sir_n robert_n cotton_n and_o bennet_n college_n library_n have_v long_o since_o convince_v all_o learned_a man_n that_o we_o real_o have_v such_o monument_n in_o our_o archive_v which_o have_v be_v also_o far_o confirm_v as_o to_o the_o truth_n of_o it_o from_o two_o other_o manuscript_n copies_n give_v by_o archbishop_n laud_n to_o the_o bodleian_n library_n at_o oxford_n and_o late_o publish_v together_o with_o those_o abovemention_v by_o the_o aforesaid_a mr._n edmund_n gibson_n most_o of_o which_o copy_n belong_v to_o several_a ancient_a monastery_n and_o i_o doubt_v not_o but_o many_o more_o of_o they_o be_v lose_v at_o their_o dissolation_n in_o henry_n the_o eighth_n time_n or_o carry_v over_o sea_n for_o we_o find_v lazius_n in_o his_o book_n de_fw-fr migratione_fw-la gentium_fw-la quote_v several_a of_o they_o and_o it_o be_v evident_a that_o our_o annal_n sometime_o follow_v not_o tradition_n only_o but_o also_o old_a write_v history_n and_o perhaps_o latin_a writer_n as_o 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faithful_a account_n appear_v by_o the_o great_a credit_n give_v to_o florence_n of_o worcester_n and_o william_n of_o malmesbury_n in_o those_o time_n the_o last_o of_o who_o dedicate_v his_o history_n to_o robert_n earl_n of_o gloucester_n natural_a son_n to_o king_n henry_n the_o first_o and_o matthew_n paris_n be_v of_o so_o great_a esteem_n that_o we_o learn_v from_o himself_o that_o king_n henry_n the_o three_o give_v he_o particular_a direction_n for_o insert_v into_o his_o history_n several_a considerable_a passage_n relate_v to_o his_o own_o reign_n so_o far_o be_v the_o prince_n of_o that_o age_n from_o be_v of_o this_o author_n opinion_n that_o monk_n be_v no_o wise_a fit_n to_o write_v history_n nor_o to_o be_v credit_v when_o they_o have_v do_v but_o if_o no_o credit_n must_v be_v give_v to_o the_o memorial_n of_o monk_n i_o desire_v to_o know_v what_o will_v become_v of_o the_o so_o much_o
aldermannus_n venit_fw-la ad_fw-la ely_n &_o infrà _fw-la cimeterium_fw-la ad_fw-la aquilonalem_fw-la portam_fw-la monasterii_fw-la tenuit_fw-la placitum_fw-la cum_fw-la toto_fw-la hundredo_fw-la b._n and_o the_o witness_n of_o contract_n and_o purchase_n than_o be_v testimonio_fw-la hundredi_n here_o not_o only_o temporal_a cause_n but_o ecclesiastical_a be_v handle_v the_o alderman_n or_o principal_a judge_n be_v such_o a_o one_o as_o dei_fw-la leges_fw-la &_o hominum_fw-la jura_fw-la studebat_fw-la promovere_fw-la who_o study_v to_o promote_v the_o law_n of_o god_n and_o man_n the_o bishop_n or_o archdeacon_n sit_v therein_o with_o the_o say_a alderman_n which_o jurisdiction_n so_o continue_v until_o the_o beginning_n of_o william_n the_o conqueror_n reign_n that_o he_o by_o a_o special_a precept_n do_v inhibit_v inspex_fw-la quod_fw-la nec_fw-la episcopus_fw-la net_n archidiaconus_fw-la de_fw-la legibus_fw-la episcopalibus_fw-la amplius_fw-la in_o hundredo_fw-la placitum_fw-la teneat_fw-la but_o the_o low_a of_o these_o inferior_a court_n be_v that_o of_o the_o decennary_n or_o tything_n court_n which_o yet_o be_v the_o great_a bridle_n upon_o the_o inferior_a sort_n of_o people_n for_o by_o virtue_n of_o this_o law_n of_o king_n alfred_n every_o english_a freeman_n as_o ingulph_n tell_v we_o aught_o to_o be_v in_o some_o hundred_o or_o tything_n i_o mean_v whosoever_o be_v of_o full_a twelve_o year_n of_o age_n 19_o and_o if_o any_o one_o shall_v be_v suspect_v of_o larceny_n or_o theft_n he_o may_v in_o his_o own_o hundred_o or_o ward_n be_v either_o condemn_v or_o give_v security_n in_o some_o manuscript_n it_o be_v be_v acquit_v either_o incur_v or_o avoid_v the_o deserve_a penalty_n william_n of_o malmesbury_n add_v to_o this_o that_o he_o that_o can_v not_o find_v security_n be_v afraid_a of_o the_o severity_n of_o the_o law_n and_o if_o any_o guilty_a person_n either_o before_o his_o give_a security_n or_o after_o shall_v make_v his_o escape_n all_o 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and_o even_o the_o arch-bishop_n and_o bishop_n themselves_o be_v alike_o subject_a to_o it_o 16._o will_v appear_v by_o that_o law_n of_o edward_n the_o confessor_n confirm_v by_o king_n william_n i._n whereby_o all_o arch-bishop_n bishop_n earl_n and_o baron_n and_o all_o those_o that_o have_v court_n of_o sac._n soc._n and_o theme_n etc._n etc._n swear_v to_o keep_v their_o knight_n and_o all_o other_o servant_n there_o mention_v in_o their_o frithborg_n i._n e._n franc-pledg_a for_o who_o these_o lord_n or_o master_n themselves_o be_v to_o be_v surety_n so_o that_o if_o any_o of_o they_o offend_v their_o lord_n be_v oblige_v to_o do_v right_a in_o their_o court_n and_o by_o the_o law_n of_o cnute_n every_o thane_n or_o gentleman_n of_o estate_n 50._o be_v to_o have_v his_o family_n under_o his_o own_o pledge_n and_o if_o any_o of_o they_o be_v accuse_v he_o be_v to_o answer_v for_o he_o in_o the_o hundred_o court_n i._n e._n be_v to_o compel_v he_o to_o appear_v and_o the_o lord_n be_v also_o to_o be_v answerable_a for_o he_o if_o he_o escape_v so_o that_o all_o the_o privilege_n that_o nobleman_n and_o gentleman_n have_v above_o the_o common_a man_n be_v that_o they_o be_v not_o bind_v one_o for_o another_o so_o as_o to_o be_v part_n of_o any_o decennary_n or_o tithing_n but_o each_o of_o they_o be_v head_n of_o his_o own_o friburgh_n and_o his_o family_n be_v as_o it_o be_v a_o distinct_a tithe_n of_o itself_o i_o observe_v this_o to_o let_v the_o reader_n understand_v that_o how_o severe_a soever_o this_o law_n be_v it_o be_v no_o badge_n of_o slavery_n or_o subjection_n upon_o the_o common_a people_n for_o even_o the_o best_a man_n in_o the_o kingdom_n be_v alike_o subject_a to_o it_o neither_o be_v it_o bring_v in_o or_o increase_v in_o rigour_n by_o the_o norman_a conquest_n as_o some_o with_o great_a prejudice_n than_o truth_n have_v maintain_v since_o the_o norman_n as_o well_o as_o the_o english_a be_v all_o under_o one_o and_o the_o same_o law_n as_o to_o this_o point_n the_o law_n of_o this_o court_n of_o the_o tithe_n be_v these_o first_o that_o if_o any_o one_o offend_v and_o fail_v to_o appear_v the_o other_o surety_n be_v bind_v to_o have_v he_o forthcoming_a to_o justice_n second_o but_o if_o the_o guilty_a party_n flee_v he_o shall_v not_o be_v any_o where_o receive_v without_o a_o testimonial_a from_o the_o tithe_n from_o whence_o he_o come_v so_o that_o a_o man_n be_v out_o of_o any_o tithe_n if_o he_o be_v receive_v in_o any_o town_n the_o whole_a town_n be_v in_o the_o king_n mercy_n but_o by_o the_o law_n of_o king_n edward_n 20._o the_o decennary_n be_v allow_v one_o and_o thirty_o day_n to_o bring_v the_o offender_n to_o justice_n that_o so_o he_o may_v make_v satisfaction_n either_o by_o his_o good_n or_o body_n the_o three_o be_v that_o if_o he_o can_v not_o be_v find_v than_o the_o tithingman_n or_o borsholder_n take_v with_o he_o two_o of_o the_o best_a of_o his_o own_o friburgh_n and_o of_o the_o three_o neighbour_a friburghs_n nine_o to_o wit_n of_o each_o the_o chief_a tithingman_n and_o two_o other_o of_o the_o best_a note_n and_o there_o before_o the_o king_n justice_n if_o he_o can_v he_o be_v to_o purge_v himself_o by_o oath_n of_o the_o offence_n and_o flight_n of_o the_o criminal_a but_o if_o he_o can_v not_o he_o with_o his_o own_o friburgh_n be_v to_o restore_v the_o loss_n out_o of_o the_o good_n of_o the_o party_n if_o they_o be_v sufficient_a or_o otherwise_o out_o of_o his_o own_o and_o those_o of_o his_o friburgh_n last_o if_o the_o neighbour_a fribourgs_n will_v not_o be_v their_o compurgator_n than_o they_o be_v to_o swear_v for_o themselves_o that_o they_o be_v therein_o no_o way_n guilty_a and_o that_o so_o soon_o as_o ever_o they_o can_v find_v he_o they_o will_v bring_v the_o offender_n to_o justice_n or_o else_o discover_v where_o he_o be_v there_o be_v many_o other_o particular_n concern_v this_o matter_n which_o i_o pass_v over_o that_o i_o may_v not_o be_v 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the_o sheriff_n the_o former_a of_o which_o be_v ancient_o call_v sciremote_a i._n e._n the_o meeting_n of_o the_o inhabitant_n of_o the_o shire_n and_o be_v hold_v twice_o in_o the_o year_n long_o before_o the_o norman_a conquest_n as_o appear_v from_o sundry_a testimony_n 80._o but_o since_o that_o the_o shireeve_n turn_v from_o the_o french_a word_n tour_n in_o latin_a vice_n and_o in_o english_a turn_v herein_o sit_v together_o the_o bishop_n of_o the_o diocese_n and_o the_o earl_n or_o eolderman_n in_o shire_n that_o have_v eolderman_n 130._o and_o the_o bishop_n and_o shireeve_v in_o such_o county_n as_o be_v commit_v to_o shireeve_v for_o many_o age_n in_o the_o saxon_n time_n as_o from_o these_o law_n from_o king_n edgar_n to_o canutus_n cite_v in_o the_o margin_n do_v appear_v to_o the_o end_n they_o may_v determine_v as_o well_o of_o what_o concern_v ecclesiastical_a as_o
dicitur_fw-la convocati_fw-la i_o e._n beside_o many_o other_o very_o eminent_a person_n and_o chief_a man_n of_o the_o kingdom_n of_o divers_a order_n be_v omit_v who_o with_o most_o pious_a affection_n be_v witness_n and_o approver_n to_o this_o confirmation_n and_o these_o be_v summon_v at_o that_o time_n by_o the_o royal_a authority_n from_o divers_a province_n and_o city_n to_o the_o general_n synod_n hold_v at_o the_o famous_a abbey_n of_o westminster_n for_o the_o hear_n and_o determine_v of_o the_o cause_n of_o each_o christian_a church_n this_o be_v a_o authority_n which_o seem_v so_o convince_a that_o sir_n william_n dugdale_n have_v make_v use_n of_o it_o in_o his_o origines_fw-la juridiciales_fw-la to_o prove_v the_o antiquity_n of_o the_o commons_o of_o england_n in_o parliament_n yet_o dr._n brady_n in_o the_o conclusion_n of_o his_o answer_n to_o mr._n cook_n be_v argumentum_fw-la antinormanicum_n accuse_v that_o gentleman_n of_o be_v both_o ignorant_a and_o mistake_v in_o the_o meaning_n of_o city_n and_o province_n and_o the_o person_n that_o come_v from_o they_o who_o he_o indeed_o will_v have_v to_o be_v not_o any_o representative_n of_o county_n and_o city_n but_o only_o dean_n arch-deacon_n and_o other_o dignify_a person_n and_o church-officer_n as_o well_o of_o the_o laity_n as_o clergy_n who_o be_v summon_v by_o the_o king_n to_o this_o synod_n from_o province_n and_o city_n to_o advise_v and_o inform_v the_o king_n of_o the_o conveniency_n of_o the_o place_n whither_o the_o bishop_n see_v then_o about_o to_o be_v remove_v from_o village_n to_o city_n be_v to_o be_v transfer_v but_o since_o there_o be_v not_o one_o word_n in_o this_o charter_n say_v of_o any_o such_o thing_n and_o that_o sir_n henry_n spelman_n in_o his_o glossary_n render_v the_o word_n provincia_n for_o a_o county_n and_o not_o a_o bishop_n see_v i_o myself_o not_o now_o have_v leisure_n to_o pursue_v such_o nicety_n shall_v refer_v the_o curious_a for_o their_o far_a satisfaction_n to_o the_o eight_o dialogue_n of_o bibliotheca_fw-la politica_fw-la 568._o where_o they_o may_v read_v whatsoever_o he_o have_v say_v against_o it_o sufficient_o answer_v these_o be_v the_o only_a authority_n i_o shall_v make_v use_n of_o at_o this_o time_n to_o prove_v that_o the_o city_n and_o borough_n have_v then_o their_o delegate_n or_o representative_n in_o the_o saxon_a witenagemotes_a i_o will_v now_o conclude_v this_o point_n with_o the_o judgement_n of_o that_o learned_a antiquary_n mr._n lambard_n etc._n who_o certain_o understand_v the_o constitution_n of_o this_o ancient_a government_n as_o well_o at_o least_o if_o not_o better_o than_o dr._n brady_n and_o he_o tell_v we_o that_o whereas_o in_o the_o begin_n of_o each_o law_n viz._n those_o make_v by_o the_o saxon_a king_n he_o there_o mention_n all_o the_o act_n be_v say_v to_o pass_v from_o the_o king_n and_o his_o wise_a man_n both_o of_o the_o clergy_n and_o laity_n in_o the_o body_n of_o the_o law_n each_o statute_n be_v thus_o and_o it_o be_v the_o advice_n of_o our_o lord_n and_o his_o wiseman_n so_o as_o it_o appear_v that_o it_o be_v then_o a_o receive_a form_n of_o speech_n to_o signify_v both_o the_o spirituality_n and_o the_o laity_n that_o be_v to_o say_v the_o great_a nobility_n and_o the_o less_o or_o commons_o by_o this_o one_o word_n witan_n i._n e._n wiseman_n now_o as_o those_o write_a authority_n do_v undoubted_o confirm_v our_o assertion_n of_o the_o continuance_n of_o this_o manner_n of_o parliament_n so_o be_v there_o also_o unwritten_a law_n or_o prescription_n that_o do_v no_o less_o infallible_o uphold_v the_o same_o for_o it_o be_v well_o know_v that_o in_o every_o quarter_n of_o the_o realm_n a_o great_a many_o borough_n do_v yet_o send_v burgess_n to_o the_o parliament_n which_o be_v nevertheless_o so_o couâ—â—iâ—s_n ancient_a and_o so_o long_o since_o decay_v and_o go_v to_o nought_o that_o it_o can_v be_v show_v that_o they_o have_v be_v of_o any_o reputation_n at_o any_o time_n since_o the_o conquest_n and_o much_o less_o that_o they_o have_v obtain_v this_o privilege_n by_o the_o grant_n of_o any_o king_n succeed_v the_o same_o so_o that_o the_o interest_n which_o they_o have_v in_o parliament_n grow_v by_o a_o ancient_a usage_n before_o the_o conquest_n whereof_o they_o can_v show_v any_o beginning_n which_o thing_n be_v also_o confirm_v by_o a_o contrary_a usage_n in_o the_o selfsame_a thing_n for_o it_o be_v likewise_o know_v that_o they_o of_o ancient_n demesne_n do_v prescribe_v in_o not_o send_v to_o the_o parliament_n for_o which_o reason_n also_o they_o be_v neither_o contributor_n to_o the_o wage_n of_o the_o knight_n of_o shire_n neither_o be_v they_o bind_v by_o sundry_a act_n of_o parliament_n though_o the_o same_o be_v general_o pen_v and_o do_v make_v no_o exception_n of_o they_o but_o there_o be_v no_o ancient_a demesne_n save_v that_o only_a which_o be_v describe_v in_o the_o book_n of_o doomsday_n under_o the_o title_n of_o terra_fw-la regis_fw-la which_o of_o necessity_n must_v be_v such_o as_o either_o be_v in_o the_o hand_n of_o the_o conqueror_n himself_o who_o make_v the_o book_n or_o of_o edward_n the_o confessor_n that_o be_v before_o he_o and_o so_o again_o if_o they_o of_o ancient_a demesne_n have_v ever_o since_o the_o conquest_n prescribe_v not_o to_o elect_v burgess_n to_o parliament_n than_o no_o doubt_n there_o be_v a_o parliament_n before_o the_o conquest_n to_o the_o which_o they_o of_o other_o place_n do_v send_v their_o burgess_n i_o shall_v here_o crave_v leave_n to_o add_v one_o record_n though_o after_o the_o conquest_n in_o confirmation_n of_o what_o mr._n lambard_n have_v here_o learned_o assert_v for_o that_o several_a borough_n claim_v to_o send_v member_n to_o parliament_n by_o prescription_n in_o the_o begin_n of_o the_o reign_n of_o edward_n the_o three_o appear_v by_o a_o 20._o petition_n put_v in_o to_o that_o king_n an._n 17_o edw._n 3._o wherein_o the_o burgess_n of_o the_o town_n of_o barnstaple_n in_o devonshire_n set_v forth_o that_o it_o be_v a_o free_a borough_n have_v by_o charter_n from_o king_n athelstan_n among_o other_o privilege_n a_o right_a of_o send_v two_o burgess_n to_o all_o parliament_n for_o the_o say_a borough_n upon_o which_o the_o king_n and_o his_o council_n order_v a_o writ_n of_o inquiry_n which_o certain_o will_v never_o have_v be_v do_v if_o dr._n brady_n notion_n be_v true_a that_o the_o city_n and_o borough_n never_o send_v any_o representatives_n to_o parliament_n but_o once_o in_o the_o 49_o the_o of_o hen._n 3._o and_o then_o no_o more_o till_o the_o 18_o the_o of_o edward_n the_o first_o which_o be_v but_o a_o little_a above_o 50_o year_n to_o the_o time_n of_o this_o petition_n which_o be_v within_o the_o memory_n of_o so_o many_o then_o live_v the_o king_n and_o his_o council_n will_v never_o have_v order_v a_o writ_n of_o inquiry_n about_o such_o a_o vain_a and_o idle_a pretence_n from_o all_o which_o i_o think_v it_o may_v safe_o be_v conclude_v that_o this_o learned_a antiquary_n abovementioned_a i_o mean_v mr._n lambard_n do_v not_o without_o good_a authority_n believe_v that_o not_o only_o the_o great_a lord_n or_o peer_n but_o also_o the_o inferior_a nobility_n and_o representative_n of_o city_n and_o town_n be_v include_v under_o the_o word_n witan_n and_o likewise_o that_o those_o place_n claim_v that_o privilege_n by_o prescription_n i_o shall_v therefore_o desire_v the_o doctor_n that_o when_o he_o write_v next_o upon_o this_o subject_a he_o will_v please_v to_o crave_v in_o aid_n some_o gentleman_n of_o the_o long_a robe_n of_o his_o opinion_n to_o help_v he_o to_o answer_v this_o argument_n of_o mr._n lambard_n from_o general_a prescription_n as_o also_o what_o have_v be_v already_o say_v concern_v this_o matter_n in_o the_o same_o dialogue_n of_o bibliotheca_fw-la politica_fw-la abovementioned_a begin_v at_o pag._n 483_o and_o end_v at_o pag._n 593_o inclusive_o and_o if_o he_o can_v then_o with_o his_o assistance_n prove_v all_o our_o ancient_a lawyer_n to_o have_v be_v mistake_v in_o this_o memorable_a point_n i_o shall_v own_v myself_o to_o have_v be_v so_o too_o but_o i_o desire_v this_o may_v be_v take_v notice_n of_o that_o no_o prescription_n whatsoever_o in_o law_n can_v be_v lay_v of_o late_a date_n than_o the_o first_o year_n of_o king_n richard_n the_o first_o which_o begin_v almost_o fourscore_o year_n before_o the_o 49_o the_o of_o hen._n 3._o when_o he_o fancy_v the_o commons_o be_v first_o summon_v to_o parliament_n but_o that_o i_o may_v be_v as_o brief_a as_o i_o can_v i_o shall_v reduce_v what_o i_o have_v further_o to_o say_v upon_o this_o head_n to_o a_o few_o query_n as_o first_o whether_o in_o all_o the_o kingdom_n of_o europe_n of_o the_o gothic_a model_n begin_v with_o sweden_n and_o denmark_n and_o end_v with_o scotland_n there_o can_v