the Steward the Freeholders the Copyholders and the Bayliffs of every Mannor have an intermixt and joynt office and authority in some cases and to some purposes and to other purposes their office is distinct and every of them doth occupy several places persons and parts Five things necessarily appertaning to a Mannor THere are five things necessarily appurtenant to a Mannor and Court-Baron viz. 1. The Lord is chiefe to command and appoint 2. The Steward to direct and record 3. The Free-holders to affere and judge 4. The Copy-holders to inform and present 5. The Bayliff to attend and execute c. And all these united make a perfect execution of Justice and judgment in Court-Barons and without all these a Court-Baron cannot be held in his proper nature in respect of all causes appertaining to the perfect jurisdiction of a Court-Baron But to make a more particular demonstration of their distinct authorities and offices 1. And first of the Lord as he is chiefe in place so in authority and he officiateth three severall places viz. the one of a Chancellor in cases of equity the other of Justice in matter of right and the third of himselfe in cases proper and particular to himself 2. The Steward doth act the part of several persons viz. Iudge and Orderer in cases of Copyhold and also a Minister and Register to Record and enter things into the Court-rolls and in both these to be indifferent between the Lord and his tenants 3. The Freeholders do likewise execute two parts that is to affeere and judge amerciaments and also to return and certifie judgements 4. The Copyholders hold two distinct places viz. to inform offences committed against the Lord within the Mannor and to present such things as shall be given in charge by the Steward 5. The Bayliffe officiates two parts viz. to execute the processe and mandates of the Court and also to return into the Court the execution of the same process
or Idiot cannot be a Copyholder because they cannot do the service themselves nor depute any other and the Lord shall retain the Copyhold of an Ideot Carthrop fo 52. Nor a man cannot be a Copy-holder unto a Mannor whereof he himselfe is Lord although he be but Dominus pro termino annorum or in jure Vxoris ibidem Let us enquire what interest Copyholders have in their estates and that will appeare to be very strenuous for although Customary Tenants are termed in Law Tenants at will yet are they not simply so nor meerly Tenants at will for every Copyholder is but only Tenant at will secundum consuetudinem Manerii which custome warrants his possession and therefore it is a more certaine estate then an estate at will for the Copyholder may justifie against his Lord so cannot a Tenant at will whose estate is determined at the will and pleasure of his Lessor And although his estate is but by custome and by no conveyance the state is raised it is as materiall so as it be an estate and this estate being supported by custome is known in Law an estate and so attainted in Law and the same Law hath notably distinguished Copyhold Tenancies by custome and Tenancies at will by the Common Law for a Copyholder shall do fealty shall have ayde of his Lord in an Action of Trespasse shall have and maintaine an Action of Trespasse against his Lord his Wife shall be endowed the Husband shall be Tenant by the Courtesie without new admittance And it was adjudged in the Common Pleas 8 Eliz. That if a Copyholder surrender to the use of another for yeares the Lessee dieth his Executors shall have the residue of the terme without any admittance Mic. 14 and 15 Eliz. A Copyholder made a Lease for yeares by Indenture warranted by the custome it was adjudged that the Lessee should maintain Ejectione firmae although it was objected that if it were so then if the Plaintiff doth recover he shall have Habere facias possessionem and then Copyholds should be ordered by the Lawes of the Land 10 Eliz. Lord and Copyholder for life the Lord grants a Rent-charge out of the Mannor whereof the Copyhold is parcell the Copy-holder surrenders to the use of A. who is admitted accordingly he shall not hold it charged but if the Copyholder dyeth so that his estate is determined and the Lord granteth to a stranger de Novo to hold the said lands by Copy this new Tenant shall hold the Land charged Leonards rep first part fo 8. Mich. 25. 26 Eliz. Tenant by Copy of Court Roll hath an Inheritance by the custome but when he doth that which is contrary to the Custome he shall be then in no better condition then a bare Tenant at will Bolstrod 1 part fo 51. so that performing the duties and services according to the Custome doth so establish and fixe the estate that the same by the Custome of the Mannor is descendable and his heires shall inherit the same and therefore his estate is not meerly as I have said before ad voluntatem Domini but ad voluntatem Domini secundum consuetudinem Manerii so that the custome of the Mannor is the soule and life and also the chiefe basis upon which stands the whole fabrick of Copy-hold estates for without custome or if they break their custome they are subject to the Lords will And by custome a Copyholder is as well inheritable to have his land according to the Custome as he who hath a Free-hold at the Common Law for consuetudo est altera lex custome and usage time out of minde c. may create and consolidate Inheritances Consuetudo vincit legem 7 E. 4. Danby chiefe Justice said that a Copyholder is aswell inheritable to have his Land according to the Custome as he who hath Free-hold at the Common Law Co. 4. 21. If Tenant by custome paying his services be ejected by his Lord he may have an action of Trespasse 21 E. 4. 80. Co. 4. 22. If a woman Copyholder in Fee have a Husband who hath Issue and the Wife dyeth the Husband shall not be Tenant by the Courtesie without speciall custome Co 4. 22. If a Copyholder dye his heire within age the heire is not obliged to come to any Court during his non-age to pray admittance or to tender his Fine Also if the death of the Ancestor be not presented nor Proclamation he is not at any detriment although he be of full age Leonards rep first part fol. 128. Pasch 30 Eliz. B. R. Brownloes Rep. first part fol. 231. Swain and Becket a question was that whereas there is a Mannor wherein are Copyholders for life who used to lop Trees growing upon the Copyholds for their necessary fire and repaire of their customary Tenements the Lord of the Mannor maketh a Lease of the Mannor for yeares excepting the Trees The Lessee of the Mannor granteth a Copy for life the Copyholder loppeth his trees growing in his Copyhold whether or no he might doe it by Law was the doubt of the Iury. And it was held by all the Court Hill 6 Jac. that the Copyholder might lop the Trees because he is in by the custome which is above the Lords estate after he is admitted and that the Copyhold depends not upon the Lords interest And that the trees excepted and the soyle remained parcel of the Mannor because the Lease was but for yeares but if the Lease had been for life it had been otherwise because it had been severed from the Mannor But note that in Justice Crooks Rep. first part fol. 160. That a Copyholder for life may cut downe and sell Timber trees and dispose of them at his pleasure is a voyd and unreasonable custome and not allowable by Law for it is a destruction of the Inheritance and against the nature of a Copyholder for life For a Copyholder hath but a particular estate in the Land and so he hath in the Trees And it is unreasonable that he should cut downe sell and destroy the Inheritance and it would be to the great prejudice of those who succeeded for they should not have to maintain the house and the plough And it is against the nature of the estate of a Copyholder that he should do Acts in destruction of his estate therefore customs which maintaine them are allowable but not è converso Vide 24 E. 3. Barr. 77. 21 H. 7. 40. 11 H. 7. 14. 9 H. 4. Wast 59. If a Copyholder of inheritance grant his Copy-hold to one and his heires this shall descend and no Tenant by the Courtesie nor yet Dower shall be thereof without a speciall custome for the same Bolstrod second part fo 275. Mich. 12 Jac. If I give all my Lands Tenements and Hereditaments in D. my Copyholds do not passe Leonard Rep. first part 126. An estate tayle cannot be of Copyhold Lands unlesse it be in case where it hath
the Lord allows thereof Yet to the Lease for one yeare it was answered That he must have a speciall custome or else it is not good unlesse it be for a tryall of a Title which hath been allowed because it is for reducing a Rite and for the Lords benefit And to the second it was said that admitting it is a forfieture yet the Lords acceptance of the surrender not knowing of the forfeiture is no dispensation therewith and consequently that the Lords Lessee hath a good estate and right in him for which his entry is lawfull this was approved good by the Court and the first part over-ruled Crook Rep. fo 169. A COPYHOLDER made a Lease for one yeare Et sic de anno in annum during the life of the Copyholder excepting one day at the end of every year for the Copyholder to enter and this onely for to avoid a forfeiture but it was cleerly resolved Mic. 8. Jac. B. R. rot 602. that this is a forefeiture of his Copyhold estate for if a Lease be made de anno in annum this must of necessity be a Lease for twenty and two years and so is Potkins case in 14. H. 8. fo 14. As to the reservation of one day at the end of every year to make his lease but for one year and so to be warrantable by the custome it will nothing avail him though he had excepted a moneth at the end of every year it would have been to no purpose for by this invention he hath a purpose to cheat and deceive his Lord but he is deceived himself Bolstrod 1. part fo 215. Iutterels case Mic 8. Jac. B. R. rot 602. If a Copyholder make a Lease for years to comence at Michaelmas it is a forfeiture presently Hetleys rep fo 122. A Copyholder may hedge and inclose but not where it was never inclosed before and he may dig for marl without any danger of forfeiture but he ought to lay the said marl upon the same Copyhold land and not upon other Land Easter 19. Jac. Winch. rep fo 8. But if land be digged to make a banck and if more be digged then is necessary it is wast and if it be not cast down for the land might be made barren 41. E. 3. Wast 82. The heir before admittance may enter and take the profits and make a Lease according to the custome or bring an action of treaspase against him who disturbes him But if the Lord require his Fine or his services and the heir refuse to do them this may be a forfeiture of his Copyhold But until lawful seisin made by the Lord because it belongeth to him the heir may intermeddle with the possession though he be not admited by the Lord where it is an Estate of inhetance by the custome Pophams rep fo 39. It is a forfeiture of a Copyhold for the Copyholder to refuse to pay his Fine if it be a Fine certain but if he refuse to pay a Fine incertain after it is set quaere whether it be a forfeiture or not for that Fine may be unreasonable See before forfit Or if he refuse to appear at his Lords Court and to do his service there Prac. Regist tit fo forfit Trin. 24. Car. R. B. yet if the Copyholders dwell in a Town far distant from the Mannor a general warning within the Mannor is not sufficient but there ought to be to the person notice of the day when the Court shall be holden c. For his not coming in such case cannot be called a voluntary refusal so if a man be of that debility in body as he cannot travel without danger so if he have a great office c. these are good and strenuous causes of excuse It was likewise holden that if a Copyholder makes default at the Court and be there amerced although that the amerciament be not estreated or levyed yet it is a dispensation of the forfeiture But note that a general warning within the parish is sufficient for if the tenant himself be not resident upon his Copy-hold but elsewhere his Farmer may send notice to him of the Court Leonards rep first part fo 133. And note further by Hetly in his rep fo 7. Pasc 3 Car. C. B. that if a Copyholder be summoned to the Court by Common Proclamation or expresse notice and he does not appear it is no forfeiture because it is but a failer of service and no denyal and for the neglect he may be punished and fined If a man seised of Copyhold land in the right of his wife surrendreth the same to the use of another and the Husband dyeth it is no discontinuance to the Wife but that the Wife may enter and shall not be put to a Cui in vita nor the heir to sue a Cui in vita Coo. 4. 23. And if a Copyholder for Life surrendreth to the use of another in Fee it is no forfeiture for it passeth by surrender to the Lord and not by Livery and Copyhold Estates shall not have such qualities as Estates at Common Law have without special custome Ibidem Of the Office and Dutie of the Steward STeward in the Latine is called Seneschallas and is derived from the French word Sein a house or place and Schale an Officer or Governour some say that Sen is an ancient word for Justice so as Seneschal should signifie officiarius justiciae As to the word Steward it seemeth to be compounded of Stew and Ward and is a word of many applications yet alwaies signifieth an Officer of chief account within the place of his sway In this place it signifieth an officer of Justice viz. a keeper of Courts c. therefore for the prevention of many inconveniencies it would be no disadvantage to Lords to elect and constitute such as are exercised in the studies of the Provincial Lawes of this Commonwealth and the customes of Mannors Fleta lib. 2. cap. 26. describes the office of a Steward and councelleth Lords of Mannors and Liberties to provide or elect their Stewards in these words Provideat sibi Dominus de seneschallo circumspecto fideli viro provido discreto gratioso humili pudico pacifico modesto qui in legibus consuetudinibusque provinciae officio seneschalliae se cognoscat jura Domini sui in omnibus teneri affectet c. cujus officium est curias tenere Maneriorum de substractationibus consuetudinum servitiorum reddituum sectarum ad curiam mercata molendina domini advisus Franci-plegiorum aliarumque libertatum Domino pertinentium inquirat c. By which description it is observed that he ought to have a double qualification viz. 1. In Moralibus 2. In Judicialibus 1. In moralibus he must be qualified with these properties viz. Circumspection fidelity providence discretion c. which may be reduced to two general heads to wit verity and Industry 2. In Judicialibus and therein
to the prescription this shall be good by way of confirmation As a Court-Baron is incident to a Mannor so a Court of Pypowders is incident to a Fare and by the Grant of the Fare this doth passe and with this accords 19 H. 8. Brooks case fol. 2. placito 7. and Brook tit incidents placito 34. and not to be fevered from them neither by grant nor by reservation 2 3 Phil. and Mar. Dyer fol. 133 pla 80. the Plaintiffe in a Court of Pypowder doth count of a contract made in the last Fare before where no plaint was then begun nor any judgment of Amerciament of the Defendant then given and this was held a good Error in both by all the Justices of both Benches Mich. 42. and 43 Eliz. B. R. Co. 10 fo 73. in the case of the Marshalsea where Hall braught a Writ of Error against Jones to reverse a Judgment given against him in the Court of Pypowders of the Market in the City of Glocester for that that Hall had published slanderous words of him viz. Mr. Jones and his Clerk have by colour of his office extorted and gotten 300 l. per annum by unlawfull meanes for many years together above their ordinary fees for proving of Testaments and granting of Administrations the which judgement was reversed for two Errors viz. 1. Because words did not concern any matter touching the Market and therefore the Court had no jurisdiction of it but if one slander any with Trades and Merchandizeth in the Market in any thing which concernes his Trade there an action for this well lieth 2. It appeares in the Count that the words were spoken before the Market and not during the time of the Market for as this Court hath no jurisdiction but in matters concerning the Market so the same Court hath no jurisdiction for matters concerning the Market unlesse they were acted and done during the time of the Market Bracton lib. 5. fo 335. a. De brevi de recto 1. de diversitate divisione summonitionis It is there said per quindecim dies ante diem quo comparere debeat summonitio ought to be Et talis summonitio dici debeat legitima Si minus spatium contineat possit illigitimam judicari nisi ob causam legitimam minus tempus statuatur ut propter personas qui celerem habere debeant justitiam sicut sunt Mercatores quibus exhibetur justitia Pepoudrous by the Statute of 17 E. 4. capite 2. And in this Court no Steward or other Minister shall hold plea upon any action at the suit of any person unlesse the Plaintiffe or his Attorney in presence of the Defendant do sweare that the contract in the Declaration c. was had and made during the time of the Fare and within the jurisdiction of the Fare but this oath so taken shall not conclude the Defendant for pleading in abatement of the action and to the jurisdiction of the Court this by the Statute of 1 R. 3. cap. 6. is made perpetual in this principal case here the Defendant in the Court at Rochester was condemned in an action of debt for 300 l. upon a Bond and Contract formerly made and entered into and for this cause the judgment was erroneous Note that in this Court the Steward is Judge because there are no Suitors there neither can the Steward delegate a Deputy 6 E. 4. fol. 3. 7 E. 4. fol. 23. A TABLE OF THE PRINCIPALL MATTERS contained in the BOOKE A A Merciament in the County Court 6 How they are forfeited in Court-Leet and what shall be causes to amerce c. 313 Of Amerciament 314 Attorneys in the County Court 10 how qualified 11 Actions within what time they must be brought 12 Who may bring Actions and who not 13 Appearance what it is 14 Answer what 17 Accompts of the Sheriff with a particular of some usual charges or fees paid by him at the rendring of them up 224 225 Appeals 295 The Sheriff shal have Counter-rolls of Appeals c. 297 Accessaries who 326 Alehouse keepers 332 Assize of bread 333 B BAyliffs in the County Court 11 how qualified ibid. Burglary what 324 Bond taken by the Sheriffe upon a Fieri facias for the payment of money in Court not within the Stat. of 9 E. 4. 50. 185 Burning of houses or Barns 326 Bail what it is 212 Any person making a warrant c. without original processe upon examination c. shall be committed without bail 214 Such as are in Execution c. not to be bailed ibid. None to be bailed that are prohibited by the Statute of West 1. cap. 15. he cannot bail any suspect of felony as formerly ibid. The Sheriff cannot refuse to baile one bailable upon tender of sufficient sureties ibid. Traytors or Felons not bailable 215 In the Vpper Bench the baile not chargeable till default assigned in the principal c. ibid. The new rules concerning speciall bail ibid. and 216 Bridges decayes 328 Boundaries 330 Bloodshed 331 Barretors ibid. Brewers 333 Butchers 334 Breaking of Pownds 338 Beadel why so called 347 Bastard may not inherit 351 C COunty Court when instituted 3 Now the Sheriffs Court ibid. By whom first exercised ibid. What action may be brought in it 4 5 6 12 The time when it is to be holden 5 Where it is to be kept 6 What actions will not lie in it ibid. Proceedings in it 14 The manner of keeping the Court 23 24 25 Processe of the Court Original 37 Judicial 43 County Clerk how to be qualified 7 He cannot practise as an Attorney 8 Can act nothing without the Suitors 9 His care in deputing Bailiffs 9 How he must enter plaints ibid. How he is punishable ibid. Count what it is 16 Continuance what 17 Challenge of Jurors What are good causes 21 Capias ad satisfac where it lies 71 174 Cap. lies not after an Elegit and Why 179 Note where it lies after an Elegit 178 What it is 179 One taken upon it must be kept in salva arcta custodia ibid. This Writ lies where a Capias lies in the originall ibid. Nothing but the body can be taken by this Writ 180 A man in the custody of the Sheriffe and a second writ is delivered to him he shall be in his custody upon it although not actually arrested ibid. Two bound in an obligation joyntly and severally both may be sued and taken in Execution ibid. This Writ lies not for damages in a Writ of Dower ibid. No return is required upon it ibid. Capias pro Fine what it is 181 An Elegit sued after one is taken for the Protectors fine he shall go at large ibid. No one taken upon it in trespasse c. ibid. Capias ut legatum what it is and where it lies 181 182 Capias ut legat inquiras de bonis catallis What it is 182 Capias ad valentiam what it is and Where it lies ibid. Coroners
Man-slaughter my mis-adventure in manner and forme aforesaid by him committed and done against his will to the said Jurors is altogether unknown In witnesse whereof as well the Coroner aforesaid as the Jurors aforesaid to this Inquisition have set their Seales the day and year first above written An Inquisition where one drownes himselfe AN IN QVISITION indented taken c. Who say upon their Oaths that the aforesaid A. B. the second day of May in the yeare c. aforesaid about the houre of eight in the Morning of the same day not having GOD before his eyes but by instigation diabolicall seduced and moved of his malice fore-thought at M. aforesaid in the County aforesaid then and there alone being in a common River there himselfe willingly and feloniously drowned And so the Jurors aforesaid upon their Oaths aforesaid say that the aforesaid A. B. in manner and forme aforesaid then and there willingly and feloniously as a Felon of himselfe himselfe flew and murthered against the peace c. In witnesse whereof as well the said Corouers as the said Jurors c. If one hang himselfe then the Inquisition thus AN IN QVISITION indented the hour c. not having GOD before his eyes but by the instigation of the DEVIL feduced and moved at S. aforesaid in a certaine Wood or Grove to the said S. adjoyning then and there alone being with one Hempen Rope of the value of one penny which he then and there in his hands had and held and one end thence about his necke then and there put and one end thence about the bough of a certaine Oake tree bound and himselfe then and there with the rope aforesaid wilfully and feloniously hanged and strangled And the Jurors aforesaid upon their Oaths aforesaid say c. SHERIFFS TOURN AND Court-Leet Of the Originall of first Institution of them ALFRED Governour of this Common-wealth in the year of mans redemption 872. was the first institutor of this Court which we now determine to treat of then called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say the Assembly of the Shire Sheriffs Tourn and sometimes called the Sheriffs moot It seems to have the appellation of Sheriffs Tourn of the French word Tour viz. Ambitus circuitus vicissitudo and is by Britton styled Tour cap. 61. sub fine capitis as if we should say The Sheriffs course or perambulation For as Britton noteth in his 29th Chapter that which before the Sheriffe is called the Sheriffs Tourne is called in the Court of Franchises and Hundreds The view of Frank-pledge Wherein enquiry is specially made of such as be not in any Dozin with whom Fleta accords And by Fleta it appeareth that this Tourn was the Sheriffs course to keep his Tourn in every Hundred l. 2. cap. 52. Habet etiam rex eur ' suam in turnis vic' vicibus Hundred ' c. And in many Books it's denomination is the Kings Leet and Sheriffs Leet Two Courts were assigned to the Sheriffe by the said Alfred by which two Courts the whole County was governed viz. the County or Shire Court for one man to have remedy against another in any matter arising between them under fourty shillings And the Sheriffes Tourn unto which every man within the County above the age of 12 yeares and under 60. are compelled to come that they might not be ignorant of the things there published or given in charge whereby they were to be governed and this was called Suite reall by reason of their Allegiance Unto which they were sworn to be true and loyall to the King And it was learnedly spoken by a reverend Judge Justice Flemming in a Speech of his concerning the necessity of Sheriffs Tourns and Law-dayes who said that it was Schola insigniendi juvenes a School to direct and instruct young men in the ancient Lawes of the Common-wealth and to prepare them for greater employment at more great Conventions as the Assize Gaole-delivery or Sessions of the Peace Now because the people did undergo great trouble and vexation in travelling to the Sheriffs Tourn Leets or View of Frank-pledge were granted to Lords of Mannors within certain precincts yet this Court in whose Mannor soever it is kept is accounted the Kings Court because the authority thereof is originally appurtenant to the Crowne and thence derived to inferiour persons And Dyer likewise saith that this Court was first derived from the Sheriffs Tourn This Court is a Court of Record in all things that appertain to the Tourne or Leet and Sheriffe of the Tourne or Steward of the Leet are therein Judges of Record For whosoever hath the Leet hath the same authority within the Precinct as the Sheriffe hath within the Tourn Of the power and authority of the Judge of the COVRT THe Steward or Judge hath a double power and authority in the Court. 1. Election of Officers 2. Correction or punition of offenders In that of punition a double Act is to be respected 1. Actus Curiae the act of the Court. 2. Actus Patriae the act of the Countrey or Jury The authority of these two Acts do encounter with two sorts of offences or misdemeanors being furnished with a double weapon 1. Fine 2. Amerciament The one sort of offences are Extra curiam The other sort are In curia 1 Now to oppose and subdue those extrinsicall offences viz. those that are Extra curtam The Jurors that are sworn to present have peculiar cognizance and therefore authority and power to present them and to assess Amerciaments 2 The second weapon to oppose intrinsicall offences viz. those that are in curia which offences are either in omitting or neglecting a duty enjoyned which ought to be performed by the Jurors Constable Bayliffs c. or in committing some contempt and disorder in the face of the Court by any Officer or Suitor The Steward hath cognizance and may punish it by Fine without enquiry by the Countrey As If a suitor being sworn of a Jury shall refuse to make a presentment there or if he do depart without giving up his Verdict or if he refuse to be sworne the Sheriffe or Steward may impose a reasonable Fine upon him He may impannell a second Jury to enquire of the defaults and concealments of the first and to fine them for their offence For default of resians he may compell a stranger coming within the View to be of the Inquest What may be enquired of in this Court THe Steward may enquire of severall particular misdemeanors comprized and enumerated in the Statute of 18 E. 2. even from the highest Treason to the lowest Trespasse though not here punishable Which so farre as they may concerne the modern jurisdiction of our present times such as are neither absolute nor antiquate you shall finde in this ensuing Tract viz. In the charge of this Court What things are not to be enquired of in this Court
enquire of High treasons as if there be any among you that do compass imagine or intend the death of his highness the Lord Protector her highness or their children or of their consenters or to levy war against his Highnesse or be adherent to his enemies Death and forfeiture of all their goods and chattels to his Highnesse as well real as personall moveable and unmoveable corn growing and all their debts due to them sc all such goods and chattels c. as they had at the time of their attainder 2. If any counterfeit the great seal of England or money of this Common-wealth or do clip wash or round the same Death and losse of goods but of Lands during life onely and no corruption of blood nor forfeiture of Dower 3. If a Servant kill his Master or Mistresse or if a woman kill her husband it is petty treason and here inquirable Death the Escheat hereof appertains to the Lord of the Fee for such treasons touch not his Highnesse himselfe 4 If one kill another in his owne defence or by accident it is here to be enquired of as blood-shed c. Stamf. 15. a. Losse of goods in both and charter of pardon must be purchased for it Stat of Gloue cap. 9. 5 If any man ravish a Woman whether Wife Widow or Maid though she doth afterwards assent it is here enquirable as Trespasse And their ayders and abettors are to be enquired of Death and the losse of Goods and Lands the benefit of Clergy is taken away by the Stat. of 18 Eliz. cap. 6. The ayders and abettors shall receive the like punishment as well as he that committed the fact 6 Burglary are those who in the time of peace or in the night time with a felonious intent to rob or kill doe breake any houses Churches walls or Gates it is here inquirable Stamf. so 30. b. Death and losse of lands goods and so shall their accessary 7 Petty Larceny is the selonious intent of taking of any thing under the value of 12 pence as Capons Pigs Hens and such like or cloths off hedges and is here enquirable The punishment is corporall as whipping and losse of goods if they have any for the law suffers no offence to escape unpunished 8 Putting out of eyes cutting out of tongues or disfiguring any member to the intent they should not see nor speake is here inquirable as blood-shed Iudgement of death and losse of lands and goods 5 H. 7. 9 Misprision of Treason is if any know of Treason and concealeth it foure and twenty houres you are to enquire of it Losse of goods and chattels for ever of lands during life and perpetuall imprisonment no baile being admitted 10 You are to enquire of Conjurers and Witches and such as practice Diabolicall Arts or any Inchantments whereby any person shall be killed destroyed or consumed it is Felony in them their abettors and concealers Death grounded upon the Law of Moses Exod. 21. 18. Levit. 20. 27. and losse both of lands and goods 5 Eliz. Some of our Pulpit temporizers would make Astrology that sublime science one of the number but the Law is not guilty of their ignorance 11 The taking away of Ornaments seloniously out of Churches or Chappels is here inquirable as Felons Death no benefit of Clergy Frustra petit auxilium Ecclesiae qui peccat contra Ecclesiam 12 The felonious taking of Doves in Dove-houses yong pigeons Goshawkes out of their nests taking of Fish out of ponds stews or trunks but in a common River otherwise or taking Cignets Swans marked Peacocks or any domesticke Deere knowing it to be so and setting upon one in the high way though he take but the value of a penny is Felony and are here inquirable Death with the losse of lands goods and chattels and the like to their accessary 13. If any one seloneously burne any dwelling house or barns or stacks or mowes of corne in the night-season it is felony at the common-Law and by you to be inquired of Death and losse of goods and lands 14. You are to enquire if any one procure or command another to commit the felony though he be not present when it is perpetrated he is said to be an accessary before the fact or if any receive or aid a Felon having knowledge of the fact which he committed he is an accessary after the fact Stamf. 40. The Iudgment is the same as against the felon according to the merit of the fact 15. If any be arrested for felony or any other crime and afterwards the party in whose custody he is tollerates him to go at large this is a voluntary escape and inquireable It shall be adjudged against him that suffered the escape as if he were the offender Stamf. fo 33. 16. If one be arrested for felony and escapeth contrary to the will of the arrester and is not followed with fresh pursuit nor taken before the pursuer loseth sight of him this is inquirable Though he be afterwards taken yet is it finable according to the quality of the offence 17. If any rescue and set at liberty any person apprehended and arrested for felony it is felony in the Rescuer and here inquirable 1 H. 7. 9. The same judgment is as in a voluntary escape 18 These things mentioned in this first part of the Charge are here to be enqired of and presented but not punishable here but are to be certified by the Steward to the Justices of the Peace at the Sessions next ensuing But the matters contained in the subsequent part of the Charge are here in this Leete to be enquired of presented and punished but not certified as is the part preceding And these are grounded upon the Common and Statute Lawes of this Common-wealth Charge of the Leet Judgement 19 It behoveth you to enquire if the Constables and Tything-men have not been remisse in executing their office upon Vagabonds Rogues and sturdy Beggars that have com'n within their Liberty and charge For every such neglect or default they ought to forfeit 20 s. You ought also to enquire of those that sustain and feed them The penalty is 10 s. for every time they give almes to such 20 You shall enquire if there be in every Tithing a pair of good and sufficient stocks according to the Stat. for the severe punishing of idle persons If there be not the Tithing looseth 5 l. 21 Whether Hue and Cry after Theeves and Robbers hath beene duly pursued lyes next in your way to enquire of presenting them that made default The penalty or forfeiture of such default is 5 l. 22 All Purprestures are here enquirable which are either in eligendo or destruendo either in setting up or casting downe any thing which may tend to a publique annoyance as in levying of Ditches or Hedges or by making or filling up of Ditches or if