Defendant in any Action or Suit is to do is to appear and shew himself in person or by an Attorny in the Court to answer the Action and defend the Suit He may also appear by an Essoin which is an excusation coming from the French word Exoine it doth delay the cause a Court day longer the common Essoin is de male vener and if he do not appear the next Court then it passeth by default Judgment entred and Execution issues out against his Goods and Chattels But after the Defendant hath once appeared in the Court by an Attorny there shall be no Essoin allowed But if he appear neither by an Attorny nor by Essoin then further Processe issues out against his Goods and Chattels viz. The Precept of Duces tecum and attachment and Distresse upon attachment infinite untill he do appear After the Processe executed the next Court the Plaintiff is to appear and file his Declaration to shew his cause of Action or matter of complaint in which must be shewn who complaineth and against whom for what matter how and in what manner the Action grew between the parties and at what time and place the wrong was done and in conclusion he must aver and profer to prove his Suit and shew the damage he hath sustained by the wrong done unto him Speciall care ought to be had that it be drawn in manner and form yet by the Statute of 36 E. 3. cap. 15. A Declaration shall be good if it have matter of substance though the terms he not apt however to avoid doubts and that the Attornies may not depend altogether upon uncertainties let them be diligent in taking right and full instructions from their Clyents and inform themselves of every puntilio which may be materially incident to the case that so they may know what manner of Action is most proper to be brought on the behalf of their Clyents In some cases manner and form is chiefly to be looked at but in other some not altogether so materiall As if an Action of debt be brought of the sale of a Horse for five pounds where the bargain was for two horses the Defendant pleads that he oweth him nothing in manner and form the Jury ought to find for the Defendant for that that the bargaine was for two horses for five pounds fo manner and form there is materiall and parcell of the charge and so it is in every case where the Action varies from the bargain or speciall matter But if an Action of the case be brought by the Husband alone upon an Assumpsit to him by R. the Desendant saith he did not assume in manner and form and the Plaintiff gives in evidence of an Assumpsit made to his wife and his agreement to it afterwards this is good and manner and form is not materiall If an Action be brought before there is any cause of Action the Declaration is insufficient But if a Trespasse was done the fourth day of May and the Plaintiff declareth the same to be done the fifth or the first day of May when no trespasse was committed yet if upon evidence it salleth out that the Trespasse was done before the action brought it sufficeth 19 H. 6. 47. 5 E. 4 5. 21 E. 4. 66. And Littleton saith That the Jury may finde the Defendant guilty at another day then the Plaintiff supposeth for the Law of England respecteth more the effect and substance of the matter then every nicity of forme and circumstance Apices juris non sunt jura Note that in actions of debt upon Emisset for Wares for Money or other things lent upon an In simul computassent actions of Trespasse Battery or upon the case c. you are not tyed to lay the certaine day but you may lay it any time after the cause of action accrued If an action upon the case be brought upon an Assumpsit the Plaintiff must declare upon the whole promise made and not upon part of it else the Declaration is not good Mich. 22. Car. b. r. If there be words in a Declaration which have no signification the words shall be adjudged to be void words and shall not hurt the Declaration but the Declaration shall be taken as if those words were left out of the Declaration Hill 23. Car. B. R. Pasc 24. Car. B. r. A Declaration ought not to shew a thing by implication it must be set forth expressely If the Plaintiff do alter his Declaration after the Defendant hath pleaded to it the Defendant may alter his Plea For by the amendment of it it may be so altered in matter that it may require a different answer from what was sormerly pleaded and in that case if he should not amend his Plea he might be triced sor want of a good Plea Prac. reg fo 235. A Declaration is sometimes called a Count as Count in debt Kitch 281. Count in Trespasse Brit. cap. 26. Count in an Action of Trespasse upon the case for a slander Kitch 251. But a Count is more properly used in Reall than Personall Actions And a Declaration more applyed to Personall than Reall F N. B. 18. a. 60. D. N. 71. a. 191. c. 217. a. If after Processe executed the Plaintiff do not appear and file his Declaration and the Defendant doth appear upon such default the Plaintiff is non-suited and the Defendant may have Judgment and Execution for his costs In every case where the Plaintiff may have costs against the Defendant there if the Plaintiff be non-suit or a Verdict passe against him the Desendant shall have his costs as in Trespasse Debt Covenant by Specialty or upon Contract Detinue Accounts Actions upon the case or upon the Statute for personall wrongs 23 H. 8. cap. 15. Administrators nor Executors shall not pay any costs neither upon Non-suit or Verdict because their Actions are brought upon Debts or Contracts not made between them and the Defendants But if they bring Actions for things done to themselves as for the taking away of goods from them c. and they be Non suit or Verdict passe against them in this case they shall pay costs After the Plaintiff hath appeared and Declaration filed upon the appearance of the Defendant Emparlance is to be entered Emparlance is when the Defendant being to answer the Suit or Action of the Plaintiff desireth some time of respite to advise himself the better what he shall answer being nothing else but a Continuance of a cause till a further day Now to demonstrate what the word Continuance signifieth it is after a Suit is begun and the Plaintiff hath declared he must continue his Suit from Court day to Court day or else the adverse party may take advantage of it and this is called a Continuance being but onely a proroguing of a Suit from time to time to keep it in being And this is by the Act or order of the Court and
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
because he is conservator of the peace but now it seems the power is transferred to the Justices of the Peace onely See the Stat. 1 R. 3. c. 3. 3 H. 7. 3. If a prisoner bailable tender sufficient sureties to the Sheriff and he refuseth he shall be amerced to the Protector and Informer 40 l. and shall lose treble damages to the party grieved If a person be arrested by vertue of any Writ or precept in any Action personall upon tender of reasonable sureties to appear at the day and place as the said Writs Bills or Preceps shall require he shall be bailed 23 H. 6. cap. 10. Fitz. 251. b. And the person is not obliged to go to the Sherif if he offer sufficient baile to the Baylif Persons apprehended for any manner of Treason or Felony shall not be bailed Westm 1. Cap. It is the constant course of the Upper Bench that the Bail is never chargeable till there is default assigned in the principall upon the return of a Capias ad satisfac And if the principall render his body though the Plaintiff refuse to take it yet that is a discharge of the baile Winch Rep. fo 62. It is not repugnant to our present subject to transcribe the new Rules concerning speciall Bayle viz. 1. That if the Defendant appeare upon the Summons Attachment or Distresse or by Supersedeas quia improvide or doth truly render himselfe upon the Exigent no baile is requirable 2 That in all causes of removeall be it by Habeas Corpus Priviledges or Certiorari speciall bail ought to be given 3 That in causes where the Defendant comes in by Cepi corpus be it Debt Detinue Trespasse for goods Action upon the Case except slander if the debt or damages amount to 20 l. special baile is to be given except it be against an Heire Executor or Administrator 4 That in Covenant because the damages are uncertain till Declaration bail at discretion 5 That in Battery Conspiracy false imprisonment no speciall baile of course without special motion and order 6 That in slander no speciall baile except in slander of title wherein to be left to the discretion of the Judges 7 That in priviledge other then for sees and disbursments as an Attorney in this Court baile at discretion of the Court. In such case wherein a suite by a common person especiall baile is not requisite 8 That if baile be given upon reversall of an Outlawrie or removall by Habeas Corpus the Originall to be shewne upon tendring of the Declaration otherwise the baile not liable unlesse the party or his Attorney will voluntarily appeare or take a Declaration without shewing of it 9 That in case of a removall out of an inferiour Court or reversall the new Originall to agree in the nature of the Action the summe in demand and the County otherwise the baile not lyable but if the partie will voluntarily appeare to such varying originall to be good as to the partie but if upon a cause removed by Habeas Corpus out of the Courts of Canterbury Southampton Hull Litchfield or Poole which are Counties where the Judges of Nisi prius seldome come if the Action be transitory it must be laid in the County of Kent Southampton Yorke Stafford or Dorcet where the Towne and County lieth and the Recognizance to be taken accordingly 10 That the Principall rendring himselfe at any time after bayle put in and before or upon the day of appearnce of the scire fac returned scire feci or of the second scire facias returned Nihil or in case there shall be an Action of Debt brought upon the Recognizance against the Bayle then if the Principall shall render himselfe upon or before the processe returned or served no further proceeding to be against the Bayle Of the Election of Parliament men how and when they are to be elected c. THe manner of electing Knights of the Shire is as followeth viz. At the next County Court after the delivery of the Writ Proclamation is to be made in full County of the day and place of the Parliament and that all there present as well Suitors summoned as others shall attend to the election of the Knights and then in full County a free and indifferent election shall be made notwithstanding any request or mandate to the contrary And note that no Election can be made by any Knight of the Shire but between the hours of 8 and 11. in the fore-noon but if the election be begun within the time and cannot be determined within those hours the election may be made after And if any election or voyces be given before the Precept be read and published are void and not effectual Likewise he ought immediately after the receipt of the Writ of his Highness for the summoning of the Parliament to make his Precepts under the seal of his Office to every Major and Bailiff of Cities and Boroughs within his County commanding them thereby to choose Citizens and Burgesses to come to the Parliament And those Majors and Bayliffs must make a legal return of that Precept to the Sheriff of their election and their names that are elected The Sheriff setting his hand and seal of Office to one part of the Indentures delivering it to the Major Citizens or Burgesses to be kept the Major Citizens or Burgesses setting their hands and seals to the other part delivering it as their Deeds to the Sheriff to be certified and returned by him with the writ of summons to the Clerk of the Crown whose see is 4 s for every Indenture 23 H. 6. cap 15. Crompton 208. P. Parl. 5. Note that after the Precept of the Sheriff directed to the City or Borough for making of election there ought Secundum legem consuetudinem Parliamenti to be given a convenient time for the day of election and sufficient warning given to the Citizens or Burgesses that have voices that they may be present otherwise the election is not good At the election if the party elected or the Freeholders demand the poll the Sheriff cannot deny the scrutiny for he cannot discern who be Freeholders by the view and though the party would wave the poll yet the Sheriff must proceed in the scrutiny And by the Stat. of 8 H. 6. c. 7. 10 H. 6. c. 2. The election of Knights of the Shire shall be made by the more voices of the people dwelling in the Counties having each of them lands or tenements of the yearly value of 40 s. besides reprises and the Sheriff hath power to examine upon oath the choosers how much they may expend by the year After such election the names of the parties so elected be they present or absent shall be written in an Indenture under the seals of all those that did choose them which Indenture so sealed and taken to the said writ shall be the Sheriffs return thereof touching the Knights of the Shires
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
its Originall or Prototype Quia origo rerum attendendaâ— And first of the Shire Shire is a Saxon word scyra and hath its etymology from shiran id est partiri to divide as Mr. Lambert saith in his explication of Saxon words Verb. Centur. And Mr. Cambden in his Britania reporteth that Alfred a Saxon King of England was the first that divided this Common wealth into Shires those Shires into Ridings and those Ridings into Weapentakes or Hundreds c. Likewise as Sir Henry Spelman in his Glossarie saith Sunt qui Comitatum distinct ones sub Berengariis Othonibus vel sub Carolo magno apud exteros accidisse opinautur quod de plurimis forte verum fuerit nounullae autem antiquius deprehenduntur Rem apud nos perspicuam facit Ingulphus si sane fides Rex Alfridus alias Aluredus Aethelfridus qui regnum iniit Anne 871 totius inquit Angliae pagos provincias in Comitatus primus omnium commutavit Comitatus in centurias hundredas in decennas id est tithingas divisit Which strenous authorities are sufficiently valid to prove the originall of Shires and their divisions The Republick being thus disunited or dissected into Shires every Shire is intirely governed by one Officer called a Sheriffe or Shire-reeve Vicecomes compounded of these two Saxon words scyr viz. Satrapia a Shire and reue viz. Praefectus a Governour of the Shire Mr. Cambden thus describes his Office Singulis vero annis nobilis aliquis ex incolis proficitur quem Vicecomitem quasi vicarium comitis nostra lingua Sheriff viz. Comitatus praepositum vocamus qui etiam comitatus vel provinciae Quaestor recte dici potest But in Seldeni Jani fol. 53. 54. you have two Governours of the Shire assigned where he saith Praefectus provinciarum qui antea vice-domini ad Ingulphum reversus est Aluredum in duo officia divisit 1. in Judices quos nunc justiciarios vocamus in Vicecomites qui ad huc idem nomen retinent Facessat ergo Polidoras urbinas qui primos a Normanno petit Vicecomites which we now call Vicount a Vice-comite which cometh from our Conquerors the Normans as Sheriffe from our Ancestors the Saxons Also Sir Henry Spelman in his Glossarie saith Quinem autem tunc essent magistratus quos Ingulphus hic vocat Justiciarios Vicecomites non plà ne assequor Reor Aldermanni provinciarum Grevii Saxonice Ealdormen gerefas De Grevii saith he tamen munere nec habeo definitum discrepare enim videtur a Vicecomite quod hic tum adhuc comitis esset vicarius ille regis officialis unde in Anglo-Saxonum legibus atque ipsius Aluredi Cyninger gereþan id est Grevius regis vel ut Latine saeâ—ius reditur Praepositus regis appellatus est And that he is Governour of the County the words of his Patent import as much viz. Commissimus tibi custodiam comitatus So that he is an Officer of great antiquity trust and authority having formerly from the King as now from his Highnesse the Lord Protector the custody tuition and command of the whole County Co. l. 4. 33. Mittons case The aforesayd Alfred at the division of the Kingdome into Shires or Counties instituted this Court called the County Court and established Jurisdiction in it granting power and authority to the Sheriffe to heare and determine such matters as by just cause of appellation either for Law or Equity should be brought unto him This Court as it is recorded by Mr. Selden in his Treatise of Tythes was joyntly exercised by the Bishop of the Diocesse and by the Sheriffe or Alderman of the sciregemot or Hundred or County Court where the one sate to give Godes fight the other for puruldre right that is the one to judge according to the Lawes of the Kingdome the other to direct according to Divinity And Sir Henry Spelman in his Glossary saith Comitatum simul regebant pariterque in foro considentes judicia publica exercebant hic secundum jus humanum ille vero divinum LL. Canuti MS. ca. 44. Habeatur ter in anno Burgesmotus i. Civitatis conventus Schiresmotus i. pagi vel comitatus conventus bis nisi Saepius opus sit intersit Episcopus Aldermannus doceat ibi Dei rectum seculi uterque scil Pro suo munere Idem Ladgari LL. ca. 5. sed pro Aldermannus illic comes extat ut supra demonstravimus utrumque recte Nam in comitatu simus considisse reor Comittem relpub partes tueretur Episcopum qui Ecclesiae Aldermannum qui Legem diceret exponeret But at the Norman Conquest this kinde of holding Ecclesiasticall Pleas in the Hundred of County Court was taken away as may appeare by this Mandate of William the Conqueror recorded in Seld. Jani lib. 2. fol. 76. Willielmus Dei gratia Rex Anglorum Comitibus Vicecomitibus omnibus Francigenis Anglis qui in Episcopatu Remigii terras habent salutem Sciatis vos omnes caeteri mei fideles qui in Anglia manent quod Episcopales leges quae non bene nec secundum sanctorum Canonum praecepta usque ad mea tempora in regno Anglorum fuerunt communi consilio Archiep. meorum caeterorum Episcoporum Abatum omnium principum Regni mei emendandas judicavi Propterea mando regia authoritate praecipio ut nullus Episcopus vel Archidiaconus de legibus Episcopalibus amplius in hundredo placita teneat nec causam quae ad regimen animarum pertinet ad judicium secularium hominum adducant sed quicunque secundum Episcopales leges de quacunque causa vel culpa interpellatus fuerit ad locum quem ad hoc Episcopus elegerit nominaverit veniat ibique de causa sua respondeat non secundum hundredum sed secundum Canones Episcopales leges rectum Deo Episcopo suo faciat All actions whatsoever were brought in this Court before the Sheriff as it is reported by Mr. Lambert in his Archeion in that particle of the Lawes of Edgar to our matter in hand Viz. Let no man seeke to the King in matter of variance unlesse he cannot finde right at home But if it be too heavy for him then let him seeke to the King to have it lightned The very like whereof in effect is to be seene in the Lawes of Canutus the Dane sometimes King of this Realme out of which Lawes may be collected foure things First That every man had meanes and was authorized to sue and commence their Actions in this Court in their owne Shire or County Secondly That no man ought to sue out of the County or to remove or draw his plea from thence without good cause both which things do plainely appear in the letter of this Law Thirdly That the King himself had a high Court of Justice wherein it seemeth that he sate in person as these words do demonstrate Let him not seek to
is aliorum negotiorum gestor for qui per alium facit per seipsum facere videtar likewise these Statutes following do institute Attorneys in the County Court viz. 6 E. 1. cap. 8. 20 H. 3. cap. 10. c. F. N. B. 156. I could instance many more but I hope these are sufficient to stop the black mouth of a scurrilous Antagonist In their practice they ought to be honest and just according to their office and oath not exciting men to Suits especially such as are forrain and illegall nor for little offences and small debts nor voluntarily argenti gratia delay their Clyents nor demand any sums of mony for the prosecution of the Action otherwise then is allowed by the Court. Of Bayliffs A Bayliff is a Servant or Minister of the Law and by consequence a Servant to the party at whose Suit he is to distraine the goods of any one Therefore he ought to be true faithfull and vigilant in levying of Distresses he ought not to be exoculated with common rurall bribes as too many of them are His office is thus described by Fleta Balivus esse debet in verbo verax in opere diligens fidelis ac pro diserto appruatore cognitus plegiatus clericus qui de communioribus legibus pro tanto officio sufficienter se cognoscat Et qui sit ita justus quod ob vindictam seu cupiditatem non querat versus aliquos c. He is to be contented with his wages and fees allowed him which are certain and known and as I have described particularly being usually paid if he take more then he ought or commit any error in the Execution of his Office contrary to the tenure of his Precept then is he to forfeit forty shillings and to be convicted thereof by the examinations of the Justices of Peace or any of them 14 E. 3. cap. 9. And the Sheriff ought not by his oath to have any Bayliff but such as he will answer for and such as be true and sufficient men in the County and make each Bayliff take an oath for the true execution of his office but such things are now not taken notice of And by the Statute of 27 Eliz. cap. no Bayliff or other person ought to take a Distresse nor to execute any Processe untill he be sworn but now common experience and practice at this day bears testimony to the contrary Alfred once King of England hanged Judge Arnold for saving a Bayliff from death who had robbed the people by Distresse and for extorting of Fees If the like Law were executed upon some of our grand Malefactors it would make the Remainder more honest What Actions may be brought in this Court HAving precipitated my self thus far before I enter upon the Proceedings of the Court I will demonstrate the grounds and cause of Proceedings and that is Actions which is the form of a Suit given by Law to recover a mans right or actio nihil aliud est quam jus prosequendi in judicio quod sibi debetur Therefore what Actions will hold in this Court take as followes All Actions of debt either upon an account made by the parties for wages after a hire sums of mony owing or due from one man to another whether by writings or otherwise it is grounded sometimes by writing as an Obligation Bill Covenant or other especialty sometimes without writing as an Arbitrament Rent mony lent Parol Contracts or the like All Actions of Detinue Trover and Conversion deceit upon a Warranty a Delivery Nusance Case for scandalous words case upon Assumpsits and other Actions of the case as for a Dog killing Cattell abusing a Distresse spoyling my Goods c. Actions of Trespass Assault and Battery c. All these Actions would afford very much matter to treat of at large but least this Treatise should swell beyond its limits I will refer you to the reading Fitzherberts Natura brevium which doth learnedly treat of the nature of all Actions that lye in any Court of Judicature Within what time Actions must be brought ALL Actions of debt grounded upon any lending or contract as Book-debt without especialty and for Rents in arrear all Actions of Trespasse quare clausum fregit Actions of Trespasse Trover Detinue and Replevin for taking away Goods and Chattels Actions of account all Actions of the case except Actions for Slander which shall be sued must be commenced and brought within six years after the cause of such Action or Suit accrued if the Plaintiff be then of full age discovert compos mentis at Liberty out of Prison and in England otherwise within such time after he becomes so and not after All Actions of Trespasse for Assault Menace Battery wounding and imprisonment within four years after the cause of Action and not after All Actions of the case for scandalous words within two years next after the words spoken and not after Who may bring Actions and who not IDiots mad men or such as have lucida intervalla such as are deaf and dumbe or any other man woman or child except persons disabled by Law being wronged may bring the proper Action appointed for remedy in that case and all or any of these wronging others may be sued And if an Idiot sue or be sued he must doe it in person An Infant must sue by Prochein amy and being sued must defend by Guardian A Feme covert cannot sue but with her Husband An outlawed person is disabled to sue any Action against any man in any Court of Law or Equity yet as Executor he may sue because it is not in his own right but in trust for another but any man may sue him by Coo. Sup. Litt. 128. A man that is attainted in a Praemunire may not sue in any Action Idem 129. And a man that is a convict recusant is disabled so long as he so continues No Barretor can maintain any Action in this Court nor have Judgment unlesse it be required by all the Suitors West 1. cap. 3. But note all these disabilities remain during the continuation of the same impediment Of Pledges in this Court PLedges are absolute except it be for Forrainers or such as live out of the County or out of the Jurisdiction of the Court or such as are unmarried that have no goods distrainable and it is if these be Plaintiffs but if the Defendant should non-suit the Plaintiff and have Judgment against the Plaintiff and his Pledges I never yet saw the forme of the Judiciall Precept that ever issued out to levy the costs upon the Pledges goods Of the Proceedings in the Court BEcause I would not have the Country and young Practisers ignorant of the Proceedings in the Court which is the life of practice I thought it necessary to make an Abridgment of the terms of Law now used in the Proceedings And first of Appearance because it is the first thing done after goods attached The first thing the
and truly try this Issue between party and party according to your Evidence so help you God And as they are sworn enter by every mans name Jur. viz. juratus est he is sworn Being all sworn bid them stand together to hear their Evidence Then swear the Witnesses The Evidence that you are to give to this Inquest touching the matter in variance shall be the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God Then let the Jury depart from the Bar to agree upon their Verdict At their return command the Bayliff to call every one by their names and count them Then aske them if they be all agreed on their Verdict Jur. yea Who shall say for you Jur. The foreman Then call the Plaintiff A. B. appear or thou loseth thy Plaint three times Then aske the Jury if they will stand to their Verdict Jur. yea Whether do you find for the Plaintiff or for the Defendant Jur. for the Plaintiff What damages Jur. 2 d. What costs of Suit Jur. 2 d. Harken to your Verdict this you say you find for the Plaintiff and assesse damages 2 d. and costs of Suit 2 d. so say you all Jur. yea Then bid the Plaintiff pay the Jury If the Verdict find matter incertainly or ambiguously it is insufficient and no Judgment ought to be given thereupon as if an Executor plead plene administravit viz. fully Administred of all the goods and Chattels which were of the Testator and issue is joyned thereupon and the Jury find that the Defendant hath goods within his hands to be administred but find not of what value this is incertain and therefore insufficient A Verdict that findeth part of the issue findeth nothing for the residue this is insufficient for the whole because they have not tryed the whole Issue wherewith they were charged But if the Jury give a Verdict of the whole Issue and of more c. That which is more is Surplusage and shall not stay Judgment for utile per inutile non vitiatur but necessary incidents required by the Law the Jury may find The Court being ended adjourn the Court to another day to be kept commanding the Bayliff to make Proclamation O yes c. and say All manner of persons that have any more to do at this Court let them come forth and they shal be heard otherwise they and every one else may depart for this time and keep their houre here on Munday the fourth day of August next by nine a clock in the morning c. Now the Court being done and the Defendant condemned by Verdict then Judgment being entred a Fieri facias shall be awarded to make Levy of his goods and thereupon the Defendants goods shall be taken praised and sold to satisfie the party Plaintiff and if the Defendant hath no goods whereupon Levy may be made then the Plaintiff rests without remedy in this Court Of Distresse COnsidering the many lacrymable wrongs the Country hath sustained by those Locusts that litigious generation of men a clamorous company qui ex injuria vivunt Seminaries of discord worse then any polars by the high way side monstra hominum rabulas forenses irreligious harpies scraping griping catchpoles Bayliffs and corrupt practisers and how much the ignorant people are abused and deceived yea many times as the sad experience of many will inform us ruined and utterly undone by them they being the sole causes of those ignominious aspersions cast upon the Court The advantage that it would produce to the Common-wealth is in-explainable if the Statute of 1. of H. 5. cap. 4. were observed that is that Sheriffs Bayliffs one year not to be in that Office in three years after because by their continuall being in that Office they grow so crafty and cunning that they are able to deceive the Sheriff and ruine the whole Country Therefore that the Country may not be altogether ignorant of their seeming authorized Actions I will declare what and when they may distrain and what and when they may not But first to declare what a Distresse is A Distresse is either said to be reall that is when Land is distrained upon a grand cape or petit cape of which we have nothing to say here or it is said to be personall where moveable things are distrained and this is that we are to speak unto Therefore a Distresse is where one doth take and distrain the Beasts Cattell and other things of another man in some ground or place for debt rent or other duty behind or for some wrong or damage done The Sheriff nor his officers cannot break a mans house in the night time to execute any Processe or to do any ministeriall act for the Law giveth no colour to break a mans house by night None can be distrained that are out of the Jurisdiction of the Court Marl. cap. 2. No Distresse can be made in the night but for Damage feasant The Bayliff may attach a man by his goods citing him to appear and answer such a day at such a mans Suit in such a Court and for such a cause Or he may onely give the Defendant warning in the presence of two others to appear such a day in such a Court at such a mans Suit it is sufficient And if an Attachment be made it must be of such goods of the Defendants own proper goods as are movables viz. by meer Chattels personalls which may be forseited by Outlawry and not immovables A Bayliff cannot sever horses joyned to a Cart. Sheep may not be distraind if there be a sufficient Distresse besides No man shall drive a Distresse out of the County where it was taken A Distresse may not be impounded in severall places upon pain of five pounds and trebble damages A man cannot work goods distrained nor convert them to his own use The goods of any man may be taken in any place within the County in another mans house or ground as well as his own If a Bayliff distrain or attach the horse of a master where the Plaint is against the servant Trespasse lyes for the Master against the Bayliff for the Bayliff ought to take notice at his perill whose goods he distrains or attaches 13 H. 4. fo 2. 14 H. 4. 24. 11 H. 4. 90. Dr. and St. 139. After Distresse or Attachment made if the Bayliff doth not return his Precept the next Court Trespass lyes against the Bayliff for the Defendant and an Action of the case lyes against him for the Plaintiff for not returning of the Precept 10 E. 4. fo 18. 3 H. 7. fo 3. By Choke If one take Beasts in the name of a Distresse he ought to put them in an open Pound for that he who is distrained may give to them sustenance but if he distraine dead Chattels he may put them where he will but if they spoyl in his default he must answer for them 19 E. 4. fo 2. b. If goods distrained
as S. V. hath appeared by his Attorney in this Court to answer W. N. of an Action of debt These are therefore to will and require you immediatly upon the sight hereof to deliver or cause to be delivered unto the said S. V. Two kine of the goods of him the said S. V. which you have distrained and do keep by vertue of my Warrant from this Court directed at the Suit of the said W. N. Fail you not hereof as you will answer the contrary Given under the Seal of my Office c. A Precept upon a Proclamation I. B. Esq Sheriff c. to the Bayliff of the Hundred of B. and to his Deputies greeting By vertue of a Proclamation upon Exigent to me directed I command you and every of you that you or some of you make two severall Proclamations The one to be made at the generall quarter Sessions of the Peace to be holden for the North-riding of the County of Y. And the other to be made at the Parish Church door after divine service where the severall persons under-written live and that they and every one of them yeeld their bodies to me the Sheriff of the said County where the Exigent lyeth to answer the person at whose Suit the Exigent is against them And hereof fail not at your perill Given under the Seal of my Office the two and twentieth day of August in the year of our Lord 1658. At the Election of the Coroner he is to be sworn in Court by the County Clark for the due Execution of his Office In this manner You shall swear that you well and truly shall serve his Highnesse the Lord Protector and the Common-wealth in the Office of a Coroner and as one of his Highnesse Coroners of the County of Y. and therein you shall truly diligently do and accomplish all and every thing and things appertaining to your Office after the best of your cunning wit and power both for the profit and good of the Inhabitants within the said County taking such Fees as you ought to take by the Laws and Statutes of this Common-wealth and not otherwise so help you God The Oath of an Attorney in this Court YOu shall do no falshood nor consent to any to be done in the Court and if you know of any to be done you shall give knowledge thereof to the Steward or county Clerk that the same may be reformed you shall delay no man for lucre or malice you shall increase no fees but shall be content with the old fees accustomed you shall suffer no forreign or illegal suits to hurt any man nor plead or cause to be pleaded any forreign plea but such as shall stand with the order of the law and your conscience you shall seal all such processe as you shall sue out of this Court with the seal thereof you shall not procure to be sued any false suit nor give aid nor consent to the same And lastly you shall use your selfe in the office of an Attorney within this Court according to your learning and discretion So help you God A Warrant of Attorney To S. D. one of the Attorneys of the County Court for the County of Y. c. I A. B. do hereby desire you and do give you full power license and authority to appear for me and for c. in your said Court on Monday c. in an action of debt for c. at the suit of E. D. upon an obligation conditioned for the payment of c. in which said obligation I stand bound as principal And this shall be your sufficient warrant in that behalfe In witnesse c. Bond for appearance It hath been formerly used to take a bond of the defendant for his appearance in this Court the form of the condition is thus THe condition c. That if the above bounden E T. do appear at the next County Court to be holden at the Castle of Y. on monday the first day of Ianuary next to answer H. B. in a plea of debt and do also stand to such order as the Court in that behalfe shall set down and adjudge according to law That then this present obligation to be void c. A sale of Goods to the Plaintiff levied upon a Fieri facias by the Sheriffs Bailiffe KNow all men by these presents That I G. B. of Skipton in Craven Bailiffe of the Liberty or Weapentake of Slaincliffe in the County of Y. By vertue of a precept of Fieri facias from the Sheriff to me directed have levied of the goods and chattels of c. the sum of c. paâ—t of a debt due to c. levied by vertue of the precept to his use In full satisfaction of which said sum of c I do by vertue of the precept or warrant to me directed as aforesaid assigne sell and set over unto the said c. all the goods and chattels in the apprisement hereto annexed nominated at the rate of c. To have c. the said goods and chattels to him his heirs executors and administrators as his or their own proper goods and chattels as fully and absolutely as I the said G. B. might could or ought to do by force and vertue of the said precept and apprisement or otherwise howsoever In witnesse whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the sixteenth day of August in the yeare of our Lord 1658. A Deputation for a Bailiff of an hundred I. B. Esquire Sheriffe of the County of Y. to all Christian people to whom these presents doth or may concern greeting Know ye that I the said Sheriff have deputed constituted and appointed R. D. of A. in c. my lawfull Bailiff and Deputy within the Hundred of B. in the North-riding in the County of Y. aforesaid to have and execute the said Office of Bailiff within the said Hundred or elswhere within the said County of Y. as occasion shal require it during my pleasure onely and no longer and to receive and take to my use all Fees as well for Distresse Attachment and Perquisites of Courts and other profits due and accustomed whatsoever to the said Bayliwick belonging or in any wise appertaining And whatsoever my said Bayliff shall lawfully execute and do in his said Office I do hereby warrant ratifie and confirme as my own act and deed In witnesse whereof I have hereunto set the Seal of my Office the seventeenth day of August 1658. The Fees The Fees to the County Clark  l. s d. FOr every Distringas 00-00-08 Every speciall Distringas 00-01-08 Duces tecum 00-00 08 A speciall Duces tecum 00-01-08 The Writ of Justicies 00-02-06 The Precept upon the Writ of Justicies 00-02-04 A speciall Precept upon the Writ of Justic 00-04-04 A Replevin 00-02-04 A speciall Replevin 00-05-04 The Bond upon the Replevin 00-01-00 Subpoena for Witnesses 00-00-08 Venire facias 00-02-00 Habeas corpora 00-02-00 Fieri facias 00-02-00 Capias in Withernam 00-05-04
County of Y. there held c. the aforesaid I. H. and the rest of the Defendants within named the fifth time exacted were at which day the aforesaid I. H. appeared and rendred himselfe to the prison of his Highness c. of the Castle of Y. whose body before the Iustices within written at the day and place within contained ready I have as within to me is commanded but the rest of the Defendants within named appeared not therefore c. as above And besides I. S. who hath rendred himself to the prison of c. of the Castle of Y. whose body before the Justices within written at the day and place within contained ready I have as this Writ exacteth and requireth And besides I. C. who dead is will not appear therefore by Judgement c. and the aforesaid T. C. waved is in presence of T. C. and F. W. Coronors of c. of the County aforesaid At the County c. 1. 2. 3. 4. exacted he was and hath appeared and rendred himself to the prison of c. of the Castle of Y. where so sick he is that fore fear of death him before the Justices within written at the day and place within contained have I cannot The Return of the Writ of Proclamation BY vertue of this Writ to me directed at my County of Y. held at the castle of Y. within written on Monday c. the year c. within written the first time to be proclaimed I caused And at my County of Y. held at the Castle of Y. aforesaid in the said County of Y. on Monday c. the year c. within written the second time to be proclaimed I caused as also at the general Sessions of the peace held at Skipton for the West riding of the said County within written on Tuesday viz. the 12. day of Sept. aforesaid the year c. within written publickly to be proclaimed I caused that I. C. and all other the Defendants within named themselves to render to the within named Sheriffs of London so that the same Sheriffs have their bodies before the Justices within written at the day and place within contained as this Writ exacteth and requireth The manner of proceeding upon the Writs of Recordare Pone Writ of False Judgment c. in the Common Pleas after removall out of the County Court YOu must repair to the County Clerk or his Deputy and demand a Return of the Writ of Recordare or Pone If upon the return the Defendant appear then must you declare and when your Declaration is drawn enter it upon a roll in one of the Prothonotaries offices and see that it be docqueted together with the number of the roll If the Writ be returnable in the begining of a term especially in issuable terms the Desendant is to answer the same term unless the Desendant hath Emparlance to plead until the following term Rules to answer must be entred in the Remembrance in the Prothonotaries Office entring in the Margent or over the head of the Rule that if the Defendant do not plead within some few dayes let Judgement be entred And if no plea be brought in within the time then may you sign Judgement with the Prothonotary in default of answer If the Defendant appear not upon the return of the Writ then may the Plaintiff have a Procedendo to carry the cause back again into the County Court If the Plaintiffs Attorney declare not against the Desendant upon his appearance within a reasonable time of the Term then may the Defendants Attorney enter a Rule in the Bill of Pleas against the Plaintiff to declare and if he declare not then may he enter a Non prosec and sign it with the Prothonotary and costs given for the unjust vexation If the Defendant plead generall issue then must the Attorney for the Defendant set his hand to the Doquet book of the Plaintiffs Attorney who draws up the plea and makes a Copy of the issue and delivers it to the Defendants Attorney and then they usually give notice of triall If the Defendant plead specially he is to bring it to the Plaintiffs Attorney under a Serjeants hand and if the Plaintiff reply specially it must likewise be under the Serjeants hand the like upon a Demurrer to a Declaration and Rejoynder in Demurrer If your triall be by Nisi prius at the Assizes in the Countrey and the Jury appeare not full upon the Pannel then may you require a Decem tales de circumstantibus viz. ten of the standers by to fill up the Jury or more or lesse as is requisite which Tales must be mentioned upon the return of the Postea and the Judgment upon it in the Issue Roll. Having entred your Declaration with the Issue joyned in the Prothonotaries Office then make out a Venire facias upon your Issue and get signed with the Prothonotary and seal it then get it returned by the Sheriff of the County where the action is laid and upon the return of it sue forth an Habeas corpora and deliver the same to the Sheriff to summon the Jury and get it returned before the Assizes In suing forth your Nisi prius ingrosse your Record according to the copy of the Issue made up and the entry of it upon the Roll in the Prothonotaries Office and examine it if it be upon an Issue joyned the same Term whose hand must be to it then carry the same to the Clerk of the Treasury to signe and make up the Record If the Issue was entred of a Term past then must you deliver the paper Book of the Issue to the Clerk of the Treasury to examine the same by the Roll and to make up the Record which must be signed by him then must it be sealed with the Lord chief Iustice of the Court and then deliver it together with the Hab Corp Iur. returned by the Sheriff to the Clark of the Ass for that County where it is to be tried paying the Judges Then retain Councel and have your witnesses ready for the trial The triall being had and verdict passing for your Client the next Term you are to call of the Clerk of the Assizes for a return of the Postea and thereupon the Prothonotor will assesse costs and cause Judgement to be entred upon which you may have Execution by Capias ad satisfaciendum Fieri facias or Elegit c. according as you desire and as the nature of the action brought doth allow or require Note that a Capias ad satisfac is only against the body who must be imprisoned until satisfaction be made and if the Defendant cannot be found the Plaintiff cannot have another Execution 20 E. 2. for he may chufe at the first whether he will have a Capias or an Elegit but if he take the Capias he shall not have the Elegit afterwards nec è converso 15. H. 7. 15. The Writ of Fieri
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
the heire of the Lands and Tenements of the said A. Co. 3 15. Usually the omission of words make the return invalid as where the returne was The residue of this Writ appeares in a certaine schedule c. For the residue of the Execution of this Writ this is insufficient and vitious 19 H. 6. Fitz. Ret. 14. For by 3 H. 7. 11. a. Brook Ret. 88. the returne of the Sherif ought to be certaine to every intent and he is obliged to take knowledge of the Law in making his returne And therefore in a Scire facias to L. B. Master of the Free Grammer-school of Skipton c. and to the Scholars of the same c. he returned That he made knowne to the Master c. And did not say that he made known to L. B. Master c. And likewise he omitted Scholars which return was insufficient and void See Coo. 8. 127. 128. 10. E. 4. 15. The Sherif upon a Capias returned that he arrested the Defendant at S. and would have carried him to the Goal and that A. B. rescued him which return was holden invalid because he did not shew at what place A B. made the rescue for it shall not be intended the place where the arrest was ret 97. By the opinion of Iennie 3 E. 4. If a Writ be returned thus The answer of the Sheriff of C. and sheweth not the Sherifs name it is no good return 9 E. 4. 19. Br. 54 and by the 11 H. 7. 10. a. b. the name of the County ought to be entred in the margent or over the head of the return In a Scire facias the Sherif returneth I have made known to A. B. in manner and form as this Writ exacteth and requires and said not To the within named A. B. c. and yet this was holden per curiam to be good for note these words as this writ exacteth c. doth amount to the within named or the within mentioned or written See 2 H. 4. 13. and 3 H. 4. 9. Br. 28. Fitz. 44. Habere facias seisinam Upon a grant and render at the Plures the Sheriff did returne mandavi ballivo who did nothing because the parties to the Fine had nothing and the Writ of covenant was not sued in the Liberty nor came to him to be executed upon which a non omittas was awarded 8 E. 3. 12. upon the like writ the Sherif returned that he could do nothing by reason of the resistance of A B. others and he was amerced twenty marks because he did not take posse comitatus and an alias awarded and also a Writ to attach A. B. who was taken and pleaded not guilty and prayed a Writ against the Sheriffe to answer his false return Hil. 19 E. 2. Execution 147. Waste was assigned in W. the returne must not be That he came unto W. but that he came to the place wasted 27 H. 8. Br 2. The Sherif returned That by vertue of a Precept c. he took the body of A. B. c. and exception was taken because the return was not by vertue of a Writ c. yet it was holden to be a sufficient return for the Sherif may take one in Westminster Hall by the mandate of the Justices without any Writ The Sherif returned I have not found the party c. for he is not to be found and the party thereupon outlawed assigned this for Error and not to be amended Fitz 19. The Sheriff returned that he hath commanded the Bayliff of Slaincliff in the third person for I have commanded the Bailiff c. in the first person and was amerced for it 21. Ass 17. If a Sherif do not return a Capias in Processe the arrest is tortious and an action of false imprisonment lieth against him by him that was arrested and likewise the Plaintif shall have an action against him Littleton 18. E. 4. 9. Br. Trespass 339. Br. false imprisonment 5. 7. 12. But if a Capias ad satisfaciendum be not returned it is sufficient if the execution be duly executed and the Plaintif satisfied yet if he levy the money or debt but neither returneth the Writ nor payeth the money to the Plaintif he is chargeable to the Plaintif in an action of accompt c. and to the Defendant in an action of trespass Co. 5. 90. And the Plaintif may have his Execution renewed against the Defendant and the Defendant is left to his action against the Sherif Where a man hath liberty to return Writs as in the Honour of Pontefract in Yorkshire c. and to execute them c. if there the Sherif or his Officer shall enter the Liberty and execute any processe there the Lord of the Liberty shall have an action of the case against him Fitz. 95. b. In a Scire facias to execute a Judgment or Fine the Sherif must return the names of the Summoners 3 H. 7. 8. Br. Ret. 86. Upon the return of a Jury he is to return issues upon every person impannelled and returned by him ibidem Upon a Replevin the Sherif returned that the cattel were in such a strong place that he could not make deliverance for which return he was amerced because he might have taken Posse comitatus and so made deliverance Br. 119. or if he should return a resistance the like 13. E. 3. c. 39. In a Scire facias against the Husband and Wife the Sherif returneth that they are divorced and therefore amercied for Persons that are divorced may have garnishment quaere vide 1 H. 6. 2. Br. 63. Upon a Fieri fac against Executors the Sheriff returneth that they had sold the goods of the party deceased before the Writ purchased c. for which he was amerced for he should have taken other goods of the Executors to the value thereof c. 14 H. 4. 12. Br. 41. Upon a Fieri fac against Executors the Sheriff returned nulla bona c. and upon this return an entry was made in the Roll because that testatum est that the Executors had sold divers goods of the Testator and converted the money to their own use a Writ was awarded to the Sherif to enquire by the oaths of good men of his Bailiwick what goods which were the Testators the day of his death were wasted by the Executors by force of which Writ the Sherif had an Inquisition by which it was found that divers goods of the Testator to the value of the debt recovered were wasted by the Executors And this was returned in Court upon which the Plaintif sued a Scire facias against the Defendant to shew cause wherefore execution should not be awarded against the defendant of his own proper goods And upon two Nihils the Court awarded Execution Co. 5. 32. An Outlawry returned in London in these words At the Hustings holden in Guild Hall in the City of London such a day A.
c. Ass 13 E. 3. Avowry 105. If my Horse be in the keeping of another man he may be distrained if I be amercied in the Leet for stopping the High-way c. 47 E. 3. 12. But if an Inne-holder be amercied the horse of a stranger cannot be distrained 10 H. 7. fol. 21. Note that in 8 R. 2. Avowry 194. If one be amercied in the Sheriffs tourn the Sheriff may distrain throughout the whole County and in like manner if the amerciament be in a Leet throughout all the precincts of the Leet The Statute of 1 E. 4. expresly appoints that no fine or amerciament in the Tourn or Leet shal be levied unlesse it be certified at the next sessions of the peace by Indenture inrolled there and by processe made from the Justices of Peace to the Sheriffe or Steward How Presentments in Leets shall be traversable NOte Scard saith that if a thing be presented at the day in a Leet this is as Gospel if it passe that day without being repealed And therefore if a false presentment be made he shall have an action of false imprisonment the same day against the prosecutors but if he stay until another day it is otherwise and he who is amercied there for purpresture or other Nusance in Avowry for the amerciament he shall traverse in no point Wilby If it be presented that he hath levied a Ditch over the Highway if the presentment be false he shall have trespasse against him who throwes it down by force of such presentment And so of my house abated by reason of such false imprisonment Hil. 21. E. 3. Bar. 271. He who is amerced in a Leet may traverse the resiancy but he shall not say that the place where c. is within another view 4 E. 3. 12. 10 E. 3. 5. 41 E. 3. 26. But if he hath been sworn in my Leet he shall not have the traverse 4 E. 3. 31. 10 E. 3. 9. The Method of keeping the Sheriffs Tourn or Court Leet LEt the Sheriffe or Steward make a Precept unto the Bayliffe to summon the Court by a reasonable time to wit fifteene or sixteene dayes before the Court be kept if it be lesse time it is sufficient in Law the Precept must be made according to this subsequent President A. B Esquire Sheriff of the County of Y. To the Bayliffe of the Liberty or Weapentake of S. greeting I command you that you diligently summon the Court with view of franke-pledge to be held within the said Liberty the sixteenth day of August next ensuing about the hour of eight in the forenoon of the same day at the common Tollbooth of R. And this given under the seale of my Office the twenty eighth day of July in the yeare c. By the Sheriffe If it be a Court Leet held in a particular Hundred or Mannor of any Lord then the form of the Precept is thus A. B. Gent. Steward of I. N Esquire of his Hundred or of his Mannor of O. to the Bayliffe of the same Hundred or Mannor greeting Commanding thee that thou summon this Court with the view of Frank-pledge of the said Hundred or Mannor to be held at the accustomed place of S. the 16. day of August next ensuing And this given under my seale the twenty eighth day of July in the year c. By me A. B. Steward After the Steward hath placed himself in the Court he must first enter the title of the Court in the beginning of the Court-Roll with the name of the place where the Court is holden in this manner The entry of the Court ss The view of Frank-pledge with the Court of A. B. Sheriffe of the County of Y. there held on Tuesday the 16. day of August in the yeare c. By the Sheriff If In the Lords Court then thus ss The view of Frank-pledge with the Court of I. N. Esquire there held on Tuesday the c. By A. B. Steward Then cause the Bayliffe to make three Proclamations repeating them after the Steward in this manner Proclamation ALL manner of persons who were summoned to appear here this day to serve His Highnesse the Lord Protector and the Sheriffe or the Lord of the Mannor for his Court now holden draw near and give your attendance and every one answer to his name as he shall be called upon pain and peril that may fall thereon After all are called and those that are absent be marked to be amercied then the Steward shall cause the Bayliff again to make other three Proclamations viz. O yes c. causing the Bayliff to say Proclamation IF any man will be Essoyned come into Court and you shall be heard and all such persons as were Essoyned the last Court let them come in now and warrant their Essoyns otherwise they will be amercied And if any desire to be essoyned by the Tythingman or other neighbour then for the first Court they may be essoyned The Essoyn must be entred in this manner A. B. is essoyned by C. D. c. Inquire if there be any tenant in the Mannor that hath any action or cause of action since the last Court day let him put in his plaint sedente curiâ viz. the Court sitting and it shall be entred Inquire if there be any Precepts attachments or distresses depending in the Court rolls call them openly in the Court and know if the Bayliffe have executed them Also if there be any old Plaints depending in the Court Roll before this court holden cause the parties to be called before the inquest be charged Then impannel the Inquest comanding the fore-man to lay his hand upon the book swearing him as follows You shall sweare that you shall diligently inquire and true presentment make of all such things as you shall be charged with concerning his Highnesse the Lord Protector or the Lords Court of the Mannor you shall well and truly keep his Highnesses Counsel your Fellowes and your owne you shall not conceale nor hide any thing for favour feare promise or affection you bear to any person or persons or present any thing for hatred or malice you beare to any man but you shall present and tell the truth according as things may or shall come to your knowledge by information or otherwise making a true presentment thereof without concealment so helpe you God c. After the fore-man is particularly sworne cause foure at once of the Inquest to lay their right hands together on the book swearing them in this manner The same oath which A. B. your fore-man on his behalfe hath made you and every of you shall well and truly keep on your behalfes so help you God Swearing the rest accordingly After they are all sworn cause the Bayliffe to number them as the Steward doth read them Then command the Bayliffe to make Proclamation saying after the Steward Proclamation YOu good men that are impannelled to enquire for his Highnesse the
some times by the agreement of the Attorneys of both parties The Rule or dies datus is when further day is given to the Plaintiff to put in his Declaration or to the Defendant to put in his answer the time given is usually fourteen dayes or more or lesse according to the order of the Court and the agreement of their Attorneys The next Court after the filing of the Declaration and Emparlance given the Defendant is to put in his answer which he pleadeth and saith in bar to avoid the Action of the Plaintiff either by consession and avoidage or denying the materiall parts thereof It must be legall full and perfect for a bad or insufficient plea is in Law as no Plea If Issue be not joyned upon the answer then the Plaintiff is to file his Replication to the answer of the Defendant which must affirme and pursue his Declaration Then the Defendant must put in his Rejoynder to the Plaintiffs Replication which must pursue and confirme his answer for every Rejoynder ought to have these two properties specially that is it ought to be a sufficient answer to the Replication and also to follow and enforce the matter of the Bar. If the parties be not at issue by reason of some new matter disclosed in the Defendants Rejoynder that requireth answer then may the Plaintiff Sur-rejoyn to the said Rejoynder if there be cause but it salleth out very seldome This Sur-rejoynder is a second defence of the Plaintiffs Declaration opposite to the Defendants Rejoynder Demurrer cometh of the Latine word Demorari to abide and therefore he who demurreth in Law is said he that abideth in Law moratur or demoratur in Lege when so ever the Counsell of the party is of opinion that the Declaration or Plea of the adverse party is insufficient in Law then he demurreth or abideth in Law and referreth the same to the Judgment of the Court. Now there is no Demurrer in Law but when it is joyned and therefore when a Demurrer is offered by the one party as is aforesaid the adverse party joyneth with him and thereupon the Demurrer is said to be joyned and then the case is by Councell of both sides argued When the Declaration Answer Replication c. are defective in respect of some circumstance of time or place c. it may be remedied by consent of the Court or parties or by a motion to the Steward Non sum informatus is a formall answer of course made by an Attorney whereby he is deemed to leave his Clyent undefended and Judgment passeth for the adverse party It is a failing to put in answer to the Declaration of the Plaintiff in any Action by the day assigned which if a man do Judgment shall passe against him because he saith nothing to the contrary To an Action of Debt upon Specialty Not his Deed To an Action of Debt for mony lent c. He owes nothing by the Country To a Bond for performance of Covenants upon an Indenture or Arbitrament Not his Deed or not guilty To an Action of case upon an Assumpsit He did not assume To an Action of Trespasse Not guilty To an Action of Assault and Battery and Slander Not guilty To a Contract without Deed the Plea is Payment or an Obligation made for the debt c. To an Obligation the Plea is Payment c. but to plead payment to an Obligation without Acquittance is no Plea For an Obligation or other matter in writing may not be discharged by any agreement by word but by writing unumquodque dissolvitur eo modo quo colligatur But to plea d payment to an Obligation with Condition though no Acquittance by writing it is good for the Condition is in nature of a Defeasance to the Obligation To an Action of debt He owes nothing by the Country or by the Law or Paid If the Action be brought against an Executor or Administrator the ordinary Plea is that he never was Executor or hath fully Administred c. If the Suit be upon a Deed or Contract without Deed That he was within age when he made the Deed or Contract If it be against a woman That she was Covert that is to say had a Husband when she made the Deed or Contract If upon an Arbitrament That there was no Arbitrament legally made or That he hath performed the Award If upon an Action of Trespasse Damage feasant That the Beasts came in by the default of the inclosure of the Plaintiff or That he hath little of Common there c If upon an Action brought for Rent That there is no rent in arrear c. To an Action of Detinue That he doth not detain the thing sued for A release or gift to him by the Plaintiff or That he did tender the thing sued for before Action brought That the De-fendant did deliver it to him as Pledge for ten shillings which he hath not paid c. To an Action of the case for Slander Not guilty or Justifie the words Cafe upon a Warranty That he did not warrant Upon a Bond or Bill plead Conditions performed by Threats Duresse Imprisonment c. Upon a Demise Not demised To Trespass Not guilty an Arbitrament Tender of amends before the Action brought c. If diverse men do a Trespasse and one makes a good accord this will discharge and be a Bar to all the rest Co. 9. 79. If Freehold be pleaded the Court in that case can proceed no further There are divers Pleas to Actions of Trespass some of one nature and some of another as justification c. If the Defendant have matter of Justification or excuse to plead he must be sure to plead it specially for if he plead the generall Issue viz. Not guilty it will be found against him But now by the late Act made the 23 of October 1650. The Defendant may plead the generall Issue of Not guilty or such like generall Plea and give the speciall matter in Evidence Where the Defendant is not constrained to plead a speciall Plea he may plead the generall Issue proper for the Action brought and give the speciall matter in Evidence For every Plea must be so framed that it may give a full answer to the matter set forth in the Declaration to wit all such as are materially to be answered unto If one be sued upon an Obligation he cannot be compelled to plead before he have Oyer of the Condition of the Obligation If an Action of Debt be brought for Rent upon an Indenture of Demise for years the Defendant may plead payment without shewing the Deeds for the Lease shall be intended to be in being at the time of the Action brought Trin. 24. Car. B. R. If an Obligation of an hundred pounds be made with Condition for payment of fifty pounds at a day and at the
be put in an open Pound and they die it is the losse of the Owner but if they be put in another place it is otherwise 39 H. 8. Fitz. Distresse 6. He that distrains Beasts may put them in a close House if he will give them meat for the putting of them into an open Pound is but to the intent that the Owner may give them meat 1 2. Phil. Mar. cap. 12. tit Distresse That no Distresse shall be taken out of the Hundred unlesse to the open Pound nor above three miles Where a man distraineth Cattell for doing Damage-feasant or for rent or service and put them into the common Pound or into another Pound or place and he who hath property in the Cattell or other person taketh the Cattell out of the said Pound and driveth them where he pleaseth he who distrained them may have a Writ de parco fracto Fitz. Na. Br. 293. E. A man may not distrain for any Rent or thing done for any Land but upon the same Land that is charged therewith but in case where I come to distrain and the other seeing my purpose chaseth the Beasts or beareth the thing out to the intent that I shall not take it for a Distresse upon the ground then I may well pursue and if I take it presently in the high way or in anothers ground the taking is lawfull as well as there upon the same Land charged to whomsoever the properties of the goods be If one distrain my goods that are not distrainable by Law I may have a generall Action of Trespasse or an Action of the case against him at my choice Co. 4. 94. The Distresse must be reasonable somewhat proportionable to the thing or cause for which it was taken and yet if the cause be so that a man cannot take a Distresse of lesse value and the thing be after a sort entire as in the Distresse of a Cart with its carryage or with the Horse or Oxen annexed to them for twenty shillings though there be much inequality yet may it not be unreasonable Marl. 1. 4. 22 E. 4. 15. 20 E. 4. 3. 41 E. 3. 26. But such Distresses as are either excessive for magnitude as if one take four Sheep for four pence or four Oxen for two shillings or the like these are unlawfull Distresses for which the Bayliff or Distrainer shall be punished Excessus in re qualibet in jure reprobatur Yet if he take a Horse or Oxe for two pence where no other Distresse is to be had it is not excessive but if there were a Sheep or other goods somewhat proportionable to be taken there it is excessive and punishable Co. 2. part Inst 107. 51 H. 3. Marl. 4. Co. 11. 44. 4. 8 H. 4. Fitz. Na. Br. 174. 45 Ed. 3. 26. If one distrain my Kine great with Calf and by driving they lose their Calfs I may have an Action of the case F. N. B. 86. If goods be impounded in a close House or secret place so that the Defendant cannot come to seed them and the goods do perish for want of sustenance the Distrainer must pay for them 33 H. 8. tit Distresse 66. If the Distrainer give the Cattell meat in the Pound he cannot compell the Owner of the Cattell to pay for this for the Distrainer is not compelled by Law to give them sustenance and if they do agree after the Distresse upon a sum yet this is no excuse but it is for their deliverance but if they do agree at the time of the Distresse taken that he should give them meat and that he should have twenty shillings or a certain propounded sum for the same this is a good bargain 21 E. 4 fo 53. An Action of Trespasse was brought upon the Statute that none should be distrained by his Cattell in the Plough so long as any other reasonable Distresse may be had and the Plaintiff declared the taking to be against the Statute and did not specially shew that he had other Cattell to be distrained yet it was adjudged good for the Defendant to alleadg this 4 E. 3. 18 E. 2. Stuff sent to a Taylor Weaver Fuller Sheerman Miller c. shall not be distrained for these Officers are necessary for the Common-wealth and the like Law is of and in a Common Inn. A Distresse must be of a thing whereof a valuable property is in some body and therefore Dogs Bucks Hares Does Cunnies Bees and the like that are ferae naturae or apparel Armour or Jewels cannot be distrained Yet though it be of a valuable property as a horse that a man rideth upon cannot be distrained Fitzherb in rescous 11. quod nota If a man come into a common Inn his Goods and Beasts shall not be distrained there because then it would be prejudiciall to the Common-wealth Also Goods and Chattels brought into a Fair or Market to be sold shall not be distrained per. cur Mich. 7 H. 7 fo 15. 10 H. 7. fo 21. Windowes Doors Tables fixed on a post a Furnace Pales Timber Boards fixed on the ground Glasse c. cannot be distrained nor sorfeited by Outlawry but if these are not used in a House but standers by then they may be distrained Mich. 21 H. 7. fo 13. Pasc 14. fo 25. H. 8. fo 25. Trin. 21. H. 7. fo 27. If a Bayliff come to a house to distrain the dores being fast shut and barred and with his hand through a crevice or hole did shove the bar and open the dore and did take out two Cows in the name of a Distresse and because he did take a Distresse in this manner it was adjudged the Distresse to be wrongfull Fitzherb abridg fo 296. No goods shall be distrained but the proper goods of the party and not pledges nor yet borrowed goods 35. H. 6. fo 25. per Moyle Justice And it is not of Chattels reall as a Lease for years nor of apparrell 7 H. 6. 9. A Distresse made by the servant of the Bayliff is good 27. Ass 6. 7. If a man distrain Cattell and they of their own accord come home again to the owner he who distrained them cannot take them again by reason of the first Distresse except he doth freshly follow them per Danby Justice because of the negligence of the distrainer 9 E. 4. fo 2. If a man come to distrain for Damage-feasant and see the Beasts in his ground and the Owner chaseth them out of purpose before the Distresse taken the Owner of the ground cannot distrain them and if he doth the Owner of the Cattell may rescue them for the Beasts must be Damage-feasant at the time of the Distresse 16 E. 4. 10. 2. 6. 2. Avowry 182. lib. 9. A horse cannot be distrained while the Owner thereof is riding upon him or leading of him nor if he be tyed at a Mill and came thither with grist nor a horse tyed at a mans dore the Owner being gone into the House on some businesse Pas 39.
voluntary will make to the said A. the said writing and not by force and hardnesse of imprisonment as the said B. above hath alledged And this he prayeth may be inquired of by the Countrey And the said B. likewise c. The Assault made by the Plaintiff c. ANd c. when c. And as to the Trespasse and Assault aforesaid above supposed to be done the said I. R. saith that the said R. W. his action aforesaid against him ought not to have because he saith that the aforesaid R. VV. the day year c. aforesaid upon him the said I. R. at the Castle c. did make an Assault and him would have beaten wounded and evil intreated by which the said I. R. himselfe against the aforesaid R. VV. did then and there defend And saith that if any evil to the said R. VV. then and there happened was of the proper assault of him the said R. VV. And in defence of him the said I. R. And this he is ready to verifie whereupon he prayeth Judgement if the aforesaid R. VV. his action aforesaid against him ought to have c. Replication ANd the foresaid R. VV saith that he by any thing before alledged from having his action aforesaid ought not to be debarred because he saith that the foresaid I. R. the day yeare c. abovesaid at c. in his Declaration aforesaid above specified of his own proper injury and without such cause by the said R. VV. above alledged upon him the said R. VV. did make an assault and him did beat wound and evil intreat so that of his life he did despair against the peace of the Lord Protector that now is as the said R. VV. above against him hath complained And this he prayeth may be inquired of by the Countrey And the said I. R. likewise Therefore c. The Defendant pleadeth the Plaintiff within age to bring his action and should have brought it by Guardian and not by Attorney ANd c. when c. And sayes that the foresaid I. R. ought not to have his action aforesaid against him because he sayes that the foresaid I. R. the day and year in the Declaration specified to wit the day year c. the day of the issuing forth of the Writ of Justicies of him the said I. R. that is to say the day year c. was within the age of one and twenty years And that the foresaid I. R. declared against him the said P. C. in the Plaint aforesaid by his Attorney whereas by the due form of Law he ought to have declared by his Guardian And this he is ready to aver whereupon he prayes Judgement whether the aforesaid I. R. ought to have his action aforesaid against him c. To a Trespasse in Walking Not guilty and as to the residue of Trespasse tender of amends ANd c. when c. and saith that as to the breaking of the close aforesaid as also to the treading down and consuming of the Corn and grasse aforesaid with his seet in walking in the same four acres of land aforesaid of new assigned above supposed to be done saith that he is in no wise thereof guilty c. and of this he putteth himself upon the Countrey and the Plaintiff likewise And as to the residue of the trespasse aforesaid in the same four acres of Land of new assigned above supposed to be done the same A. saith that the same B. his action aforesaid ought not to have because he saith that the residue of the trespass aforesaid in the same four acres of Land of new assigned above supposed to be done was done with the cattle aforesaid by negligence and against the will of the same A. and that the same A. afterwards and before the day of commencing of this action of the same B. to wit the 16 day of May in the year c. at the same parish of R. in the said County of Y. offered to the same B. 20 s. of lawfull money of England for and in satisfaction for the residue of the trespasse aforesaid so as aforesaid done which said 20 s. were sufficient amends for the same residue of the trespasse aforesaid in the same four acres of Land with the appurtenances of new assigned as beforesaid done and that the same B. the said 20 s. as aforesaid offered to receive of the same A. then and there altogether refused and as yet doth refuse and this he is ready to verifie And c. Replication ANd the same B. as to the same plea of the said A. as to the said residue of the trespasse aforesaid in the same four acres of land with the appurtenances of new assigned done saith that he by any thing in the same plea before alledged ought not to be barred from having his action aforesaid against him c. because he protesteth that the aforesaid residue of the trespasse aforesaid in the same four acres of land with the appurtenances of new assigned was not done with the cattel aforesaid by the negligence and against the will of the same A. protesting also that the said 20 s. in satisfaction for the trespasse aforesaid were not offered before the same day of commencing the suit of the said B. as the same A. hath above alledged for plea the same B. saith that the same 20 s. were offered by the same A. to the said B. for a certain trespasse by the same A. with his cattle aforesaid to the same B. in a certain other Close of land with the appurtenances called the S. of the same B. in the Parish of R. aforesaid in the County aforesaid done without that that the same A. offered to the same B. the said 20 s. for and in the satisfaction of the foresaid residue of the trespass aforesaid in the same 4 acres of land of new assigned done as the same A. hath above alledged and this he is ready to verifie whereupon for that the same A. the said residue of the trespass aforesaid in the same four acres of Land with the appurtenances aforesaid of new assigned done above acknowledgeth the same B. prayeth judgment and his damages by occasion of the residue of the trespass aforesaid to him to be adjudged c. Rejoynder ANd the same A. as before saith that he offered to the same B. the said 20 s. for and in satisfaction of the said residue of the trespasse aforesaid in the same four acres of Land with the appurtenances of new assigned done as he hath above alledged And of this he putteth himselfe upon the Countrey and the same B. likewise Therefore c. Misnomer in Baptism pleaded in Abatement of the Writ of Justicies ANd the said A. by Simon Don his Attorney comes and prayes Judgement of the Writ of Justicies aforesaid because he saith that the name of Baptism of the said Agnes in the Writ aforesaid named is Anna and not Agnes as the said B. hath above
declared and this he is ready to verifie whereupon he prayes Judgement of the said Writ of Justicies and that the said Writ of Justicies be quashed c. Plea in Abatement for that the Plaintiff hath one name in the Writ and another in the Declaration ANd the said A. by I. R. his Attorney comes and prayes Judgment of the Writ of Justicies aforesaid because he saith that he is the same person against whom the said B hath brought his Writ aforesaid by the name of B. D. otherwise E. Yeoman and that the said B. is named John otherwise Henry and by the same name of B. D. otherwise E. the day of obtaining of the Writ of Iusticies of the said B. and alwayes afterterwards hitherto he hath been known and called and by the same name of B. D. otherwise against the said A. in his Declaration aforesaid now hath declared without that that the said B. is named or called Iohn otherwise Henry or by the same name of B. D. otherwise E. hath been at any time known or called and this he is ready to verifie whereupon he prayes Judgment of the writ of Iusticies aforesaid c. The Defendant justifies for horse-meat not satisfied in answer to a Declaration in Trover for the same horse ANd the said A. saith that he the same time in which the said horse in the Declaration aforesaid specified is supposed to come to his hands and by two years then next elapsed and ever afterwards and yet is a common Inn-keeper and holdeth a certain Inn called the George in the Parish and Town of Harwood in he said County of Y. and that one C. D. the twelfth day of August in the year aforesaid at the Parish and Town of the said H. came to the Common Inne of the said A. bringing with him the said horse into the said Inne which said horse the said C. D. the same twelfth day of August abovesaid untill the twenty fourth day of Iune in the year c. abovesaid in the Inne of the said A. remained at meat and that the said meat of the said A. eaten and consumed within the same Inne by the same horse between the said 12. day of August in the said year of c. and the said 24. day of Iune in the yeare aforesaid was worth eight pounds ten shillings of lawfull money of England And that no person within that time paid the said A. for the said meat neither compounded nor agreed with the said A. for the same whereupon certain L M. NO and others lawfull and honest persons the neighbors of the said A. and inhabiting and remaining within the said parish of H. in the County aforesaid at the request of the said A. afterwards to wit the 24. day of Iune abovesaid at the said Town and Parish of H. reasonably appraised the said horse at six pounds ten shillings and no more whereupon the said A. afterwards to wit the said 24. day of Iune in the year abovesaid at the aforesaid Town and Parish of H. retained that horse in his hands towards the satisfaction of the said A. for his meat aforesaid then and there did convert and dispose as it was lawfull for him to do with it without that that the said horse came to the hands of the said A. in the aforesaid County of L. or any other place without the said Town and Parish of H. in the said County of Y. as the said C D. above against him complaineth and this he is ready to verifie whereupon he prayeth Judgment if the Plaintiff his Action c. The Defendant pleads leave and liberty granted to him by the Plaintiff to enter and feed his Cattel ANd the said A. as to the aforesaid Trespasse as to the breaking of the Close aforesaid and the eating c. with his cattel c. and the treading c. with his feet above supposed to be done saith that the same B. before the same time in which c. to wit the 22. day of May in the year c. at Skipton aforesaid in the County aforesaid and within the liberty and jurisdiction of this Court gave liberty to the said A. into the tenements aforesaid with the appurtenances of new assigned to enter and put in his Cattel aforesaid the grasse in the tenements aforesaid with the appurtenances of new assigned then there growing to eat up By vertue of which said liberty the same Defendant the same time in which c. into the tenements aforesaid with the appurtenances in which c. entered and his Cattel aforesaid to eat the grasse there put And the same Cattle the same time in which c. by vertue of the liberty aforesaid the grasse aforesaid in the tenements aforesaid with the appurtenances did eat tread down and consume which said breaking of the Close aforesaid and eating treading down and consuming of the grasse aforesaid with the Cattel aforesaid in the tenements aforesaid with the appurtenances above newly assigned and the treading and consuming of the other grasse aforesaid in the same tenements with the feet walking by vertue of the liberty aforesaid and for the cause aforesaid in form as aforesaid done is the same breaking of the Close c. And this c. The Plaintiff replies de injuria propria and traverseth the liberty And the Desendant justifies he gave the liberty and issue thereupon The Defendant justifies in Replevin the taking of the Cattel for Rent in arrear ANd the said A B. by S D. his Attorney cometh and defendeth the force and injury when c. and doth well avouch the taking of the said Cattel in the said place in which c. And justly c. because he saith that the said place in which c. is and from the time of the said taking and before was four acres of Land in M. aforesaid and saith that long before the time of the said taking before supposed to be done and at the same time the said A B. was seized in his Demesne as of fee of one Messuage one Garden and four acres of Land and one acre of Wood with the appurtenances in M. aforesaid whereof the said place in which c. is And at the said time in which c. was parcel and so being thereof seized that same Messuage Garden Land and Wood with the appurtenances long before the time of the taking aforesaid that is to say at the Feast of the annunciation of our blessed Virgin Mary in the year c. at M. aforesaid demised unto the aforesaid C D. to have to him from the same Feast as long as it should please him the said A B. yielding therefore yearly unto the said A B. as long as the said C D. should have and ocupy the said Messuage Garden Land and Wood 30 s. at the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel and the annunciation of our blessed Virgin Mary by equal portions yearly to be paid by vertue of which demise the
said C. D. the said Messuage Garden Land and Wood with the appurtenances from the said Feast of the Annunciation of c. until the Feast of the Annunciation of c. next before the time of the taking aforesaid had and occupied and for that that 30 s. of the said Lease by the said time unto him the said A. B. at the time of the said computation remained in arrear and as yet remaineth unpaid doth well avouch the taking of the said Cattel in the said place in which c. and justly c. And this he is ready to prove whereupon he prayeth judgment and the return of the said Cattel to be adjudged unto him c. The Defendant saith that the Goods were taken as a pawn or pledge for money lent ANd the aforesaid A. B. by c. comes and defends the force and injury when c. And as to the breaking the Close c. he is in nothing thereof guilty and as to the residue of the trespasse aforesaid supposed to be done the same A. B. saies the aforesaid C. D. ought not to have his action c. because he saith that the same C D. long before the said time wherein c. was indebted unto him the said A. B. in 22 s. for divers sums of money by him the said C. D. of the aforesaid A. B. formerly borrowed And afterwards and long before the said time the same C. D. by one E. his wife delivered to the aforesaid A. B. the aforesaid goods and chattels as a pawn for the aforesaid 22 s. to be held unto him the said A. B. in pledge until the said C. D. to the aforesaid A. B. the same 22 s. had paid And the same A. B. in fact saith that the aforesaid C. D. hath not as yet paid to him the said A. B. the aforesaid 22 s. which is the same Trespasse and taking and carrying away the aforesaid goods and chattels whereof the aforesaid C. D. above now complains And this c. whereupon c. Replication that he tooke them Injuria sua propria without such a cause ANd the said C. D. sayes that he by any thing before alledged ought not to be debarred from having his action aforesaid because he saith that the aforesaid A. B. as of his proper injury and without such a cause above by him the said A. B. alledged the day and year aforesaid the aforesaid goods and chattels at R. in the said County of Y. found he took and carried away as the same C. D. by his Declaration aforesaid above supposeth And this he prayeth may be inquired of by the Countrey And the aforesaid A. B. in like manner Therefore c. Concord in Assault and Battery ANd the aforesaid A. B. in his proper person coms and defends the sorce and injury when c. And saith that as to the Trespasse aforesaid above supposed to be done the same A. B. sayes that the aforesaid C. D. ought not to have his action aforesaid against him because he saith that long after the Trespasse aforesaid was supposed to be made to wit the eighth day of July in the year c. aforesaid at S. aforesaid in the County aforesaid and within the liberty and jurisdiction of this Court the same A. B. and C. D. by the mediation of E. F. and G. H. their friends and acquaintance in a friendly manner comming between them in such manner it was agreed together between them that is to say that the aforesaid A. B. should pay to the aforesaid C. D. in amends and for satisfaction of that Trespasse five shillings of lawfull money of England which the said A. B. the said five shillings of c. to the aforesaid C. D. then and there paid according to the force form and effect of the concord aforesaid And this c. whereupon he prayes Judgement c. Replication No such Concord or Agreement made ANd the aforesaid C. D. sayes that he by any thing prealledged ought not to be debarred from having his action aforesaid because he saith that there was never any such concord or agreement had between them the said C D. and A B. in manner and form as the said A B. hath above alledged by pleading And this he prayes may be inquired of by the Countrey and the aforesaid A B. in like manner c. The Defendant saith that as to the taking of the Oxe that he tooke it by the name of an Heriot ANd the said C D. by c. cometh and defendeth the force and wrong when c. And as to the taking of the said Oxe the said C D. doth well avow the taking of the said Oxe in the said place in which c. and justly c. because he saith that long before the taking of the said Oxe before supposed one I G. was seized of one Messuage with the appurtenances in W. aforesaid in his Demesne as of see and so seized held the same of the said C D. by fealty and the rent of 12 d. unto him the said C D. every year at the feasts of the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary c. of S. Michael the Archangel to be paid by equall portions and also by Services that every tenant of the said Messuage with the appurtenances thereof seized in his Demesne as ofsee or in use from the time of which contrary c. he ought and had accustomed to render unto the said C D. and his heirs the best animal living of the same tenant of the said Messuage with the appurtenances so thereof dying seised in his Demesne as of see or in use by the name of Heriot of which services the said C D. was seized by the hands of the said I G. as by the hands of his true tenant that is to say of the said Fealty as ofsee and right and of the said Rent in his Demesne as of see And afterward the said I G. died of the said Messuage with the appurtenances seized in his Demesne as ofsee And because the said Oxe was the proper Oxe of the said I G. at the time of his Death the said C D. that Oxe as the best animal which was of the said I G. at the time of his death by the name of a Heriot he took and justly c. Justification in Trespasse for want of reparation of the hedges by the Plaintiffe ANd the said A and B. by I R. their Attorney come and desend their force and injury where c. And as to the breaking of the Close aforesaid and the eating up treading down and consuming the grasse aforesaid the same A and B. say that the aforesaid D. ought not to have his action aforesaid against them because they say that at the time of the Trespasse aforesaid supposed to be made were and are seized of a certain Close of Pasture near adjoyning to the said Close of the aforesaid D. in which the grasse aforesaid in S.
aforesaid in their Demesne as ofsee Between which said Closes there is a certain hedge separating each from other the aforesaid Closes which said hedge the aforesaid D. and all they whose estate the same D. hath in the Close aforesaid from time out of minde were accustomed to make repaire and sustain and say that that hedge for want of reparation and sustaining of the same was at the time of the Trespasse aforesaid supposed to be made broken down and laid prostrate to the ground and that the Cattel of the said A. and B. in their Close aforesaid put to depasture into the said Close of the aforesaid D. by the breach and decay of the said hedge did enter against the will of them the said A. and B. and the grasse aforesaid did eat up tread down and consume the same A. and B. their Cattle aforesaid freshly pursuing into the said Close of the said D. by the breach and decay aforesaid did enter to drive backe their Cattle into the said Close of them the said A. and B. and into that Close speedily drove them as it was lawfull for them to do which is the same trespasse and breach of close and feeding treading downe and consuming the grasse aforesaid whereof the said D. above against them complaineth And this they are ready to averre c. whereupon c. The Defendant upon a Replevin avoweth the taking of the Cattle doing Damage Feasant ANd the said A. by c. cometh and defendeth the sorce and injury when c. and doth well avow the taking of the said Cowes in the said place in which c. and justly c. because he saith that he is seized and at the time of the said taking was seized in one Messuage and 12 acres of Meadow with the Appurtenances in the said Towne of S. whereof the place in which c. the said Cowes were taken as parcell in his Demesne as of Fee And for that he at the time of the said taking found the said Cows doing damage in the said place in which c. the said A. those Cowes in his ground and free-hold so doing damage took as to him it was lawfull And this he is ready to prove whereupon he prayeth judgement and the returne of the said Cattle c. Misnomer in the Writ of Justicies ANd hereupon comes Alvered Pease by W O. his Attorney and saith that he being by vertue of the said Writ of Iusticies summoned by the name of Abraham Pease neither is nor can be understood the same person against whom the said E. W. hath brought his Writ by the name of Abraham Pease For he saith that he is named called Alvered Pease and by the same name and sirname from the time of his nativity always known and called without that that he is named or called Abraham Pease or by the same name and sir-name was ever known or called as by the said Writ is supposed And this the said Alvered is ready to aver and prove whereupon he demandeth Judgement of the said Writ and that the same may be quashed c. Non cepit to a Replevin ANd the said B. by S. H. his Attorney cometh and defendeth the force and wrong when c. And saith that he did not take the Cattle aforesaid as the said A. above against him complaineth And of this he putteth himselfe upon the Countrey And the said A. likewise c. Property ANd the said B. by S. H. his Attorney cometh c. and saith that the property of the Cattle aforesaid at the supposed time of their taking was in the said B. and not in the said A. And this he is ready to prove whereupon he prayeth Judgement c. Demurrer to a Declaration ANd the said B. by C. D. his Attorney comes and desends the force and injury when c. And saith that the Declaration of the said P. and the matter therein contained are not sufficient in Law for the said P. to maintain his action aforesaid against him the said B. to be had And that he to that Declaration in manner and forme aforesaid made hath no need nor by the Law of the Land is bound to answer And for causes of Demurrer in Law in this behalse the said B. according to the forme of the Statute in this behalf provided doth shew to the Court these causes following That is to say that the said Declaration doth contain double and insufficient matter and wants forme and this he is ready to aver whence for default of a sufficient Declaration in this behalse the same B. prayeth Judgement and that the said P. may be barred of having his action against him c. Joyning in Demurrer ANd the said P. saith for that he above declaring hath in his said Declaration alleadged sufficient matter in Law to maintain his said Action to be had against the said B. which he is ready to aver which matter the said B. doth not gainsay nor thereunto at all answer but wholly refuseth to admit that averment prayes Judgement and his debt aforesaid together with damages by reason of the detaining of the said debt to him to be adjudged c. If it be in Trespasse then thus PRayes Judgement and his damages by reason of the sayd Trespasse or Trespasse and Assault or Trespass Assault and Imprisonment as the case is to him to be adjudged c. If in an Action upon the Case PRayes Judgement and his damages by the occasion before specified to him to be adjudged c. OF THE JUDICIAL AND MINISTERIAL POWER OF SHERIFS TO treat of the Originall or first Institution of Sheriffs in this Common-wealth is not here necessary being already done in the tract of the County Court or first part of this our subject matter Therefore we will initiate with the office of Sheriff in which office he hath triplicem custodiam a three-fold custody viz. 1 Custos vitae Reipublicae The Conservator of the life or peace of the Common-wealth 2 Custos vitae Iustitiae The preserver of the life of Justice for no Suit doth commence and no Processe is executed but by him 3 Custos vitae legis The Guardian or Tutor of the life of the Law for after tedious and long spun suits he is to make due execution which is the very life and spirit of the Law Now as he is Custos vitae Reipub. or Principalis conservator pacis within the County he hath a Judicial authority in the other two a Ministeral 1. And first to discover his Judiciall power And as he is a preserver of the peace he may ex officio upon request command and cause another to finde sureties of the Peace and may take the same sureties by Recognizance for all Obligations that he takes to that end are as Recognizances in Law And if he see one man assault another or if an assault be made upon himselfe he may compel them to finde sureties of the
Action brought For it was alleaged although a reprisall by fresh suit if it had been before the action brought would peradventure have excused him yet being after the Action brought so as the Plaintif at the time of the Action brought had good cause to have the Action the Reprisall after shall not excuse him and compared it to waste brought for Reparations which is amended pendant the Writ it shall not excuse him So here And in proof thereof were cited Coo. 3. fol. 52. Ridgeleyes case 23 E. 4. 8. 13 Edw. 3. tit Barr. 253. But against this it was argued That this reprisall being alleaged to be by fresh suite and before the plea pleaded is good for the time and he shall take advantage thereof to excuse the Escape For it is upon the matter no escape when shee was re-taken by fresh suit for that is a continuall pursuit and the Law shall adjuge her in prison always And it is not like the case of Waste For there nothing was done after the Waste committed before the Action and the Reparation hath not any relation nor is the continuance of any former Act but this Reprisall hath relation and makes it no escape ab initio As a Distresse taken for Rent and rescued and driven into another Mannor which is pursued and re-taken the party shall make his Avowry of the taking in the first place So here And it would otherwise be a great mischiese if an Escape should be against the wills of Sheriffs or keepers of Prisons by breach of prison or rescuing themselves before they be brought to prison or in their going thither and the prisoners be reprised within two or three dayes That an Action should be brought in the Interim against the Gaoler and that this Reprisall when he hath the prisoner before the plea should not be an excuse especially to the Marshall who hath multitude of prisoners and every day is to bring them unto the Hall by Habeas Corpus or Rules of Court If peradventure a Prisoner escapes and an Action be brought against the Marshall the same day before he can have any time to retake him If he should not be excused by the re-taking hee would be charged with a multitude of suits and could not have any remedy to excuse him And therefore it was compared to the pleading of a Fine levyed before the VVrit of Formedon and Proclamations incurred pendant the VVrit before the plea pleaded he well may take advantage thereof by pleading it although when the Writ was brought it was not compleat nor could be pleaded Vide 6 H. 7. 12. Secondly it was moved admitting this to be no plea yet the Action lyes not here because the Escape is of a Feme Covert where her Baron is subject to the Execution So the Plaintiffe hath not lost his debt for by intendment she might not have payd it if shee had layne in prison For shee had nothing but what was her Husbands and the Execution remaines yet against him Therefore Action of Debt lyes not because he is not totally deprived of his Debt but an Action upon the Case in respect of the damage And therefore it was said If one have Execution of a Statute of the Lands Goods and Body c. and the prisoner escapes Yet because the Lands remaine in Execution debt lyes not for the Escape but an Action upon the Case For at the Common Law an Action of Debt was not maintainable for an Escape but it is given by the Statute of 1 Richard 2. where the Debtor escapes But here the sole and principall Debtor did not escape for the Baron is the Principall and remained subject to the Execution vide 33 H. 6. 47. N. Br. 93. Regist fo 98. 4 H. 6. 6. Wherefore c. But the Court held that it was not any plea because the Action is brought and implyes a voluntary permission ire ad largum which is neither denyed or traversed And if the Sheriffe voluntarily lets a prisoner at large he cannot re-take him And so this Reprisall as is alleaged being after the Action brought is to no purpose nor is any plea. And for the Action of Debt they held that it well enough lyes or an Action upon the Case at his pleasure Because the Feme was onely committed to prison and not the Baron And shee is the sole Debtor who is imprisoned wherefore it was adjudged for the Plaintiff But note in as much as Escapes are so penall to Sheriffes Bayliffs of Liberties and Gaolers the reverend Judges of the Law have alwayes made a favourable construction as much as the Law will permit in favour of the Sheriffes Bayliffs of Liberties and Gaolers who are Officers and Ministers of Justice Co. 3. 44. Of Bayle what it is And where the Sheriffe may take Bayle and where not BAILE or Ballium is a safe keeping or protection and thereupon we say when a man upon surety is delivered out of prison traditur in ballium hee is delivered into bayle viz. Into their safe keeping or protection from prison before that he hath satisfied the Law it hath its originall or derivation from the French word Bailler and that also cometh from the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they both signifie to deliver into hand For he that is bayled is taken out of a Prison and delivered into the hands of his Friends who are his Sureties for his appearance at a certaine day to answer and be justified by the Law Sheriffs Under-sheriffs or other persons making any warrant for the summons arresting or attaching any person to appeare in any Court not having the originall Processe or Writ to warrant it upon examination and proofe thereof before the Judges of Assize or Judges of the Court c. such offender and their procurers shall be committed to the Goale there to remaine without baile untill they have paid amongst them 10 l. to the party grieved and his costs and damages as also 20 l. to the Protector 43 Eliz. c. 6. Such persons as are in Execution upon any Statute or Recognisance or upon judgement given in the Kings Court at the suit of any person they shall not be bailed until they have agreed with the Plaintiff 1 R. 2. c. 12. 23 H. 6. c. 10. F. N. B. 9. 121. a. Persons condemned in any of the Kings Courts and by vertue thereof committed to prison they shall not be bailed untill they have agreed with the Plaintiff 1 R. 2. c. 12. 2 H. 5. cap. 2. F. N. B. 121. a. If the Sheriffe doe let to baile any persons prohibited by the Stat. of Westm 1. cap. 15. to be bailed he shall be punished by the Justices of Goal-delivery according to the forme of the same Statute or the Justices may fine them as for an escape punishable at the Common Law 25 E. 3. 39. The Sheriff might at the Common Law have bailed a suspect of felony
levy of the Goods and Chattels which late were of P. R. of c. deceased at the time of his death in the hands of W. T. Executor of the Testament and last Will of the said P. R. the Testator a certain debt of 200 l. which the said E. F. in the said Court hath recovered against the said W. T. the Executor as by the said Writ now delivered to the said Sheriffe in forme of Law to be executed more at large appeareth And whereas the said E. F. hath informed the said high Sheriffe and Under-sheriffe that divers goods chattels and debts which were the said P. R. the Testator at the time of his death to the value of his said debt of 200 l after the death of the said P. R. the Testator came to the hands of the said W. T. the Executor within the said County to be administred and that the Executor since the death of the said P. R. the Testator came to the hands of the said W. T. the Executor within the said County to be administred and that the Executor since the death of the said P. R. the Testator hath wasted the same so that unlesse the said Sheriffe shall upon the said Writ of Fieri facias make his returne to this or the like effect viz. That the said Goods and Chattels which were the said P. R. the Testator at the time of his death to the value of the said two hundred pounds did after the death of the Testator come to the hands of the said Executor within the said County of Y. to be administred and that the said Executor hath wasted the same so that the said Sheriff cannot by vertue of the said Writ of Fieri facias do execution thereupon of the goods and chattels as is thereby required And so that also the said E. F. cannot by course of Law have the benefit of his said recovery whereupon the said High-Sheriff and his under-Sheriff being desirous to do what to them or either of them by vertue of their said Office appertaineth for the surtherance of Justice in that behalfe giving credit to the said assertion and affirmation of the said E. F. the said High-Sheriff at his earnest request hath upon the said Writ of Fieri facias in form of Law returned to his Highnesses Justices of the said Court of Common Pleas a Devastavit of the Goods and Chattels which were the said Testators at the time of his death and came to the hands of the said Executor to be administred to the said value of the said debt of two hundred pounds Now therefore these presents do witnesse that the said E. F. and T. P. for the indempnity and saving harmlesse of the said High-Sheriffe and Under-Sheriffe and of their and either of their Clerks of for and concerning the making of the said return in case the assertion and information of the said E. F. be not true do by these presents Covenant and grant joyntly and severally for themselvs and every of them and for their and every of their Executors and Administrators to and with the said A. B. and C. D. and either of them their and either of their Executors and Administrators that they the said E. F. and T. P. or some of them shall and will at all times hereafter discharge acquit and save harmelesse the said A. B. and C. D. and either of them their and either of their Clerk or Clerks and the Heires Executors and Administrators of them and every of them for and concerning all all manner of actions suits complaints losses vexations and troubles whatsoever which shall at any time hereafter be commenced attempted brought or prosecuted against them or any of them by the said P. R. the Executor his Executors or Administrators or by any other person or persons touching or concerning the said returne or by reason or occasion thereof And shall and will from time to time beare and pay to to them the said Sir A. B. and C. D. all such sum and summes of money damages costs and expences as against them or either of them or against their or either of their Executors or Administrators shall be adjudged decreed or ordered or which they or any of them shall from time to time by reason or occasion aforesaid be put unto or shall necessarily lay out or be enforced to pay by reason of any such action suit complaint molestation vexation or trouble And for the true performance of all and singular which said premisses the said E. F. and T. P. doe by these presents binde themselves joyntly and severally and their and either of their Heires Executors and Administrators to the said Sir A. B. and C. D. in the summe of 300 l. of good c. to be paid to them or either of them their or either of their Executors or Administrators if default or breach of the Covenant aforesaid shall be made In witnesse c. A discharge to the Sheriffe for a Prisoner from him to whom the prisoner is indebted KNow all men by these presents that I A. B. of C. in the County of York have remised released acquitted and discharged and by these presents doe for mee my Heires Executors Administrators and Assignes remise release and fully and absolutely acquit and discharge E. F. high Sheriffe of the said County of Y. and G. H. his Under-sheriff their Heirs Executors and Administrators of and from all and all manner of Escapes as well voluntary as negligent and of and from all actions cause and causes of actions for or concerning the enlarging or setting at liberty of the body of L. M. taken at my suite by vertue of a Capias ad satisfac to the said Sheriffe directed of ten pounds debt and fourty shillings costs of suit returnable in the Court of Common-Pleas in Easter Terme last past and I the said A. B. do hereby discharge the said Sheriffe from all actions reckonings duties and demands whatsoever concerning the executing of the said Capias ad satisfac In witness whereof c. Or Thus KNow all men by these presents that I A. B. of c. have remised released and quit claimed and by these presents do remise release and quit claim unto C. D. Esq now Sherif of the said County of Y. all and all manner of actions suits troubles and incumberances whatsoever which I might may or ought to have against him for or concerning the discharging or setting at liberty L. M. of N. in the said County Gent. being arrested and imprisoned upon a Capias ad satisfaciendum out of the Court of Common Pleas at Westminster for an hundred pounds debt and twenty shillings costs at my suit returnable from the day of Easter in one month last past In witnesse whereof I have hereunto set c. A Condition that the Sheriff executing a Writ may detaine out of the goods and lands extended so much mony c. THE CONDITION c. That whereas the within bound A. B.
walls houses or pales be made and erected or thrown downe or any wayes or paths opened or stopped to the damage of the people or if any waters be stopped or diverted out of their right course or if the common Rivers or watering places for Beasts be corrupted and annoyed with Hemp Hay and such like or if any encroachment be upon the Kings high way or any carrion or unwholsome thing be cast into the same The party offending for every time so doing forfeiteth 20 s. 33 H. 8. c. 17. 23 Inquiry is to be made of the defect of Bridges or Causwayes decayed and broken downe and who ought to repaire them The penalty is according to the discretion of the Iury upon the view 24 Inquiry is also to be made if Common Pounds be good and close to retain such distresse as shall be brought to them untill they be delivered thence by order of Law and to present such as ought to keep them in such order if they be taken This is also referred to the Iuries discretion 25 And forasmuch as high wayes especially in winter are very troublesome to travell in it was enacted the 1. 2. Ph. M. c. 8. That the Constable and Church-wardens of every Parish within this Common wealth should yearly upon Tuesday or Wednesday in Easter week assemble a number of the Parishioners and elect two honest men of them to be Surveyors of the high ways for one yeare and that they shall have authority to direct the persons that shall be appointed for the mending and repairing of them according to their discretion faithfully executing their office Every Surveyor neglecting his office and making default forfeits 20 s. Every person for every plowland in tillage or pasture within the parish and every person there keeping a draught or plough shall send every day that the ways are in mending one Waine or Cart with all necessaries convenient to carry things and also two able men with the same The penalty for every draught making default is 20 s. Every other Housholder Cottager Labourer not being an hired servant by the year shall by themselves or one sufficient Labourer upon every of the said dayes work there The penalty for every one making default every day 8 d. 26 You shall enquire if any Heyes Fences Dikes or Hedges next adjoyning on every side to any high or common wayes be not from time to time ditched scoured repaired and kept and all trees and bushes growing in the high-wayes be cut down by the owners of the ground or soyle whereby the wayes are opened and the people may have a more easie passage Every person not so doing forfeiteth 20 s. 18 Eliz 9. 27 You shall further enquire if any ancient bounds or Land-marks be withdrawn and taken away such as distinguish or divide Hundreds Parishes Tythings Commons Common-meadows and Common fields to avoid confusion and consequently dissention 18 Eliz. 2. Fined according to the discretion of the Jury 28 You shall further enquire if any common breakers of hedges or sences by which their neighbours ground is made subject to the incursions of Cattel which are the grounds of many actions of Trespasse to the disturbance of the peace of the Comonwealth Such offenders are to be stocked and whipped 29 You shall also enquire of the breach of any common Pownd to take away distresse out of it though the distresse be without cause Or if any shall rescue or take away by force any cattell which is distrained for any rent amerciament or other cause before it be in custodia legis in the custody of the Law or impounded it is presentable Fineable according to the discretion of the Iury. Or a Writ de pareo fracto lyeth against him as Common Law F. N. B. 139. 30 You shall also enquire if any assaults be committed whereby blood-shed ensueth to the disturbance of the people of this Common wealth is here inquireaable 1 R. 3. fo 1. The fine for the offence is accoding to the discretion of the Iury but commonly it is 3 s. 4 d. 31 You shall further enquire if any Rescous were committed upon the Sheriffe or his Baylifs in disturbance of them from the taking and detaining any person arrested An action lyeth against the offender at the Common Law 32 You shall enquire if there be within the precincts of this Leet any Common Barretors such as are common incendiaries of strife and discord amongst their neighbors and are ever fishing in troubled waters they are of both fexes scoulds brawlers inventers and dispersers of calumnies and reports whereby discord and inquietude ariseth in the Countrey Such persons must give sureties for their good behaviour being disturbers of the peace 33 You shall enquire if any Alehouse-keeper c. have permitted any Inhabitant or Townsman except labourers and handicrafts men or persons invited by Travellers to continue tipling or drinking in any such house The paine or forfeiture of the Alehouse-keeper for every such offence to the use of the poore of the Parish 10 s. 34 You shall enquire if any buy or cause to be bought any victuall or other thing coming towards any Fair or market to be sold in the same or shall make any bargain contract or promise for the having or buying of the same before it shall be in the Market c. such shall be judged a Forestaller He that is convict thereof is for the first time to be imprisoned for 2 moneths and losse of the value of the thing sold The 2d time imprisoned by the space of halfe a year and shall loose the double value of the goods c. The 3d time during his Highnesses pleasure and judgement of the Pillory forfeiting all his goods and chattels See Stat. 5 E. 6 cap. 14. 35 You shall enquire if any regrate any corne butter cheese or other dead or quick victuals whatsoever that shall come to any Fair or Market to be sold and doth sell the same againe in any Faire or Market holden in the same place or within four miles thereof shall be judged a Regrator The judgement of a Forestaller 36 You shall enquire if any do ingrosse and get into their hands or promise taking unlesse it be by demise grant or lease of Land any Corne growing in the Fields or otherwise butter cheese or other dead Victuall to the intent to sell again shall be reputed an illegall Ingrosser The same judgement of a Forestaller and Regrator 37 You shall enquire if any Baker shall make and put to sale any bread which is not of good and sufficient weight and assize according to the rate and prices of come and graine in the Markets adjoyning or such as is not wholsome nourishment for Man And that he set his owne signet upon every loafe of bread that he vends to the end that if it want weight it may be known in whom the fault lyes For the
no such promise within six yeares ibid. Never Executor 134 Fully administred and Replication ibid. Not guilty 135 Bar by which in age ibid. Payment upon a Bill and a Release produced ibid. Free-hold 136 No action to cause one to render an accompt will lie in this Court ibid. In arrest of Judgment ibid. Conditions performed and Replication 137 138 Rejoynder ibid. Detain he doth not ibid. Bar by a generall acquittance and replication ibid. Justification of scandalous words 139 Tender of amends in Replevin ibid. Part of the debt paid the residue tendered before suit and refused and Replication 140 141 Not his Deed 141 By threats and Replication ibid. and 142 By hardnesse of imprisonment and Replication ibid. The assault made by the Plaintiff and Replication 143 The Defendant pleadeth the Plaintiff within age to bring his Action and should have brought it by Guardian and not by Attorney 144 To a trespasse in walking not guilty and as to the residue of the trespas tender of amends and Replication and Rejoynder 144 145 Misnomer in Baptism pleaded in abatement of the writ of Justicies 146 Plea in abatement for that the Plaintiff hath one name in the writ and another in the Declaration ibid. The Defendant justifies for horse meat not satisfied in answer to a Declaration in trover for the same horse 147 The Defendant plead leaves and liberty granted to him by the Plaintiff to enter and feed his cattle 148 The Defendant justifies in replevin the taking of the cattle for rent in arrear 149 The Defendant saith that the goods were taken as a pawn or pledge for money lent 150 Replication that he took them injuria sua propria without such a cause 151 Concord in assault and battery ibid. Replication No such concord or agreement made 152 The Defendant saith that as to the taking of the Oxe that he tooke it by the name of an Herriot ibid. Justification in trespasse for want of reparation of the hedges by the Plaintiffe 153 The Defendant justifies upon a Replevin the taking of the Cattel doing damage-feasant 154 Misnomer in the writ of Justicies ibid. Non cepit to a Replevin 155 Poverty ibid. Demurrer ibid. Joyning in Demurrer 156 Presentment in a Leet of petty Treason 342 Presentment of felony for burning a house 343 Presentment of a Felon ibid. Presentment of an Accessary ibid. Presentments in Court-Baron 375 The finding of the death of a Tenant and of a Surrender made to the use of his will with an admission of the Tenant according to the will ibid. The finding of the death of a Tenant 376 Pains found and set upon tenants for want of suit of Court ibid. 377 The presentment of a Surrender made out of Court into tenants hands with the admission of the tenant accordingly 377 The finding of a Surrender made into tenants hands to the use of a mans will 378 The finding of the death of a tenant and of the lands and that the youngest son is next heir according to the custom c. with his admission ibid. The finding of a sale made of Freehold lands with a distresse to the Bayliffe to distrain for want of taking it up 379 The acknowledgement in the Court of a Legacy paid ibid. A presentment of a Surrender made out of Court with the admission of the tenant 380 A presentment made in Court of an agreement made between the Son and his mother touching her Dower and the mothers release of her Dower 381 A pain set for an incroachment ibid. A pain set for the amending of the same ibid. A presentment for an offence done and a charge to the Jury to enquire and further day given for giving their Verdict 382 R REplevin 39 132 alias Repl. 40 Plures Repl. ibid. Return of a Tolt 43 Return of a Recordare fac Lo. 58 59 of a Pone 59 60 of a writ of False judgment 61 62 63 of an Accedeas ad curiam 65 66 of a Writ for the Election of a Coroner after the death of another 66 of an Exigent 66 67 68 of a Proclamation 69 of a Non est inventus 197 of a Cepi corpus in the Common Pleas ibid. of a Cepi corpus in the Vpper-Bench ibid. of a Cepi corpus and Non est inventus ibid. of a Cepi corpus and Languidus in prisona 198 of a Mandavi Ballivo libertatatis where the Bayliff makes no returne of the Sheriffs warrant or where he makes an insufficient return 198 and also where he returneth to the Sheriffe he hath taken the body and the like in case the Bayliffe returneth a Languidus in prisona or as he shall certified the Sheriff by his returne ibid. of a Scire facias where a Scire facias is returned ibid. of a Nihil to a Scire facias ibid. of Scire facias for one and Nihil for the other 199 of an Attachment and Proclamation in Chancery ibid. A Nihil returned of a Venire facias upon an Indictment presentment or information and summons returned of the like ibid. The Return of a Distringas nuper vic or Balliv ibid. of a Venire facias jur 200 of a Distringas or Hab. corp Jur. ibid. of an Exigent where one bringeth a Supersed one rendereth himselfe the other appeareth not ibid. of a Proclamation 201 of an Allocat ibid. of a Tarde ibid. of a Hab. corp where the Defendant was taken by a former Sheriff 202 of a Pone ibid. of a Scire fac for the release of Prisoners ibid. of Nihil to a Scire fac against the heir and ter-tenants ibid. of a Summons in Dower ibid. of a Cap. in manus in Dower 203 of a Summons upon an originall against an heir ibid. of a Habere facias possessionem Cap. where judgement is signed with costs ibid. of a Liberate out of Chancery 204 of an Acced ad cur ibid. of a Re. fa. lo. ibid. averia elongat and Cepi corp for damages 205 of a Rescous ibid. of a Devastavit 228 of a Nulla bona Devastavit by inquisition ibid. of a Fieri fac 229 of a Fieri fac where part of the debt is levied and for the residue a Nulla bona 230 another of a Fi. fa. ibid. of a writ where the Sheriffe dieth after execution thereof and so returned prout indorsat by the present Sheriffe ibid. of an Elegit where lands are in the Kings hands 231 of an Extent in the Exchequer 232 of a Scire fac against the heir and ter-tenants where notice is given 234 of a summons in Dower 235 Records upon a writ of False judgement and Accedeas ad curiam 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 Recognizance of a Coroner to binde witnesse to appear at the next assizes 290 Release of Lands made in a Court Baron 388 S SCire facias post diem annum 47 against an Executor after Judgement against the Testator ibid. after marriage 48 Subpoena or a Warrant to