case OF treason chap I where a man do compass or imagine the death of the king  the king wife the king old son and heir apparent if it appear by any overt act  it be treason where a man do violate the king wife the king old daughter  unmarried the wife of the king old son and heir apparent it be treason where a  man do levy war against the king in the realm it be treason where a man be  adherent to the king enemy give they aid and comfort it be treason where a man  counterfeit the king great seal privy signet sign manual it be treason  likewise his money where a man bring into this realm false money counterfeit  to the likeness of English with intent to merchandise or make payment thereof  and know it to be false money it be treason where a man counterfeit any coin  currant in payment within this realm it be treason where a man do bring in any  money be currant within the realm the same be false and counterfeit with  intent to utter it and know the same to be false it be treason where a man do  clip waste round or file any of the king money or any foreign coin currant by  proclamation for gain sake it be treason where a man do any way impair  diminish falsify scale or lighten money currant by proclamation it be treason  where a man kill the chancellor the treasurer the king justice in eire the  king justice of assize the justice of oyer and terminer be in their several  place and do their office it be treason where a man procure or consent to  treason it be treason where a man do persuade or withdraw any of the king  subject from his obedience or from the religion by his majesty establish with  intent to withdraw any from the king obedience it be treason where a man be  absolve reconcile or withdraw from his obedience to the king or promise  obedience to any foreign power it be treason where any jesuit or any other  priest ordain since the first year of the reign of queen Elizabeth shall come  into or remain in any part of this realm it be treason where any person be  bring up in a college of jesuits or seminary shall not return within six month  after proclamation make and within two day after his return submit himself to  take the oath of supremacy if otherwise he do return and not within six month  after proclamation make it be treason where a man commit for treason do  voluntary break prison it be treason where a jailor do voluntary permit a man  commit for treason to escape it be treason where a man relieve or comfort a  traitor and know of the offence it be treason where a man do affirm or  maintain any authority of jurisdiction spiritual or do put in e or execute any  thing for the advancement or set forth thereof the three time it be treason  where a man refuse to take the oath of supremacy be tender by the bishop of  the diocese if he be any ecclesiastical person or by Commission out of the  chancery if he be a temporal person such offence the second time be treason  chap two the punishment trial and proceed in case of treason in treason the  corporal punishment be by draw on a hurdle from the place of the prison to the  place of execution by hang and be cut down alive bowelling and quarter and in  woman burn in treason there ensue a corruption of blood in the line ascend and  descend in treason land and good be forfeit and inheritance aswell entail as  feesimple and the profit of estate for life in treason the escheat go to the  king and not to the lord of the fee in treason the land forfeit shall be in  the king actual possession without office in treason there be no accessary but  all be principal in treason no sanctuary nor benefit of clergy or peremptory  challenge be allow in treason if the party stand mute yet nevertheless  judgement and attainder shall proceed all one as upon verdict in treason no  Council be to be allow nor bail permit to the party in treason no witness  shall be receive upon oath for the party justification in treason if the fact  be commit beyond the sea yet it may be try in any county where the king will  award his Commission in treason if the party be non sound memory yet if he  have former confess it before the king Council and that it be certify that he  be of good memory at the time of his examination and confession the court may  proceed to judgement without call or arraign the party in treason the death of  the party before conviction discharge all proceed and forfeiture in treason if  the party be once acquit he shall not be bring in question again for the same  fact in treason no new case not express in the statute of e or make treason by  any special statute since ought to be judge treason without consult with the  parliament in treason there can be no prosecution but at the king suit and the  king pardon discharge in treason the king can grant over to any subject power  and authority to pardon it in treason a trial of a peer of the kingdom be to  be by special Commission before the lord high steward and those that pass upon  he to be none but peer the proceed be with great solemnity the lord steward  sit under a cloth of estate with a white rod of justice in his hand and the  peer may confer together but be not any way shut up and be demand by the lord  steward their voice one by one and the plurality of voice carry it in treason  it have be a ancient use and favour from the king of this realm to pardon the  execution of hang draw and quarter and to make warrant for their behead the  proceed in case of treason with a common subject be in the king bench or by  Commission of oyer and terminer chap III case of misprision of treason where a  man conceal high treason only without any consort or abet it be misprision of  treason where a man counterfeit any foreign coin of gold or silver not currant  in the realm it be misprision of treason where a man fix a old seal to a new  patent it be misprision of treason chap four the punishment trial and proceed  in case of misprision of treason the punishment of misprision of treason be by  perpetual imprisonment lose of the issue and profit of their land during life  and lose of good and chattel the proceed and trial be as in case of high  treason in misprision of treason bail be not admit chap five case of petty  treason where a servant kill his master the wife the husband the spiritual man  his prelate to who he be subordinate and owe faith and obedience it be petty  treason where a son kill the father or mother it have be question whether it  be petty treason and the late experience and opinion seem to sway to the  contrary though against law and reason in my judgement where a servant kill  his or her master or mistress after they be out of service it be petty treason  chap VI the punishment trial and proceed in case of petty treason in petty  treason the corporal punishment be by draw on a hurdle and hang and in a woman  burn in petty treason the forfeiture be the same with the case of felony in  petty treason all accessary be but in case of felony chap VII case of felony  where a man commit murder or homicide of malice prepense it be felony where a  man commit murder that be break of a house with a intent to commit felony it  be felony where a man commit manslaughter that be homicide of sudden heat and  not of malice prepense it be felony where a man ride arm with a felonious  intent it be felony where a man do malicious and felonious burn any man house  it be felony where a man do malicious c burn corn upon the ground or in stack  it be felony where a man do malicious cut out another man tongue or put out  his eye it be felony where a man rob or steal videlicet take away another man  good above the valve of d out of his possession with intent to conceal it it  be felony where a man imbeciles and withdraw any of the king record at  Westminster whereby a judgement be reverse it be felony where a man have the  custody of the king armour munition or other habiliment of war do malicious  convey away the same it be felony if it be to the valve of shilling where a  servant have good of his master deliver unto he and go away with they it be  felony where a man conjure or invoke wicked spirit it be felony where a man do  use or practice witchcraft whereby any person shall be kill waste or lame it  be felony where a man practice any witchcraft to discover treasure hide or to  disover steal good or to provoke unlawful love or to impair or hurt any man  cattle or good the second time have be once before convict of like offence it  be felony where a man use the craft of multiplication of gold or silver it be  felony where a man receive a seminary priest know he to be such a priest it be  felony where a man take away a woman against her will not claim her as his  ward or bondwoman it be felony where a man or woman marry again his or her  former husband or wife be alive it be felony where a man commit buggery with  man or beast it be felony where any person above the number of twelve shall  assemble themselves with intent to put down enclosure or bring down prince of  victual c and do not depart after proclamation it be felony where a man shall  use any word to encourage or draw any people together ut above and they do  assemble accord and do not depart after proclamation it be felony where a man  be the king swear servant conspire to murder any lord of the realm or any  privycouncillor it be felony where a soldier have take any parcel of the king  wage and depart without licence it be felony where a recusant which be a  seducer and persuader and enciter of the king subject against the king  authority in ecclesiastical cause or a persuader of conventicle or shall  refuse to abjure the realm it be felony where vagabond be find in the realm  call themselves Egyptian it be felony where a purveyor do take without warrant  or otherwise do offend against certain special law it be felony where a man  hunt in any forest park or warren by night or by day with vizard or other  disguisements and be examine thereof and conceal his fact it be felony where  one steal certain kind of hawk it be felony where a man commit forgery the  second time have be once before convict it be felony where a man transport ram  or other sheep out of the king dominion the second time it be felony where a  man be imprison for felony break prison it be felony where a man procure or  consent to felony to be do it be felony as to make he accessary before the  fact where a man receive or relieve a felon it be felony as to make he  accessary after the fact where a woman by the constraint of her husband in his  presence join with he in commit of felony it be not felony in her neither as  principal nor as accessary homicide or the kill of a man be to be consider in  four kind chance medley see defendend manslaughter wilful murder chap the  punishment trial and proceed in case of felony in felony the corporal  punishment be hang and it be doubtful whether the king may turn it into behead  in the case of a Peer or other person of dignity because in treason the strike  off the head be part of the judgement and so the king pardon the rest but in  felony it be no part of the judgement and the king can alter the execution of  law yet precedent have be both way if it be upon indictment the king may but  upon a appeal he can in felony there follow corruption of blood except it be  in case make felony by special statute with a proviso that there shall be no  corruption of blood in felony land in feesimple and good and chattel be  forfeit and the profit of estate for life be likewise forfeit but not land  entail and by some custom land in feesimple be not so forfeit the father to  the bough the son to the plough as in gavel kind in ken and other place in  felony the escheat go to the lord of the fee and not to the king except he be  lord but profit for the estate for life or in tail during the life of tenant  in tail go to the king and the king have likewise annum diem empty in felony  land be not in the king before office nor in the lord before entry or recovery  in a writ of escheat or death of the party attaint in felony there can be no  proceed with the accessary before there be a proceed with the principal if he  die or plead his pardon or have his clergy before attainder the accessary can  never be deal with in felony if the party stand mute and will not put himself  upon trial or challenge peremptory above that the law allow he shall have  judgement not of hang but of penance of press to death but there he save his  land and forfeit only his good in felony at the commonlaw the benefit of  clergy or sanctuary be allow but now by stat it be take away in most case in  felony bail may be admit where the fact be not notorious and the person not of  ill name in felony no Council be to be allow to the party no more then in  treason in felony if the fact be commit beyond the sea or upon the sea super  deeply mare there be no trial at all in one case nor by course of jury in the  other but by the jurisdiction of the admiralty in felony no witness shall be  receive upon oath for the party justification no more then in treason in  felony if the party be non sonae memory although it be after the fact he can  be try nor adjudge except it be in course of outlawry and that be also  erroneous in felony the death of the party before conviction discharge all  proceed and forfeiture in felony if the party be once acquit or in peril of  judgement of life lawful he shall never be bring in question again for the  same fact in felony the prosecution may be either at the king suit or by way  of appeal the defendant shall have his course and produce witness upon oath as  in civil cause in felony the king may grant halt justice to a subject with the  regality of power to pardon it in felony the trial of peer be all one as in  case of treason in felony the proceed be in the king bench or before  commissioner of oyer and terminer or of gaol delivery and in some case before  justice of the peace chap IX case of felony de see with the punishment trial  and proceed in the civil law and other law they make a difference of case of  felony de see for where a man be call in question upon any capital crime and  kill himself to prevent the law there they give the judgement in all point of  forfeiture as if they have be attaint in their life time and on the other side  where a man kill himself upon impatience of sickness or the like they do not  punish it at all but the law of England take it all in one degree and punish  only with lose of good to be forfeit to the king who general grant they to his  almoner where they be not former grant unto special liberty chap X case of  praemunire where a man purchase or accept any provision that be collation of  any spiritual benefice or live from the sea of Rome it be praemunire where a  man shall purchase any wooer to draw any people of the king allegiance out of  the realm in plea whereof the cognizance pertain to the king court and come  not in person to answer his contempt in that behalf before the king and his  Council or in his chancery it be praemunire where a man do sue in any court  which be not the king court to defeat or impeach any judgement give in the  king court and do not appear to answer his contempt it be praemunire where a  man do purchase or pursue in the court of Rome or elsewhere any process  sentence of excommunication bull or instrument or other thing which touch the  king in his regality or his realm in prejudice it be praemunire where a man do  affirm or maintain any foreign kind of jurisdiction spiritual or do put in ure  or execution any thing for the advancement or set forth thereof such offence  the second time commit be praemunire where a man refuse to take the oath of  supremacy be tender by the bishop of the diocese if it be a ecclesiastical  person or by a Commission out of the chancery if it be a temporal person it be  praemunire where a dean and chapter of any church upon the congee de liar of a  archbishop or bishop do refuse to elect any such archbishop or bishop as be  nominate unto they in the king letter missive it be praemunire where a man do  contribute or give relief to any jesuit or seminary priest or to any person  bring up therein and call home and not return it be case of praemunire where a  man be a broker of a usurious contract above ten in the hundred it be  praemunire chap XI the punishment trial and proceed in case of praemunire the  punishment be by imprisonment during life forfeiture of good forfeiture of  land in feesimple and forfeiture of the profit of land entail or for life the  trial and proceed be as in case of misprision of treason and the trial be by  peer where a Peer of the realm be the offender strike any man in the face of  the king court be forfeiture of land perpetual imprisonment and lose of that  hand chap XII case of abjuration and exile and the proceed therein where a man  commit any felony for the which at this day he may have privilege of sanctuary  and confess the felony before the coroner he shall abjure the liberty of the  realm and choose his sanctuary and if he commit any new offence or leave his  sanctuary he shall lose the privilege thereof and suffer as if he have not  take sanctuary where a man not come to the church and be a Popish recusant do  persuade any the king subject to impugn his majesty authority in cause  ecclesiastical or shall persuade any subject to come to any unlawful  conventicle and shall not after conform himself within a time and make his  submission he shall abjure the realm and forfeit his good and land during life  and if he depart not within the time prefix or return he shall be in the  degree of a felon where a man be a Popish recusant and not have land to the  valve of mark per annum nor good to the valve of l shall not repair to his  dwell or place where he be bear and there confine himself within the compass  of five mile he shall abjure the realm and if he return he shall be in case of  a felon where a man kill the king deer in chase or forest and can find no  surety after a year imprisonment he shall abjure the realm where a man be a  trespasser in park or in pond of fish and after three year imprisonment can  find surety he shall abjure the realm where a man be a ravisher of any child  who marriage belong to any person and marry the say child after year of  consent and be not able to satisfy for the marriage he shall abjure the realm  chap XIII case of heresy and the trial and proceed therein the declaration of  heresy and likewise the proceed and judgement upon heretic be by the  commonlawes of this realm refer to the jurisdiction ecclesiastical and the  secular arm be reach to they by the commonlawes and not by any statute for the  execution of they by the king writ de heretic to burn up chap xiiii the king  prerogative in parliament the king have a absolute negative voice to all bill  that pass the parliament so as without his royal assent they have a mere  nullity and not so much as authority precept or senatus consulta have  notwithstanding the intercession of tribune the king may summon parliament  dissolve they prorogue they and adjourn they at his pleasure the king may add  voice in the parliament at his pleasure for he may give privilege to borough  town as many as he will and may likewise call and create baron at his pleasure  no man can sit in parliament except he take the oath of allegiance chap XV the  king prerogative in matter of war or peace the king have power to declare and  proclaim war and to make and conclude peace and truce at his pleasure the king  have power to make league and confederacy with foreign state more straight and  less straight and to revoke and disannul they at his pleasure the king have  power to command the body of his subject for the service of his war and to  muster train and levy man and to transport they by sea or land at his pleasure  the king have power in time of war to execute martial law and to appoint all  officer of war at his pleasure the king have power to grant his letter of mar  and reprisal for remedy to his subject upon foreign wrong at his pleasure the  king have power to declare law by his letter patent for the government of any  place conquer by his arm at his pleasure the king may give knight hood and  thereby enable any subject to perform knight service at his pleasure chap XVI  the king prerogative in matter of money the king may alter his standard in  baseness or fineness of his coin at his pleasure the king may alter his stamp  in from at his pleasure the king may alter the valuation of his coin and raise  and fall money at his pleasure the king by his proclamation may make money of  his own currant or not currant at his pleasure the king may take or refuse the  subject bullion and coin more or less money the king by his proclamation may  make foreign money currant or not currant chap XVII the king prerogative in  matter of Trade and traffic the king may constrain the person of any of his  subject not to go out of the realm at all the king may restrain any of his  subject to go out of the realm into any special part foreign the king may  forbid the exportation of any commodity out of the realm the king may forbid  the importation of any commodity into the realm the king may set a reasonable  impost upon any foreign ware that come into the realm and so of native ware  that go out of the realm chap XVIII the king prerogative in the person of his  subject the king may create any corporation or body politic and enable they to  purchase and grant and to sue and be sue and that with such restriction and  modification as he please the king may denizen and enable any foreigner for he  and his descendent after the charter though he can naturalize nor enable he to  make pedigree from ancestor paramount the king may enable any attaint person  by his charter of pardon to purchase and to purge his blood for the time to  come though he can restore his blood for the time pass the king may enable any  dead person in law as man profess to take and purchase to the king benefit  chap nineteeen a answer to the question propose by sir Alexander hay knight  touch the office of constable TO the first of the original of the authority of  constable it may be say caput inter clouds  condit for the authority be grant  upon the ancient law and custom of this kingdom practice long before the  Conquest and intend and institute for the conservation of the peace and  repress of all manner of disturbance and hurt of the people and that as well  by way of prevention as punishment but yet so as they have no judicial power  to hear and determine any cause but only a ministerial power as in the answer  of the seven article more at large be set down as for the office of the high  constable the original of that be yet more obscure for though the high  constable authority have the more ample circuit he be over the hundred and the  petty constable over the village yet I do not find that the petty constable be  subordinate to the high constable or to be order or command by he and  therefore I doubt the high constable be not ab origin but that when the  business of the country increase the authority of the justice of peace be  enlarge by diverse statute then for conveniency sake the office of high  constable grow in use for the receive of the command and precept from the  justice of peace and distribute they to the petty constable and in token of  this the election of high constable in most part of the kingdom be by the  appointment of the justice of peace whereas the election of the petty  constable be by the people but there be two thing unto which the office of  constable have special reference and which of necessity or at lea a kind of  congruity must precede the jurisdiction of that office either the thing  themselves or somewhat that have a similitude or analogy towards they the one  be the division of the territory or gross of the shire into hundred village  and town for the high constable be officer over the hundred and the petty  constable be over the town or village the other be the court leet unto which  the constable be a proper attendant and minister for there the constable be  choose by the jury there they be swear and there that part of their office  which concern information be principal to be perform for the jury be to  present offence and the offender be chief to take light from the constable of  all matter of disturbance and nuisance of the people which they in respect of  their office be presume to have best and most particular knowledge of chap  twenty three end of the institution of the court leet the first end of the  institution of the court leet be to take the oath of allegiance of all male  above the age of twelve year the second to inquire of all offence against the  peace and for those that be against the crown and peace both to inquire of  only and certify to the justice of gaol delivery but those that be against the  peace simple they be to inquire and punish the three be to inquire of punish  and remove all public nuisance and grievance concern infection of air  corruption of victual ease of chaffer and contract of all other thing that may  hurt or grieve the people in general in their health quiet and welfare and to  these three end as matter of policy subordinate the court leet have power to  call upon the pledge that be to be take for the good behaviour of the resiants  that be not tenant and to inquire of all default of officer as constable  Ale-tasters c and for choice of constable as aforesaid the jurisdiction of  these leet be ever remain in the king and in that case exercise by the sheriff  in his turn which be the grand leet grant over to subject but yet it be still  the king court to the second as be say the election of the petty constable be  at the court leet by the inquest that make the presentment the election of the  head constable be by the justice of the peace at their quarter session to the  three the office be annual except they be remove to the four they be man as it  be now use of inferior yea of base condition which be a mere abuse or  degenerate from the first institution for the petty constable in town ought to  be of the better sort of resiants in the say town save that they ought not to  be age or sickly but man of able body in respect of the keep watch and toil of  their place neither ought they to be in any man livery and the high constable  ought to be of the able sort of free holder and of the substantial'st sort of  yeoman next to the degree of gentleman but they ought to be such as be not  encumber with any other office as mayor undersheriff bailiff c to the five  they have no allowance but be bind by duty to perform their office gratis  which may the rather be endure because it be but annual and they be not tie to  keep or maintain any servant or under minister for that every one of the king  people be bind to assist they to the six upon complaint make of his refusal to  any one justice of peace the say justice may bind he over to the session where  if he can excuse himself by some just allegation he may be fine and imprison  for his contempt to the seven the authority of constable as it be substantive  and of it self or substitute and astrict to the warrant and command of the  justice of peace so again it be original or additional for either it be give  they by the commonlaw or else annex by diverse statute and as for subordinate  power wherein the constable be only to execute the commandment of the justice  of peace and likewise the additional power which be give by diverse statute it  be hard to comprehend they in any brevity for that they do correspond to the  office and authority of the justice of peace which be very large and be create  by the branch of several statute which be thing of diverse and disperse nature  but for the original and substantive power of a constable it may be reduce to  three head for matter of peace only for matter of peace and the crown for  matter of nuisance disturbance and disorder although they be not accompany  with violence and breach of peace for pacify of quarrel begin the constable  may upon hot word give or likelihood of breach of peace to ensue command they  in the king name to keep the peace and depart and forbear and so he may where  a affray be make part the same and keep the party asunder and arrest and  commit the breaker of the peace if they will not obey and call power to assist  he for the same purpose for punishment of breach of peace pass the law be very  spare in give any authority to constable because he have no power judicial and  the use of his office be rather for prevent or stay of mischief then for  punish of offence for in that part he be rather to execute the warrant of the  justice or when sudden matter arise upon his view or notorious circumstance to  apprehend offender and carry they before the justice of peace and general to  imprison in like case of necessity where the case will not endure the present  carry before the justice and thus much for the matter of peace for matter of  the crown the office of the constable consist chief in four part the first be  arrest the second be search the three be hue and cry and the four be seizure  of good all which the constable may perform of his own authority without any  warrant of the justice of peace for first if any man will lie murder or felony  to another charge or do suspect he of murder or felony he may declare it to  the constable and the constable ought upon such declaration or complaint carry  he before a justice and if by common voice or fame any man be suspect the  constable of duty ought to arrest he and bring he before a justice though  there be no other accusation if any house be suspect for the receive or  harbour of any felon the constable upon complaint or common fame may search if  any fly upon the felony the constable ought to raise hue and cry and search  his good and keep they safe without impair and to inventary they in the  presence of honest neighbour for matter of common nuzance and grievance they  be of a very variable nature accord to the several comfort which man life and  society require and the contrary which infest the same in all which be it  matter of corrupt air water or victual or stop straighten or endanger passage  or general deceit in weight measure size or counterfeit ware and thing  vendible the office of the constable be to give as much as in he lie  information of they and of the offender in leet that they may be present but  because leet be keep but twice in the year and many of these thing require  present or speedy remedy the constable in thing of notorious and vulgar nature  ought to forbid and repress they in the mean time to the eight they be for  their contempt to be fine and imprison by the justice in their session to the  nine the oath they take be in this manner you shall swear that you shall well  and true serve the king and the lord of this law-day and you shall cause the  peace of our lord the king to be well and due keep to your power and you shall  arrest all those that you see commit riot debate and affray in breach of peace  and you shall well and due endeavour your self to your best knowledge that the  statute of Winchester for watch hue and cry and the statute make for the  punishment of sturdy beggar vagabond rogue and other idle person come within  your office be true execute and the offender punish and you shall endeavour  upon complaint make to apprehend barrators and riotous person make affray and  likewise to apprehend felon and if any of they make resistance with force and  multitude of misdoers you shall make outcry and pursue they till they be take  and shall look unto such person as use unlawful game and you shall have regard  unto the maintenance of artillery and you shall well and due execute all  process and precept send unto you from the justice of peace of the county and  you shall make good and faithful presentment of all bloodsheds outcry affray  and rescue make within your office and you shall well and due accord to your  power and knowledge do that which belong to your office of constable to do for  this year to come so help c to the ten the authority be the same in substance  differ only in extent the petty constable serve only for one town parish or  borough the head constable serve for the whole hundred neither be the petty  constable subordinate to the head constable for any commandment that proceed  from his own authority but it be use that the precept of the justice be  deliver unto the high constable who be few in number may better attend the  justice and then the head constable by virtue thereof make their precept over  to the petty constable to the eleven in case of necessity he may appoint a  deputy or in default thereof the steward of the court leet may which deputy  ought to be swear now to conclude the office of constable consist whole in  these three thing videlicet their office concern the conservation of the peace  the serve the precept and warrant of the justice their attendance for the  execution of statute chap XXI of the jurisdiction of justice itinerantos in  the principality of Wales these justice have power to hear and determine all  criminal cause which be call in the law of England the plea of the crown and  herein they have the same jurisdiction that the justice have in his majesty  bench common call the king bench they have jurisdiction to hear and determine  all civil cause which be call in the law of England common plea and do take  knowledgement of all sines levy of land or hereditament without sue out any  dedimus power and herein they have the same jurisdiction that the justice of  the common plea do execute at Westminster also they may hear and determine all  assize upon disseisines of land or hereditament wherein they equal the  jurisdiction of the justice of assize justice of oyer terminer may hear and  determine all notable violence and outrage perpetrate or do within their  several precinct of the principality of Wales the prothonotary his office be  to draw all plead and to enter and engross all record and judgement in civil  cause the clerk of the crown his office be to draw and engross all proceed  arraignment and judgement in criminal cause the martial who office be to  attend the person of the judge at their come sit and go from the session or  court the crier he be tanquam public officer herald to call forth such person  who appearance be necessary and to impose silence to the people there be a  Commission under the great seal of England to certain gentleman give they  power to preserve the peace and to resist and punish all turbulent person who  misdemeanour may tend to the disquiet of the people and these be call the  justice of peace and every of they may well and true be call and term  eirenarcha the chief of they be call custos rotulorum in who custody all the  record of their proceed be resident other there be of that number call justice  of peace and quorum because in their Commission they have power to sit and  determine cause concern breach of peace and misbehaviour the word of their  Commission be conceive thus quorum such and such One well duos c be to will  and without some one or more of they of the quorum no session can be hold and  for the avoid of a superfluous number of such justice for through the ambition  of many it be count a credit to be burden with that authority the statute of h  have express prohibit that there shall be but eight justice of peace in every  county these justice do hold their session quarterly in every shire where the  Commission of the peace be establish there be a clerk of the peace for the  enter and engross of all proceed before the say justice and this officer be  appoint by the custos rotulorum every shire have its sheriff which word be of  the Saxon English be as much to say as shire reeve or minister of the county  his function of office be twofold ministerial judicial as touch his  ministerial office he be the minister and executioner of all the process and  precept of the court of law and thereof ought to make return and certificate  as touch his judicial office he have authority to hold two several court of  distinct nature the one call the turn because he keep his turn and circuit  about the shire and hold the same court in several place wherein he do inquire  of all offence perpetrate against the commonlaw and not forbid by any statute  or Act of parliament and the jurisdiction of this court be derive from justice  distributive and be for criminal offence and it hold twice every year the  other be call the county court wherein he do determine all petty and small  cause civil under arise within the say county and thereof it be call the  county court the jurisdiction of this court be derive from justice commutative  and be hold every month the office of the sheriff be annual and in the king  gift whereof he be to have a patent every shire have a officer call a  escheator which be a office to attend the king revenue and to seize into his  majesty hand all land either escheat good or land forfeit and therefore be  call escheator and he be to inquire by good inquest of the death of the king  tenant and to who their land be descend and to seize their body and land for  ward if they be within age and be Accountable for the same and this officer be  nam by the lord treasurer of England there be in every shire two other officer  call crowners or coroner they be to inquire by inquest in what manner and by  who every person die of a violent death and to enter the same of record which  be matter criminal and a plea of the crown and therefore they be call Corones  or crowners as one have write because their enquiry ought to be public in  Corona poplar tree these officer be choose by the freeholder of the shire by  virtue of a writ out of the chancery de Coronatore to bring together and of  they I needs not to speak more because these officer be in use elsewhere  forasmuch as every shire be divide into hundred it be also by the say statute  of h cap order that two sufficient gentleman or yeoman shall be appoint  constable of every hundred also there be in every shire one gaol or prison  appoint for the restraint of liberty of such person as for their offence be  thereunto commit until they shall be deliver by course of law in every hundred  of every shire the sheriff thereof shall nominate sufficient person to be  bailiff of that hundred and Underministers of the sheriff and they be to  attend upon the justice in every of their court and session Finis