herein they haue the same iurisdiction that the Iustices of the Common place doe execute in the Hall at Westminster Also they may heare and determine all assizes vpon disseisons of lands or hereditaments wherein they equall the Iurisdiction of the Iustices of affize They may heare and determine all notable violences and outrages perpetrated or done within their seuerall Precyncts and therein they haue the power authority and iurisdiction of the Iustices of Oyer and Terminer Their Chauncery Seale and Writs FOrasmuch as no suit can commence between party and party nor orderly iustice can bee done without complaint of the Pursuant and summons and monition giuen vnto the defendant which summons the policy of England from the beginning of the first foundation of this Common-wealth hath appointed to be performed by that kinde of formulae Iuris which the common law calleth a Writ or Briefe so called as Bracton saith Breue quia rem quae est et intentioneÌ„ petent is breuiter â—narrat and which Writ is alwaies conceiued in forme in the Kings name in manner of a Precept royall and sealed with the Kings great Seale Therefore in the appointing of this iurisdiction there is ordained to euery Circuit or Precynct a seuerall Seale for the sealing of such Writs and Commissions as the case shall require within that Circuit And forasmuch as all Writs are either originall such as doe begin the Sute or else Iudiciall such as command and warrant the execution therefore it is by the said Statute made in 34. h. 8. ordained that the Seale seruing for Originall Proces in the seuerall Shires of Denbigh and Montgomery should be in the custody of the Chamberlaine of Denbigh and that the Originall Seale of Chester shall be and stand for the Originall Seale of Flint and shall be in the custody of the Chamberlaine of Chester The like Seale seruing for the seuerall Shires of Carnaruon Merioneth and Anglesey to be in the custody of the Chamberlaine of North-Wales The like Seale concerning the seuerall Shires of Radnor Brecknock and Glamorgan is committed to the custody of the Steward of Brecknock And finally the like Seale seruing the seuerall Shires of Carmarden Pembrooke and Cardigan is in the vsage of the Chamberlaine of South-Wales These Chamberlaines are as Chancellors in this behalfe and haue the sealing of all Originall Writs and Commissions within their seuerall Precyncts and these Chamberlaines may also award out seuerall Writs to all vnder-Receiuers of the reuenues and ministers to make their accounts The Seale for the sealing of Iudiciall Writs is appointed by the said Statute of 34. h. 8. to be and remaine by the Iustices of euery of the said Circuits for the more expedite execution of their iudgements Their Sessions and manner of Sittings EVery of these Iustices in their seuerall Circuits shall be Itinerant twice euery yeere and sit in euery of the Shires within their authority by the space of sixe dayes together at a place certaine by them to be appointed and vpon proclamation of summons to be made fifteen daies before the said sittings where all persons requiring Iustice may purchase their Writs and proceed in their suits And where adiournements of the Causes there depending shall be de die in diem and if the Cause can haue no end during the sitting then from Sessions to Sessions as the nature of the businesse shall require and according to the discretion of the said Iustices and these sittings are called the great Session And if there shall be such multitude of pleas personall as that they cannot be tried at the same great Sessions then the issues there in tryall shall and may be tried at some other Sessions before the Deputy Iustice which is therefore called the petty Sessions And if any erronious Iudgement be giuen by the said Iustices in any reall action the same shall be reuersed by Writ of error before the Iustices of the Kings Bench. And if the said erronious iudgement shall be in any action personall the same shall be reuersed by Bill before the Lord President of the Marches and Councell there Officers Ministers Clarkes and Writers for the expediting of the said great Sessions FIrst there are the Chamberlaines of euery of the said Circuits as hath beene said who are properly and originally the Treasurers of the reuenue within their charge and by the said Statutes are also keepers of the Seales as aforesaid wherein they doe vndertake in part the office of a Chauncellor And in euery of the said Circuits there is the Atturney or Regius aduocatus and Sollicitor There is a Prothonotary or chiefe Register who draweth all the pleadings entreth and ingrosseth the Records and Iudgements in ciuill causes and ingrossing Fynes And there is also a Clarke of the Crowne which draweth and ingrosseth all Inditements and Proceedings Arraignements and Iudgements in Criminall causes And these two Officers are at your Maiesties appointment There is a Marshall to attend the persons of the Iudges at their common sitting and going from the Sessions or Court There is a Cryer tanquam publicus preco to call forth such persons whose apparances are necessary and to impose silence to the people And these two Officers last remembred are disposed by the Iustices And thus much touching the Iustices of the great Sessions There are also other ordinary officers appointed for euery shire in Wales by the said Statute of 34. h. 8. such and in like manner as in other the Shires of England There is a Commission vnder the great Scale of England to certaine Gentlemen giuing them power to preserue the peace and to resist and punish all turbulent persons whose misdemeanour may tend to the disquiet of the people and these are called the Iustices of Peace and euery of them may well be termed Eirenarcha The chiefe of them is called Custos Rotulorum in whose custody all the Records of their proceedings are resident Others there are of that number called Iustices of the Peace and quorum because in their Commissions whereby they haue power to sit and determine Causes concerning breach of peace and misbehauiour the words of their Commission are conceined this quorum such and such vnum vel duos c. esse volumus and without some one or more of them of the quorum No Sessions can be holden and for the auoyding of a superfluous number of such Iustices for through the ambition of many it is counted a credit to be burthened with that authority The Statute of 34. h. 8. hath expresly prohibited that there shall be but eight Iustices of peace within euery of the Counties and Shires of Wales which if the number were not indefinite for the Shires of England it were the better These Iustices doe hold their Sessions quarterly And it is further ordained by the said Statute of 34. h. 8. that two Iustices of peace where of one to be of the quorum may hold their Sessions without
any greater number In euery of the said Shires where the said Commission of the Peace is established There is also a Clarke of the Peace for the entring and ingrossing of all proceedings before the said Iustices and this Officer is appointed by the Custos Rotulorum Euery of the said Shires hath his Sheriffe which word being of the Saxon English is as much to say as a Sbire Reeue or minister or Bayliffe of the Countie his Function or Office is two fold Ministeriall or Iudiciall As touching his Ministeriall office he is the Minister and executioner of all the proces and precepts of the Courts of Law and thereof ought to make return or certificate And as touching his Iudiciall office he hath authority to hold two seuerall Courts of distinct natures the one called the Tourne because he keepeth a Tourne or Circuit about his shire holding the same in seuerall places wherein he doth inquire of all offences perpetrated against the Common Law and not forbidden by any Statute or Act of Parliament And the Iurisdiction of this Court is deriued from Iustice distributiue and is for criminall offences The other is called the County Court where he doth determine all petty and small causes Ciuill vnder the value of forty shillings arising within the said County and thereof it is called the Countie Court And the iutisdiction of this Court is drawne from Iustice Commutatiue and is held euery moneth The office of the Sheriffe is Annuall and by the Statute of 34. h. 8. it is ordained that the Lord President Councell and Iustices of Wales or three of them at the least where of the President to be one shall yeerely nominate three fit persons for that office of whom the Kings Maiestie may elect and chose one who thereupon shall haue his Patent and be Sheriffe of the said shire Euery of the said Shires hath an Officer called an Escheator which is an officer to attend the Kings reuenue and to seaze into his Maiesties hands all lands either escheated goods or lands for seited and therefore he is called Escheator and he is to enquire by good enquest of the death of the Kings Tenants and to whom their lands are descended and to seaze their bodies and lands for ward if they be within age and is accountable for the same And this Officer in Wales is named by the Lord Treasurer of England by the aduice of the Lord President Councell and Iustices or three of them at the least whereof the Lord President to be one There are also in euery of the said shires two Officers called Coroners they are to enquire by inquest in what manner and by whom euery person dying of a violent death came to his death and to enter the same of Record which is matter criminall and a plea of the Crowne and thereof they are called Coroners or Crowners as one hath written because their enquiries ought to be publique in corona populi These Officers are chosen by the Free-holders of the Shire by vertue of a Writ out of the Chauncery de Coronatore eligendo and of them I need not to speake more because these Officers are elsewhere Forasmuch as euery shire is diuided into hundreds there are also by the said Statute of 34. h. 8. cap. 26. ordained that two sufficient Gentlemen or Yeomen shall be appointed Constables of euery hundred Also there is in euery Shire one Goale or Prison appointed for the restraint of liberty of such persons as for their offences are therunto committed vntill they shall be deliuered by course of law Finally in euery hundred of euery of the said shires the Sheriffes thereof shall nominate sufficient persons to be Bayliffes of that hundred and Vnderministers of the Sheriffe and they are to attend vpon the Iustices in euery of their Courts and Sessions The Gouernment of the Marches of VVales after the Statutes of an 27. 34. H. 8. BY the said Statute of 34. H. 8. ca. 26. it is further ordayned that the President and Councell in the said Dominion and Principality of Wales and the Marches of the same with all Officers Clarks and incidents thereunto should continue and remaine in manner and forme as was then formerly vsed and accustomed And therefore the said Rowland Lee spoken of before being Lord President of the Councell of the Marches of Wales at the time of the making of the said Statute so continued after the making thereof vntill his death being in the foure and thirtieth yeere of the said King Henry the eight After whom succeeded in the office of the said President Richard Samson Bishop first of Chester and after remoued to Couentry and Litchfield who continued Lord President vntill the second yeere of King Edward the sixt at what time Iohn Dâ—dley then Earle of Warwick and after Duke of Northumberland was President of the said Councell who so continued vntill the fourth yeere of the said King And after him succeeded Sir William Herbert Knight of the noble Order of the Garter and after Earle of Pembrooke who continued President vntill the first yeere of Queene Mary Next succeeded Nicholas Heath then Bishop of Worcester and after Archbishop of Yorke and Lord Chancellor of England And vpon the remouing of the said Archbishop the said Sir William Herbert againe succeded as President of the said Councell vntill the sixt yeere of the said Queene Mary at what time followed him Gilbert Browne Bishop of Bath and VVels who so continued vntill the death of the same Queene In the beginning of the reigne of the late Queene Elizabeth Sir Iohn VVilliams Lord VVilliams of Tame of whom the Lord Norris is descended was appointed President of the said Councell and died the same yeere And after him succeeded Sir Henry Sidney Knight of the noble Order of the Garter whose loue to learning fauour to learned men need not here to be spoken he continued Lord President of Wales about foure and twenty yeeres and six moneths he serued in Ireland eight yeeres and six months being there three seuerall times Lord Deputy generall in that Country During some part of the time of the aboade in Ireland of the said Sir Henry Sidney there serued in Ireland as President or Vice-President Iohn Bishop of VVorcester and now Lord Archbishop of Canterbury After this succeeded Henry Earle of Pembrooke sonne in law to the said Sir Henry Sidney and father to the right honorable the Earle of Pembrooke that now is And after him Edward Lord Zouch now present Lord President of that Councell The President and Councell of the Marches of Wales haue power and authority to heare and determine by their wisdomes and discretions such causes and matters as bee or shall bee assigned to them by the Kings Maiesty and in such manner as shall be so prescribed vnto them by instruction signed with his hand The Councell assisting the Lord Prince consisteth of these the chiefe Iustice of Chester together
may be requisite first a perfect and speciall suruey of all the said reuenues after which it may stand with your Maiesties gratious pleasure either to supply the same by Act of Parliament as did King Edward the Third or else to direct the same so as to your Princely wisedome shall be thought most conuenient This Treatise I haue accomplished with as much perspicuity and breuity as my slender ability could afford to giue vnto it For as touching perspicuity this argument intreated of is such as it refuseth all ornament and good composition as a knotty Timber that reiecteth the plaine And I may say thereof truely as in the like case the Poet affirmeth Vix est contenta doceri Some presidents found of Record concerning the forme and disposition of the said reuenues with sundry other particularities I haue purposely omitted fearing lest this Treatise be growne already too tedious and yet the same are carefully reserued neuerthelesse vntill time doe minister occasion to make further vse of them Which my trauell with all dutie and loyaltie I lay downe at your Maiesties feete crauing pardon for my presumption and manifold imperfections appearing therein for omnia habere in memoria in nullo errare diuinum est potius quam humanum as writeth Bracton an auntient Iudge of this Realme who liued three hundred yeeres agoe The Lord blesse your Maiestie with all his blessings both spirituall and temporall and who hath giuen you this particular blessing that your Maiestie may truely say with King Dauid Thou hast deliuered me from the contentions of my people Thou hast preserued mee to be the head ouer nations the people which I knew not doe serue mee And the Lord further grant that you and your Royall issue may gouerne vs and our posterity in peace and happinesse vnto the worlds end FINIS Suetonius Lampridus Tacuus Wales what part of the Island of Albion Hum. Lloyd apud Ortâ—lium in Thesaur Geographico Et idem Hum. Lloyd in frag mento Britanniae descriptioue â—ol miâ—i â—O Rilsanus Duflius in Dictionario suo Teutonico-Latino in verbo Walliae Saissons or Saxons Wales anciently no parcell of the Realme of England 10. b 4. 6. b. 19. b. 6. 12. a. â—2 b. 6. 25. b. 36. b. 6. 33. b. Com. Plow 129. b. 2 6 b. Vid. Cambd. in com Radnor expolicratico Ioâ—â—nis Barisburiensis 10. b. 4. 6 b. Com. Plowd 126. b. 129. b. Les auncient tenures fol 116. Com. Plow 12â— b. Edw. 1. tooke vpon him the name of Prince of Wales Record Tuâ—â—is London 29. H. 3. Polydor Virgil lib. 16. fol. miâ—i 311. Doctor Powel in the Welsh Chro. fo 311. Matth. Paris aâ—â—o 1257. so miâ—i 914. Patent 51. â— 3 Paâ—â—prima Wales suâ—â—â—ed by K. Edw. 1. The Shires made by E. 1. were these Statum Waliae 12 Ed. the first The Chronicle of Wales compiled parâ—ly by H. Lloyd and partly by Doctor Powel page 376. Cronica Angliae â—mnia huiuâ— temporis Edward the black Prince Prince of Wales Ex chartacreationis in parliamentâ— a. 15. â— â— The manner of the inucsture of the Prince Garter King at armes hath the manner and order of this creation and inuesture painted Ex charta regia data 4 Marâ—â—j a. 17. Ed. 3. Termino Michaelis a. 16 E. 3. Rot 6. exparte remen â—ratoris Thesaury in curia Scaccariâ— This Rice ap Meredick rebelled against K. Edw. 1. after his Conquest of Wales as appeareth in the Chronicles of that time Voydance of Bishoprickes Customes and prices of wines Executions of iustice and a Chancery Forrests Chases Parkes Wariens Vid. 4. et 5. P. et M. 159 nu 34. Vid. Com. 217. a. 1. Eliz. 165. a. nu 1. Dier 14. h. 4. Libre prime digestorum Iuris Civilis tituulo de legibus lege 19. Ex charta regui data 20. Septem irrotulata in memorandis Scij a. 36. e. 3. termino Michaelis Rot. 14. The Cronicks of England of this time Rich. of Burdeaux sonne of the Black Prince created Prince of Wales after the death of his father Charta Regia dâ—â—a 20. Nou. An. 50. Ed. 3. Ex Rotule Chartarum de deanno 1. regni regis b. 4. Alta Charta eodem Anno. Carta Regia 15. Marty 32. heâ— 6. Edward sonne and heire apparant of King Hen. the Sixt Prince of Wales His Creation 33. h. 6. The King to haue the reucnues till the Prince accomplish the age of fourteene yeeres Ex Charta Regia dot In Scaccario penes Rememâ—r Thesaurar remanente In Chartes pat 35 b 6 pars 2. â— 11. E. 4 pars 1. membr 1. pat 13. E. 4. pars 2. Ed. 4. vpon his returne into England tooke an oath at York that he would not claime the Kingdome but only the Dutchy of York Inter warra ad magnum sigillum in Cancellaria Ex charta de concess de â—ryg c. 9. h. 7. Inter warr ad magnum sigillum in cancellaria A Councell assigned the said Prince Charta creationis Priâ—â— Waliae 10. h. 7. Com. ministre ducat cornw 30. 31. b. 8. inter recordeur augment Doctor Pow. in Chronic. Wall Statum Walliae fol. 53. 2 E. 4 12 a. Geraldus Camb. 23. 24. E. I. Roâ— 51. Hill 7. E. apud 〈…〉 r. Sca 〈…〉 rij The Chamberlaines accompts 3. E 3. 19. iâ— le nouel print 63. a. 7. H 35. b. Chamberlains accompts Ministers accompts 18. H. â— Ministers accompeâ— 16 E. 4 Chamberlains accompts 19. H. 6. 12. b. 21. H. 7. 33. a. The Marches of Wales Another policy The originall of the Baro niâ—s Maâ—â—â—â—â—â—s 1â— E 2. Fitz. â—ssâ—â— 182. 13. E. â— Fitzâ—a Iurisdiction 23. 47. E. 3. 5. 67. 6. h. â— Fitzâ—a â—urisdiction 34. 7. â— 635. 36. â— 30. â—6 6. â— â—ohn Bishop of Worcester first President of the Marches of Wales Doctor Powell in Câ—â—on Walliâ— p. 389. Stat. 27 h. 8. cap. 26. Statutum de 24. h. 8. cap. 26. Stat. 27. h. 8. cap. 26. Stat. 27. h. 8. cap. 26. Stat. 27. h. 8. cap. 26. Circuits 34. h. 8. cap. 26. Stat. Iustice Stat. 18. Eliz. cap. 8. Stat. 34. h. 8. cap. 2. 4. Stat. 18. Eliz. cap. 8. Criminall Causes Ciuill Causes Common pleas Iustices of afâ—ise Writs either Iudiciall or Originall The great Sessions Adiournements 34. â— 8. cap. 26. â— 33. Prothonatory Clarke of the Crowne At the Kings appointment The Marshall Cryer The Clarke of the Peace The Sheriffe 34. h. 8. cap. 16. The County Court deriued from Iustice Commutatiue Escheator 34. h. 8. cap. 16. Coroners 34. h. 8. cap. 26. Skeene in verborum significationem Iuris Scotiae These are in Scotland Constables of the hundred The Goale The Iurisdiction of the Councell of the Marches of Wales Statum 34. H. â— ca. 26. Iustice of Northwales Chamberlaine Auditor Comptroler Atturney Surueyor Constable Captaine Souldiers Porter Constable Captaine Souldiers Porter Constable Souldiers Constable Captaine Souldiers Porter Forrester Steward Marshall Exchequer Iustice Auditor Attorney Constable Sheriffe Steward Clarke Crier Steward Penkeys Steward Clarke Bailiffe Baliffe Constable Sheirffe Clarke Cryer Clerke Steward Clerke Clerke Bayliffe Bayliffe Captaine Escheator Clerke Exchequer The Councell Gouernour Chamberlaine 21 E. 3 pat part 2. Hollinshead The Attourney 11 E. 4 â—at pars 1. The Clarke The Vsher The Vsher of the Princes Chamber Carnaruonshire Anglesey-shire Merioneth-shire Cardigan-shire Carmarden shiâ—e The County of Carnaruon The County of Anglesey The County of 〈…〉 The County of Cardigan The County of Carmarden Statut. de a. 33. b. 6. In originale de a. 35. b. 6. rot 29 ea parte Rememor Thesaur in Scaccar Charâ—a data 4. Septem 11. E. 3. 1. Mar Diar 94 b. 32. Parliament 9. b. 5. Carta dat 10. Iuly â—6 E. â— Carta dat 17. Martij 11. E. 3. Carta dat 18. Martij 11. E. 3. Carta dat 3. â—â—â—â— 11 â— 3. The Coynage of Tynne Casaneus in Catalâ—go gloriae mundi par â— consider 24. numero 121. Ex compoto Iohannis Arundel militis receptoris generalis Ducatis Cornubiâ— 15 H. 8. Officers of the Dutchy These summes ought n 〈…〉 e to be charged vpon the reuenue of the Dutchy for that these Castles belong to the Crown
to serue the present case then vse they the writ of Quod ei deforciat which supplieth that defect And although the Principality of Wales as hath appeared by some of the records aboue mentioned were diuided into three Prouinces Northwales Southwales and Westwales for so in some of the former patents they are mentioned yet for the Iurisdiction thereof it was diuided into two parts Northwales and Southwales for a great part of Westwales was comprehended within the Shire of Pembrooke which is a very ancient Shire of Wales and the Territory thereof conquered by the English in the time of William Rufus Long time before the generall conquest of Wales by Richard Strangbow being English and the Earle thereof and called also by some Earle of Strigulia or Chepstow was the first that attempted the conquest of Ireland in the dayes of Henry the second which was aboue an hundred yeeres before the conquest of Wales by King Edward the first This Earledome of Pembrooke had in ancient time palatine Iurisdiction and therefore in some records is called regalis comitatus Pembrochiae The Prouinces of Northwales and Southwales were gouerned for Law in this manner The Prince had and vsed to hold a Chancery and a Court of Exchequer in the Castle of Carnarvon for Northwales and had a Iudge or Iustice which ministred Iustice there to all the Inhabitants of Northwales and therefore was called the Iustice of Northwales The like Courts of Chancery and Exchequer he held in the Castle of Carmarthen for Southwales where he had a Iustice also called the Iustice of Southwales and the Courts of their Iustices or Iudges so held within their seuerall Prouinces were called the great Sessions of those Prouinces and sometimes these Iustices were itinerant and sate in euery of the seuerall Counties of his Prouince in these great Sessions the causes of greatest moment reall personall and mixt and pleas of the Crowne concerning life and members were heard and determined In these great Courts also vpon creation of euery new Prince there were granted by the people of that Prouince vnto the Prince nomine recognitionis ad primum adventum principis certaine summes of money as it were in acknowledgement or reliefe of the new Prince which summes of money are called by them Mises These Mises or summes of money were granted by the people vnto the Prince for his allowance of their Lawes and ancient Customes and a generall pardon of their offences fineable or punishable by the Prince and that summe of these Mises for the Shire of Carmerthen only amounted vnto eight hundred markes and for the Shire of Cardigan the totall summe of these Mises amounted vnto sixe hundred markes as by sundry records doth appeare these summes of mony were paid at certaine daies by seuerall portions such as were appointed and in the said Sessions agreed vpon Also in â—uâ—ry Shire of euâ—ry of the said Prouinces there were holden certaine inferior Courts called therefore County Courts and Shire Courts and Tournes after the manner of England and which by some were also the petty Sessions And there were also Courts inferior in sundry Counties for ending of causes of lesse moment and importance and if any wrong iudgement were giuen in any of these Courts inferior the same was redressed by a writ of false iudgement in the Court superior And if any â—rronious iudgement were giuen in the great Sessions which was the supreme Court of Iustice that error was either redressed by the iudgement of penall Iustices itinerant or else in the Parliament and not otherwise in any the Courts of Iustice now at Westminster As touching the gouernment of the Marches of Wales it appeareth by diuers ancient monuments that the Conqueror after hee had conquered the English placed diuers of his Norman Nobility vpon the confines and borders towards Wales and erected the Earldome of Chester being vpon the borders of Northwales to Palatine and gaue power vnto the said persons thus placed vpon those borders to make such conquests vpon the Welsh as they by their strength could accomplish holding it a very good policy thereby not only to encourage them to be more willing to serue him but also to prouide for them at other mens costs And hereupon further ordained that the lands so conquered should be holden of the Crowne of England in capite and vpon this and such like occasions dâ—uers of the Nobility of England hauing lands vpon the said borders of Wales made roades and incursions vpon the Welsh whereby diuers parts of that Country neere or towards the said borders were wonne by the sword from the Welshmen and were planted partly with â—nglish Collonies and and the said lands so conquered were holden per Baronia and were called therefore Baronyes Marchers In such manner did Robert Fitzhamoâ— acquire vnto himselfe and such others as assisted him the whole Lordship of Glamorgan vsâ—â—g in some resemblance the Roman policy to enlarge Territories by stepping in betweene two competitors and by helping the one hee subdued the other and after â—urning his â—word against him whom he assisted and making this the pretence of his quarrel alleadge that he whom he had assisted had denied to make vnto him sufficient recompence for his susteined trauils and so made himselâ—e abso'ute owner of all likewise Barnard Newmarch conquâ—â—ed the Lordship of Brecknock containing three Cantreds and established his conquest by a mariage in the Welsh blood Hâ—gh Lacy conquered the lands of Ewyas called after his name Ewyas Lacy and others did the like in other places of the borders all which were Baronies Marchers and were holden by such the Conquerors thereof in capite of the Crowne of England and because they and their posterity might the better keepe the said Lands so acquired and that they might not bee withdrawne by suits of Law from the defence of that which they had thus subdued The said Lordships and Lands so conquered were ordained Baronies Marchers and â—ad a kinde of Palatine â—urisdiction erected in â—uâ—ry of them and power to administer Iustice vnto their Tenants in euery of their Territories hauing therein Courts with diuers priuiledges franchises and immunities so that the Writs of ordinary Iustice out of the Kings Courts were for the most part not currant amongst them Neuerthelesse if the whole Barony had come in question or that the strife had beene two Barons Marchers touching their Territories or confines thereof for want of a Superiour they had recourse vnto the King their supreame Lord and in these and such like cases where their owne Iurisdiction failed Iustice was vnministred vnto them in the Superiour Courts of this Realme And this was the state of the gouernement of the Marches of Wales both before and after the generall Conquest of Wales made by king Edward the First as hath beene declared vntill the seauen and twentieth yeere of King Henry the Eight And as touching the first
with three other of the said Iustices of Wales who after their Sessions ended are for the most part resident at the Councell and these are ordinary there are diuers extraordinaries both Lords and Knights and such others as are learned in the Lawes and are to be called to Councell when the Lord President shall thinke requisite and euery such of the Councell extraordinary learned in the Lawes when they are called and doe serue there they are allowed their diet for them and their men and sixe shillings eight pence per dum during the time of their Attendance The Officers there seruing to the administration of Iustice as I am informed are these The Clarke of the Counsell the Clarke of the Signet the Register all which were granted to one man by the late Queene Elizabeth and are executed by his deputy the Examiner the Remembrancer the Receiuer of the Fines the Attorney the Solicitor the Porter to whose custody such delinquents as deserue to suffer restraint of liberty are committed c. Two Messengers and a Serieant at Armes And thus much briefly touching the ancient and moderne estate and gouernment of the Principality of VVales and of the Marches of the same Next followeth to be considered according to the former order proposed the ancient and moderne officers of the sayd Principality seruing the Lord Prince and what fees and sallary were allowed vnto them The ancient Officers their names and fees collected out of diuers ancient Accompts were these following In Northwales THe Iustice of Northwales whose ancient fee was vncertain but yet for the most part yeerly his fee was 50. l. howbeit I finde that Sir William Stanley Knight to whom King Henry the seuenth gaue the office of Iustice of Nothwaâ—es for his life he had the yeerly fee of 133. l. 8. s. 8. d. a. â— H. 7. but this seemeth to haue beene of fauor 50. l. The Chamberlaine of Northwales whose ancient fee was yeerely 20. l. The Auditor of Northwales viz. Chester and Flint his ancient fee was 10. l. yeerly with allowance of 10. s. per diem while he was in executing this office and finishing the accompt 10. l. The Comptroller of all pleas fines amerciaments and redemptions or ransomes his yeerly fee was 12. l. 3. s. 4. d. The Atturney for Northwales viz. of the Counties of Carnarvon Merioneth and Anglesey his fee was yeerly 56. s. 8. d. The Supervisor or Surueyor of the Castles Manners Lands Tenements and Hereditaments of the Prince in Northwales his yeerly fee was 10. l. The Constable of the Castle of Carnarvon his fee was vncertaine sometimes 60. l. and sometimes but 40. l. The Captaine of the Towne of Carnarvon his fee was yeerly 12. l. 3. s. 4. d. and some times one man had both the offices of Constable of the Castle and Captaine of the Towne hauing 60. l. yeerly for both the offices 12. l. 3. s. 4. d. There were allowed sometime vnto the said Constable and Captaine 24. Souldiers for the safe custody of the Castle and Towne and euery of them was allowed 4. ds per diem amounting in the whole vnto 146. l. by the yeere 146. l. The Porter of the Gates of the said Towne of Carnarvon whose fee was yeerly 3. l. 10. d. The Constable of the Castle of Conway his fee was yeerly sometimes 40. l. and sometimes 50. l. The Captaine of the Towne of Conway had for his yeerly fee 12. l. 3. s. 4. d. and most commonly he that was Constable of the Castle was also Captaine of the Towne 12. l. 3. s. 4. d. There were also allowed to the said Constable and Captaine 24 souldiers for the safe custody of the said Towne and Castle and euery of them was allowed 4. d per diem amounting yeerly to 146. l. The Keeper and Porter of the Gates of Conway his fee was 4. d. per diem The Constable of the Castle of Hardlaigh in the County of Merioneth his fee yeerly was 26. l. 13. s. 4. d in some accompts he was allowed 50. l. which I thinke was for â—oth offices of Constable and Captaine 26. l. 13. s. 4. d. There were also allowed 24 souldiers for the guard of the said Towne and Castle of Hardâ—aigh their wages amounting yeerly to 146. l. The Constable of the Castle of Bewmarisse his yeerly fee was 40. l. The Captaine of the Towne of Bewmarisse his yeerely fee was 12. l. 3. s. 4. d. There were also 24. souldiers allowed for the guard of the said Towne and Castle of Bewmarisse euery of which were allowed 4. d. per diem amounting to 146. l. The Porter or Keeper of the Gate of Bewmarisse had for his fee 9. l. 2. s. 6. d. The chiefe Forrester of the Forrest of Snowdon his fee. 11. l. 8. s. The office of the Steward of the Townes of Newborough and Roffaire his fee was yeerly 10. l. The Marshall and Keeper of the Iustice house in the Towne of Carnarvon his yeerly fee was 26. s. 8. d. The Clarke of the great Sessions I finde not There was a Court of Exchequer of the Princes reuenewes for Northwales holden in the Castle of Carnarvon in which Court there were certaine fees allowed for expences of parchment paper bagges for money and for portage of mony and such other small charges which were variable according to the occasions and times Southwales THe Iustice of Southwales whose ancient fee was yeerly 20. l. at some times 40. l. The Auditor of Southwales his ancient fee was yeerly 40. l. but sometimes his fee was but 20. l. and 5. s. per diem whiles he exercised his office The Atturney of South wales who had yeerly for his fee 8. l. 13. s. 4. d. The Constable and Vsher of the Castle of Carmarthen whose yeerly fee was 20. l. The Sherife of the County of Carmarthen whose yeerly fee was 50. s. The Steward generall of the Comets of the County of Carmarthens fee 6. l. 13. s. 4. d. The Clarke of the County Courts and small Sessions in the County of Carmarthen his yeerly fee 40. s. The Cryer of the County Courts and small Sessions in the said County whose fee is yeerly 6. s. 8. d. The Steward of the Welsh Courts in the County of Carmarthen his fee 6. l. 13. s. 4. d. The office of the Penkeys in the Comets of Widegada and Elvet fee 4. s. The Steward of the VVelsh Courts of Widegada and Elvet his yeerly fee 3. l. 6. s. 8. d. The Clark of the VVelsh Courts of Widegada and Elvet whose yeerly fee 6. s. 8. d. The Bailiffe itinerant for Carmarthen whose yeerly fee was 5. l. The Bailiefe itenerant for Gantree whose yeerly fee was 6. l. 13. s. 4. d. The Constable of the Castle
of Cardigan whose ancient fee was yeerly 40. l. The Sherife of the County of Cardigan whose yeerly fee is 5. l. The Clarke of the County Courts Tâ—rnes and small Sessions of the County of Cardigan his yeerly fee was 40. s. The Cryer of the County Courts and small Sessions in the said County fee 6. s. 8. d. The Clarke of the Hundreds in Cardigan his fee was yeerly 6. s. 8. d. The Steward of the VVelsh Courts in the County of Cardigan his fee was 10. l. The Clarke for writing the rols in the VVelsh Courts his yeerly fee was in the County of Cardigan 6. s. 8. d. The Clarke for writing of the rols in the Comets of Isherwen his yeerly fee 6. s. 8. d. The Bailife itinerant of Cardigan his ancient fee was yeerly 5. l. The Bailife itinerant for Lampaderne his yeerly fee was 6. l. 13. s. 4 d. The Captaine of the Towne â—f Abeenstowith his yeerly fee was 18. l. 5. s. he was allowed twelue Archers for the custody of the said Towne and Castle The Escheator for the two Shires of Carmarthen and Cardigan his yeerly fee 10. l. The Clarke of the great Sessions for both the Counties of Carmarthen and Cardigan his yeerly fee was 5. l. There was a Court of Exchequer likewise for the reuenewes of the Prince of Southwales kept in the Castle of Carmarthen and yeerly allowances for the expences thereof as in the Prouince of Northwales By this it appeareth that the Prouince of Southwales chargeable to the Prince extended for the most part into the two Counties of Carmarthen and Cardigan the rest of Southwales as Munmoth and Glamorgan c. were in the hands of others as before hath appeared The reason of the difference of the officers that were in Southwales from those that were in Northwales was for that Northwales was diuided in Counties and framed into Shires and ordered according to the English Lawes by the Statute made at Ruthlane called Statutum Walliae often before mentioned made in the time of King Edward the first whereas Southwales neuerthelesse remained gouerned in some things according to the Welsh Lawes and customes euen vntill the said Statute made in an 27. H. 8. Thus much concerning the officers of both Prouinces of Northwales and Southwales The Prouince of Wales had also diuers and sundry officers about his person and of his houshold which were these that follow as they are collected out of Records where mention is made of them The Councell of the Prince consisting of diuers Honourable Worshipfull and Learned persons to councell for the leasing and good disposing of his reuenues The Gouernour of the Princes person to whom the education and institution of the yong Prince was committed Such was the Lord Riuers vnto Prince Edward I 〈…〉 to King Edward the Fourth wherein also the Queene Mother vnto the Prince had a speciall interest for few things were done concerning the Prince without her priuity and advice The Chamberlaine to the Prince it appeareth that Richard â—e 〈…〉 B 〈…〉 e was Chamberlaine to the blacke Prince sonne and heire to King Edward the Third And Sir Thomas Poole was chiefe Chamberlaine to Prince Arthâ—re so was Thomas V 〈…〉 to Prince Edward sonne to King Edward the Fourth The Attourney generall to the Prince William Ruddall was sometimes Attourney to the Prince The Clarke of the Princes Councell or Secretary and the keeper of his Bookes Writings and Records his fee was 10. l. per annum and his dy 〈…〉 one Thomas Tamworth had this office The Vsher of the Councell Chamber of the Prince his fee was 10. l. per annum and his charges for attendance of the Councell there one Thomas 〈◊〉 sometimes and this office The Gentleman Vsher of the Princes priuie Chamber Sir Thomas Wroth had this office to Prince Edward in the life of King H. 8. and yet was that Prince neuer created Prince of Wales The keeper of the Princes Wardrobe who sometimes was one Giles Danies and had a Patent there of with a fee of 5. l. 10. s. yeerely These Officers that follow are principally necessary besides many other Officers inferiour left out and â—â— doubt did serue the Princes of this Realme although no mention of them of Record The Treasurer or Receiuer generall of the Prince of all his Reuenues which appeareth in this that he had his generall Exchequer at Westminster The Princes chiefe Secretary The Master of the Princes Horses vnder whom are his Equiryes and those that teach him to ride The School masters of the Prince as namely those that teach him The Arts and Philosophy The Tongues as the French Italian Spanish c. The principles of the Lawes of the Realme and of the ciuill and Ecclesiasticall lawes A note of the Officers both moderne and present of the locall Principality of Wales which Officers are allowed fees and other charges going out of the said Principality as doth appeare by diuers accounts before the Auditors the last yeere viz. the 44. yeere of Elizabeth THe Chamberlaine of North-Wales in the Counties of Carnaruon Anglesey and Merioneth his yeerely fee is 20. l. The Constable of the Castle of Carnaruon his yeerely fee is 60. l. 10. d. The P 〈…〉 â—f 〈…〉 of C 〈…〉 3. l. 10. d. The Porter of the Towne of Conway 6. l. 1. s. 8. d. The Constable of the Towne of Conway 1â— l. 6. s. 8. d. The said two Iustices are allowed yeerely white they are in Circuit in the time of the great Sessions 6. l. The two Iustices for the Counties of Carnaruon Anglesey â—â—d Merioneth each of them â—aâ—ing for his yeerely fee â—â— l. amounting in the whole to the summe of 100. l. The Attourney in the three Counties aforesaid is allowed for his yeerely fee 6. l. 6. s. 8. d. The chiefe Forrester of Snowdon his fee â—1 l. 8. s. 1. d. The 〈…〉 er of the Pleas Fines and Redemptions before the Iustices of North-Wales his yeerely fee was 12. l. 3. s. 4. d. The Fee of the Marshall and keeper of the Shâ—rehouse in the Counties of Carnaruon Anglesey and Merioneth 2. l. 6. s. 8. d. The Protonotary and Clarke of the great Sessions is allowed for a Reward for his labour in ingrossing of the estreats of the Sessions holden in the said three Counties 3. l. 6. s. 8. d. The Barons of the Exchequer of Carnaruon 13. l. 6. s. 8. d. For their attendance at Carnaruon yeerely 40. s. Towards the expences allowed the Clarke of the Exchequer attending the great â—â—ssioâ—â— in the said Counties of Anglesey and Merioneth for writing of the Originall Writs of euery Sessions 10. s. For the expences of Parchment Paper Inke and other necessaries spent in the office of the Clarke of the Crowne 26. s. 8. d. The Cryer whose yeerely fee is 13. s. 4. d. For expences of Paper
Parchment Inke and other necessaries spent in the Exquerer at Carnaruon and for bags to put money in 1. l. 10. s. For expence of Bayliffes Itinerant bringing the Writs for collecting of the money by the Receiuers 1â— s. Summa totalis of Carnaruon is 303. l 19. d The Constable of the Castle of Bewmarris and Captaine of the Towne whose yeerely fee was 26. l. 13. s. 4. d. The Steward of Mâ—ney whose fee was yeerely 5. l. The Steward of Rossaire whose fee was yeerely 20. s. Summa totalis Anglesey 32. l. 13. s. 4. d The Constable of the Castle of Hardleigh whose fee is yeerely 50. l. The Auditors whose yeerely fees are 61. l. 18. s. 4. d. And for their charges they are allowed 90. l. The Receiuer whose yeerely fee and allowance for portage of money 30. l. 1â— s. 6. d. The Surueyoâ— whose-yeerely fee is 20. l. The Woodward whose yeerely fee is 10. l. Summa totalis for Merioneth 262. l. 16. â— 10. d. The totall summe for North-Wales 599. l. 8. â— 5. South-Wales The Protonotary and Clarke of the Crowne in the Counties of Cardigan Carmarden Pembrooke and the Towne of Hauerford-west whose fee is 40. s. The 〈…〉 in the Counties of 〈…〉 Cardigan Pembrooke Brecknock and Radnor whose yeerely â—eeis â— l. 13. s. 4. d. The Stewards of the Welsh Courts whose yeerely fee is 6. l. The Sheriffe of Cardigan whose fee is 5. l. Summa totalis of Cardigan 21. l. 13. s. 4d The Chamberlaine and Chancellor of Carmarden whose yeerely fee is 35. l. 11. s. 8. d. The Cryer of the great Sessions holden in the Counties of Carmarden Cardigan and Pembrooke whose fee is 6. s. 8. d. The Constable of the Castle of Carmarden whose yeerely fee is 20. l. The Steward of the Welsh Courts of the Countie of Carmarden whose fee is 10. l. The Iustices of the Counties of Carmarden and Cardigan their yeerely fee is to each of them 50. l. and they are allowed for their dyet in the times of their great Sessions 40. l. There is paid yeerely to the Protonotary and Clarkes of the Crowne for their trauell in making and ingrossing the estreats of the great Sessions 5. l. Summa total is Carmarden 215. l. 19. s. 8. d. The present reuenue of the Principality of Wales as the same was in charge before the Auditors this last yeere past viz. 44 Elizabeth The Farme and yeerely rents certaine of the Mannors Lands and Tenements in the Countie of Carnaruon amounteth vnto 423. l. 3. s. 4. d. ob q. The casuall profits thereof 76. l. 19. s. 9. d. ob Summa totalis is 500. l. 3. s. q. The Farme and yeerely rents certaine of the Mannors Lands and Tenements in the County of Anglesey 398. l. 19. s. 11. d. q. The casuall profits thereof 26. l. 10. s. 10. d. Summa totalis is 425. l. 10. s. 9. d. q. The Farme and yeerely rent certaine of the Manners Lands and Tenements in the Countie of Merioneth 202. l. 9. s. ob q. The casuall profits 60. l. 16. s. 10. d. Summa totalis is 263. l. 5. s. 10. d. ob q Summa totalis of North-Wales yeerely amounteth vnto 1138. l. 19. s. 8. d. q. South-VVales The Farme and rents certaine of the County of Cardigan amounted to 213. l. 2. s. 2. d. The casuall profits thereof 86. l 9. s. 2. d. Summa totalis is 299. l. 11. s. 4. d. The Farme and rents certaine of the County of Carmarden amounted to 185. l. 6. s. 3. d. ob The casuall profits 180. l 11. s. 7. d. Summa totalis is 376. l. 17. s. 10. d. ob The summe totall of South-Wales 676. l. 9. s. 2. d. ob The yeerely summe totall being cast vp together amounteth vnto 1865. l. 8. s. 10 d. ob q The charges aboue specified and other issuing all manner of waies out of the same reuenues amount to 530. l. 6. s. 7. d. Which being deducted out of the former totall summe of 1865. l. 8. s. 10 d. ob q. there doth rest cleere the yeerely summe of 1335. l. 2. s. 3. d. ob q. Whereby may be obserued that the reuenue of the Principalitie of Wales in the time of Prince Edward called the blacke Prince almost three hund'ed yeeres agoe without deductions amounted to 4681. l. 12. s. 5. d. q. is now worne and wasted to the summe of 1865. l. 8. s. 10 d. ob q. and with the ordinary deductions and Reprizes taken out of it at this present in charges fees to officers and other reprizers is brought to the summe of 1335 l. 2. s. 3. d. ob q. Which smal sum also as the reuenue was to Queen Elizabeth was much lessened for that a greater summe in the whole amounting yeerely to 1789. l. 3. s. 2. d. which did partly arise by reason of the allowance of the dyet of the Councell of the Marches being yeerely 1106. l. 13. s. 4. d. The fees of the Barons of the Exchequer in Wales being officers of the Principalitie of Wales the Auditors fees Woodwards fees Receiuers fees Surueyors fees and for the portage of money was charged as well vpon this reuenue of the Prince as vpon other lands and reuenues belonging to the Crowne within the seuerall Counties of Wales And so much of the Principality of Wales THE SECOND PART CONTAINETH THE DVTCHY OF CORNEWALL The second part of this reuenue appertaining to the Prince is that which ariseth vnto him out of the Dutchie of Cornewall and belongeth vnto him as Duke of Cornewall THe vttermost part of this Island towards the West stretching it selfe by a long extent into the Ocean is called the County of Cornewall lying ouer against the Dutchie of Britaine in France The people inhabiting the same are called Cornishmen and are also reputed a remnant of the Britaines the ancient Inhabitants of this land they haue a particular language called Cornish although now much worne out of vse differing but little from the Welsh and the language of the Britaine 's in France which argueth their originall to haue beene out of one Nation This Territorie was anciently reputed a Dukedome but a little before and also after the Norman Conquest it was an Earledome and so continued vntill the eleuenth yeere of King Edward the Third at which time it was of new constituted a Dutchie and the first Dutchie that was erected in England after the said conquest Such as were Earles thereof in ancient time before the erection of the said Dutchie were for the most part of the bloud Royall amongst whom many being memorable there was as most ancient Richard Earle of Cornewall the elect Emperour or King of the Romanes brother to King Henry the Third but his posterity dying without issue it came againe to the Crowne in the daies of King Edward the First who conferred the said Earledome vpon Edward the Prince his sonne sirnamed of Carnaruon who being King conferred the