goods as were before taken in execution and according to the former valuation by the Iury. And the Sherife hauing taken the body of the Conusor must keepe him safely vntill he hath satisfied the debt and damages or otherwise agreed for the same If the preisors of the lands or goods doe ouer value them then they shall be deliuered to the Preisors and they shall be answerable to the Creditor as in case of a Statute Merchant The Sherife vpon an Extendi facias to haue execution vpon a Statute Staple doth extend the lands of the defendants and preiseth his goods and seiseth them into the Kings hands according to the Writ but before the deliuery thereof to the Conusee another writ of Praerog commeth to the Sherife out of the Eschequor for the King to leuy a debt for the King the Sherife must first leuy the Kings debt and to retorne that Extent into the Eschequor for the King by his Praerogatiue shal first haue execution of those lands and goods for that the property of the goods nor possession of the lands are not in the Conusee vntill they be deliuered to him by the Liberate Plus hic cap. 58. Also note that the King shall be preferred in all his suites and executions before any subiect scz if his suite bee commenced before the other hath iudgement Againe for the Kings debt by specialty not onely the body of the Debtor but also his lands and goods in his owne hands or in the hands of his heires assignes executors administrators or possessors are lyable hic cap. 10. Yea the heire in Tayle is chargeable And all obligations and specialties made to the King for any cause shall be of the force of a Statute Staple CHAP. 26. What lands shall bee extended or taken by the Sherife in execution vpon a Statute in case of a common person VPon a Statute Marchant or Staple all fee simple lands which the Conusor had at the time of the Statute acknowledged or at any time after are extendable into whose hands soeuer they shall come In a writ of Debt execution shall be of any land which the defendants had the day of the iudgement giuen Lands intayled are lyable onely duing the life of the Conusor But if he sells the lands then are they liable in the hands of his feoffee A Lease for life or yeares is extendable The wifes lands are extendable during the Couerâ—ure Lands in Ancient Demesne are extendable quaere tamen Copihold lands are not extendable A Rent may be deliuered in Execution But an Anuitie cannot be deliuered in Execution Nor any other thing which may not be granted or assigned ouer Lands come to the Kings hands can not bee extended and so all other the Kings lands are exempted from executions Reuersions and Remainders shall be extended eum acciderint If the Conusor be taken and dyeth in prison yet his lands and goods may be deliuered to the Conusee in execution If the Conusor escapeth out of prison yet his lands and goods may bee extended c. If the lands be in execution to another man or that another is in possession of the land by Discent the Sherife may not put them out of possession without a Scire facias And therefore in such cases the Sherife ought first to retorne such speciall matters vpon the writ de Extendi facias Vide hic retorn de Elegit Goods All the goods and leases for yeares which the Conusor or Debtor had the day of the Iudgement or at the time of the Statute or Recogn ' acknowledged shall be extended by some opinions But yet by the better opinion onely such goods as he had at the day of the execution awarded or sued Plus hic cap. 20. CHAP. 27. Execution vpon a Recognisance VPon a Recognisance the Sherfe is to extend the moytie of all the lands c. which the Conusor had at the time or day of the recognisance acknowledged or at any time after but this is after the Scire facias retorned by the Sherife and thereupon an Elegit awarded to the Sherife And this Extent of the moytie of the lands shall be made by the Sherife by meetes and bounds Also the moyty of the lands which the Sherife hereupon shall deliuer to the Conusee shall be to the Conusee vntill the debt be payd or leuyed at or by a reasonable rate out of the annual rent of the land Also the Sherife vpon a Recognisance is to extend all the goods and chattels of the Conusor except his plow cattell and implements of husbandry And this extent or valuing preising of the lands and goods of the Conusor vpon a recognisance must also be by an Inquisition or Iury of 12. men which the Sherife in such cases must charge to make enquiry according to the writ And if the preisors of the lands or goods scz the Iurors doe ouerualue them then they shall be deliuered to the Preisors and they shall be answerable to the Creditor for the debt as in case of a Statute Merchant CHAP. 28. Execution vpon an Elegit BY force of an Elegit the Sherife may take in Execution deliuer vnto the creditor the one half of all the Lands Tenements and Rents of the Conusor or Debtor at a reasonable extent and all his goods and chattels except his Plow cattell vntill the debt be leuyed vpon a reasonable price or rate scz so that the Conusee out of the goods and yerely rent of the lands may be satisfied his debt in some reasonable time And vpon the Elegit the Sherife may deliuer in execution the moyetie of all such houses lands tenements and rents as the debtor had at the time or day of the Iudgement giuen or at any time after And the execution shall bee made by the Sherife of the moyety of the lands by meets and bounds The Extent or valuation of the lands c. and the appreising of the goods ought to be by a Iury c. for the Sherife himselfe in these and the former cases of a Statute or Recognisance can not appreise the goods nor value and extend the lands neither may he deliuer any goods in execution vpon an Elegit Statute or Recognisance or extend any lands but such as are preised c. by a Iury. But vpon an Elegit if the Lands or Goods be ouerpreised the preisors or Iury are not chargeable nor shall haue the goods deliuered to them as in case of a Statute Note that in all cases where the Sherife is to extend value or preise any Lands or Tenements or any Goods the Sherife and the Iurors may lawfully goe together to the Lands c. to be extended or into the house or vpon the grounds where the goods be and there may value and preise them But the Sherife may not breake open the doores or gates to this purpose Coppihold lands shall not bee deliuered by the Sherife nor extended vpon an Elegit Nor lands in ancient Demesne shall not be
for lands Et nulla bona Or the Sherife may returne the Extent of goods and not lands He may return Mandaui balliuo libertatis c. Vpon an Elegit the sherife deliuered the lands in execution without making seuerance and vpon complaint thereof to the Court another Writ went to the Sherife to make Seuerance A Writ of Extent awarded in the time of one King and executed by inquisition but before the returne thereof the King dieth and after the Sherife returneth the Extent c. quaere if such returne be not without warrant Vpon the Elegit for that vpon the Inquisition it appeared that the Defendant had conueyed his land to another vpon condition c. and yet took the profits the Sherife thereupon returned That he and the Iurie were in doubt whither the land were extendable and prayed the aduise of the Court therein Note That vpon an Elegit against one that hath two Mannors the Sherife may deliuer the one Mannor to the Plaintife in the name of the moitie of all and is not bound to deliuer the moitie of each Mannor And so of two acres of land but this seemeth to bee where the two Mannors c. bee of equall yearely value Breue de Estrepement Estrepement Note that the Sherife by force of this Writ may resist them which are about to make Wast and if otherwise he cannot stay or refraine them from making Wast he may imprison them or make his Warrant to others to imprison them and if it be needfull hee may take Posse Comitatus for his or their aid Extent Extent sur Recogn ' ou Statute Virtute istius breuis c. Cepi corpus infranom ' I.S. cuius quidem corpus ad diem locum infracontent ' parat ' habeo prout interius mihi praecipitur Residuum execut ' istius breuis patet in quadam inquisitione huic breui annex ' A.B. Armig ' Vic. Inquisitio indentat ' capta apud c. 4. die Aug. Anno c. coram c. virtute breuis Domini Regis mihi direct ' huic inquisic ' annex ' per sacrament ' c. Qui dicunt super sacram ' Quod B.C. in breue prad nom ' die recog ' debit ' in eodem breue specificat ' fuit seisitus in Dominico c. de et in manerio de A. in Com' praed clari annui valoris in omnibus exitibus vltra repress C. li. ac de et in Manerio c. Et vlterius iurat ' praed super sacram ' suum pÌ„d dicunt quod praedict ' B. C. die Recog ' debit ' pÌ„dici ' seu vnquam postea nulla alia c. ad eorum notitiam quod extendi appreciari aut in Manus dicti Domini Regis cepi aut seisiri possunt Quae quidem maneria Terr' et Tenementa praedict ' cum pertin ' ego praefatus Vic die captionis huius Inquisic ' cepi in manus dicti Domini Regis per extent ' praedict ' In cuius rei testimon ' c. I.S. infranom ' non est inuentus in balliua mea ideo ipsum capere non possum ad praesens Sed quoad extend et appreciand omnia terras et catalla ipsius I.S. iuxta formam istius breuis executio inde patet in quadam inquisic ' huic bri ' consut ' Quae quidem terr' et catalla in dicta inquisit ' content ' in manus Domini Regis seisiri feci I.S. infrascr ' non est inuentus in balliua mea Et vlterius certifico quod seisiri feci in Maner ' Domini Regis Manerium c. in inquisic ' huic breui consut ' spec ' prout interius mihi praecipitur Residuum execui ' c. Vpon an Extendi facias vpon a Statute Merchant the Sherife may return that the partie non est inuentus and that he hath extended the land and deliuered the same to the Plaintife Vpon an Extent of a Statute staple which is to take the bodie and to extend the lands and goods the Sherife returned that hee hath extended the land but speaketh not of the goods and though this be but part of that the Sherife was commanded to doe yet it was holden to be good for the land Vpon an Extendi facias vpon a statute Merchant the Sherife returned that he had extended the lands but did not returne that he had deliuered them to the Plaintife whereupon hee should haue beene amerced Vpon an Extendi facias vpon a Statute Staple the Sherife extended the lands of the Defendant and preised his goods and seised them into the Kings hands according to the Writ but deliuered them not to the Plaintife which he indeed is not to do vntill the Liberate commeth to him although he ought to haue returned that extent and preisement and after a Writ of Praerog ' came out of the Exchequer commanding the Sherife to leuâ—e first an hundred pounds for the King c. and the Sherife returned the speciall matter vpon the Writ out of the Exchequer Et ideo nihil inde fecit c. and the Sherife was therefore amerced and was compelled to returne the Extent in the Exchequer for the Kings Debt Otherwise vpon an Extendi facias the Sherife may returne the special matter scz That he cannot make execution for that another hath those Lands in execution by force of an Elegit c. or for that another is in by discent c. for that they are not to bee put out of possession without a Scire facias Vpon an Extendi facias vpon a Statute it hath beene holden a good returne that the partie hath no land but onely in antient Demesne Quaere vide hic cap. 26. Vpon an Extendi facias sued by two vpon a statute the Sherife returned That one of the Plaintifes was dead and good Or the Sherife may returne the Conusor Mortuus Vpon an Extendi facias the Sherife returned that the Conusor was dead and also an Inquisition of the Extent of the lands of the Conusor but in the Inquisition no certaine estate was returned but that the Conusor fuit seisitus die Recognit ' c. de Manerio de A. without shewing of what estate and this returne was held insufficient for that seisitus may be for life or in taile in which cases the land after the death of the Conusor is not extendable So that where the Conusors death appeareth in the Returne there of necessitie his seisin must be found to bee of an estate in fee simple onely Vpon an Extent of a Statute the Sherife returned the extent of the land and not of goods and it was allowed Vpon an extent of a Statute Merchant if the Sherife returneth Tarde or returneth Mandaui balliuo libertatis he shall be punished Quaere The Sherife returneth that none came to receiue the land per quod deliberat ' facere non potuit good Also he may returne Non est inuentus nec
election of the Knights c. before the next Countie court the Sherife must make out his Warrants to his Baylifes of euerie Hundred commanding them to summon or warne the Freeholders within their seuerall Bayliwickes to be at the next County and there to make choice of their Knights c. Or else the Sherife after the receit of that writ at some Quarter Sessions of the Peace or other generall meeting of the countrie may giue publique notice thereof to the Freeholders Mes si le Vic ' done nul notice ou Summons al Freeholders serra mischieuous Et vncore semble nul remedy done And at the next countie in ful countie Proclamation shall be made by the Sherife of the day and place of the Parliament and that all persons there present shall attend the election After the Knighs be chosen be they present or absent their names shall bee written in a paire of Indentures to bee made betweene the Sherife of the one part and some of the Freeholders beeing chusers of the other part vnto which Indentures the Sherife and the Chusers shall interchangeably set their Scales and that part of the Indentures sealed by the Chusers shall bee tacked to and returned by the Sherife with the said writ These Knights ought to bee chosen of persons resiant within the Shire and must be Knights indeed or else Gentlemen able to be Knights But no Sherife or Mayor ought to be chosen Also persons attainted of treason or felonie ought not to be chosen knights for the Parliament Nor any person that is outlawed Nor any person in prison vpon an Execution Neither ought any such person to be chosen a Burgesse for the Parliament And yet it any such person shall be chosen thereto the Sherife ought to returne their names The chusers of Knights for the Parliament ought to be onely of such persons as bee dwelling within the same Shire and such as haue fortie shillings freehold lands or tenemtnts per annum within the same Shire the day of the date of the same writ Note that by the Common Law all Freemen of England had a voyce in the election of these Knights within the Counties where they dwelt but now they are restrained by Statute to such only as haue freehold lands or Tenements to the value of fortie shillings by the yeare aboue all charges By which words Lands and Tenements you must vnderstand First he which hath no other Freehold but the Aduowson or gift of a Church hee thereby can bee no chuser c. He which hath no other freehold than comon of Pasture can be no chuser c though that be of the value of fortie shillings per annum But a freehold house or land worth thirtie shillings per annum and a common of pasture appendant worth twentie shillings per annum belonging to the same house is holden to bee a sufficient Freehold Otherwise of a house new erected or erected within time of memorie for that common must be by prescription except such house be worth forty shillings per annum besides the Common A. hauing fortie pounds per annum letteth the same to another for life reseruing no rent or but twentie shillings or thirtie shillings rent per annum this seemeth no sufficiencie of freehold to A. during the terme But if A. letteth such his estate to another for yeares though for diuers yeares reseruing only twentie shillings per annum or absque aliquo reddendo yet here he may be a chuser c. for the freehold which is in him So if lands worth fortie shillings per annum be letten for yeares the remainder to A. in Fee simple or Fee taile heere A. may be a chuser c. for the Freehold which is in him If a man hath fortie shillings rent per annum or one annuitie of fortie shillings per annum issuing out of lands during his life this is sufficiencie of freehold to be a chuser c. And this fortie shillings per annum must also be certaine and not by reason of the gaine of an Orchard Garden or other thing which is casuall and not certaine for that is no sufficiencie If a man hath a freehold estate of lands or tenements in the right of his wife of the yearely value of forty shillings it is sufficient If a man hath free warren of conies the which communibus annis is worth fortie shillings per annum this is sufficient If a man maketh fortie shillings per annum of his woodsales Cole-mines Tythes impropriate or the like beeing his Freehold these are sufficiencie of Freehold Clergie men for their Spirituall Liuings are holden to haue no voyces in the election of these Knights Quaere Fellowes of Colledges in the Vniuersities are holden to haue no voyces in this election of Knights for or by reason of their chambers or other auails in their Colledges And Gentlemen of the Inns of Court or Chancerie are to haue no voyces therein by reason of their chambers there Note that the Sherife may examine vpon oath euerie such chuser how much Freehold hee may expend per annum The election of these Knights must be made in the ful county Court between the houres of eight 11. in the forenoone and onely by such Freeholders as be then present in the Countie Court And the Sherife is to returne such Knights as haue the greatest number of voyces of such chusers and freeholders This returne of the Sherife must be made by Indentures sealed by the Sherife of the one part and by the chusers of the other part The form of which Indentures you may see in my Booke at large cap. 92. If the election be made in ful Countie and betweene the houres aforesaid the Sherif may seale his Indentures and make his Returne afterwards and in another place Also this election of Knights as also of Burgesses may be by voyces or holding vp of hands c. or by any other way whereby it may be discerned who hath the greater number Burgesses The Sherife also vpon receit of the said Writ for summons of the Parliament ought presently to make out his Precepts vnder the Seale of his office to euerie Mayor and Bailife c. of Cities and Burroughs within his Countie commanding them to chuse their Citisens and Burgesses for the Parliament Those Maiors and Baylifes c. must make a returne of that Precept and of their Election scz of their names to the Sherif by Indentures the sherife must seale one part of those Indentures and the other part sealed by the Maior c. the Sherife must certifie and returne also with the Writ If any Sherife shall be negligent in making his returne of this Writ or shall leaue out of his said returne any Citie or Burrough which ought to come to the Parliament he shall forfeit an hundred pounds and haue one yeres imprisonment If the Sherife shall doe any thing contrarie to the Statutes either concerning the due election or returning
THE OFFICE AND AVTHORITIE OF SHERIFES Abridged by the former Author MICH. DALTON of Lincolnes Jnne Esquire Mon entent est de bon̄ amoure IN DOMINO 〈…〉 LONDON Printed for the Companie of Stationers 1628. TO THE RIGHT Honourable THOMAS Lord Coventrie of Allesburrough Lord Keeper of the Great Seale of England and one of his Maiesties most Honourable Priuie Councell Right Honourable THe Office of a Sherife as it is a Place of great Authoritie and Trust in the gouernment of this Commonwealth so withall is it and Office of great perill and danger not onely to the Sherife himselfe but also to the Kings Maiestie and to his Subiects in generall if the same be not truly and carefully executed in euerie behalfe It were therefore meet that such as shall be appoynted thereto be men of Worth and Note not onely for the sufficiencie of their estate but also for their sinceritie and honestie Neither are all these sufficient where the High-Sherife shall trust his Vnder-Sherife with the whole businesse And it is further to be wished That the Gentlemen of the Country vpon whom the burthen of this office lieth would keepe this their Office in their hands and their Vnder-Sherife in their houses that so by their continuall eye ouer their Officers care of their businesse they might the better discharge their dutie herein And for that I conceiued that a plaine discouerie of this Office would giue encouragement to the Gentrie so to vndertake the same the consideration thereof caused me formerly to present to the view of the world my Labours in this Businesse though before they came to any ripenesse And albeit I haue sithence learned little of the Mysteries and secresie of the same Office I meane as it is commonly practised by some vnder Sherifes and therfore cannot yet bring it to any perfection Neuerthelesse I thought it fit according to my poore abilitie still to endeauor my selfe therein and to bring the same at least to a more short easie and readie Method And accordingly I haue herein set down their Authoritie and Office far more plainly and briefely than before with reference to my booke at large where the Reader may receiue more full satisfaction And I haue presumed to labour in this businesse the rather to giue occasion to others better able and experienced to perfect a worke so needfull I acknowledge this my weak vndertaking farre vnworthy of your Lordships iudicious Eyes much more vnworthie so great a Patronage and yet for that I stand bound in duty to submit and lay downe my Labours where I owe my Seruice and againe for that your Lordship in regard of your high Place hath a principall charge vnder the Kings Maiestie for the appointing and naming of these great Officers of Iustice and in regard of your profound Iudgement Wisedome and Experience your Lordship is best able to iudge of the mischiefes and to giue remedie therin as also for that I haue a peculiar relation to that Honorable Court where your Lordship is supreame Iudge To you therefore I humbly and submissiuelie present this little Treatise The God of Heauen and Earth preserue your Honour long amongst vs to the good of his Church and of this Common-wealth Your Lordships in all humble dutie MICH. DALTON To the Noble and Right worthy Knight Sir Gyles Alington Sir THough it bee most safe and easie for a man with the Psalmist to commune with his owne heart in silence according whereto the Prouerbe also sayth Bene vixit qui bene latuit yet for that it is more behoouefull to the Common good either in Church or Common wealth for one of which all men are ordained that such Talent wherewith God hath enabled any bee it neuer so small should bee imployed and communicated to the good of others The consideration hereof hath mooued me to aduenture this as other my former weake Labours to the view of the World And although I haue offred in this my labour to the honourable Patronage of one to whom I am in dutie bound yet withall out of that respect which I doe owe to you I am bold to tender also this little Treatise to your view and to desire your acceptance hereof as a token of my Loue to you to whom I must acknowledge my selfe for many your fauours much obliged and shall euer remaine Your brother in law vnfainedly honoring you MICH. DALTON The Office and Authoritie of Sherifes CHAP. I. Their Name Antiquity Charge COmes Comes The Earle or Countee had antiently the gouernment of the Countie or Shire vnder the King and that charge and custodie which the Sherife now hath for the executing of all matters of Iustice was antiently committed to the Earle Vicecomes Vicecomes the Sherife est vicem gerens seu vicarius Comitis or is as the Earles Deputie and was first ordained to doe that seruice in the executing of matters of Iustice within the Countie in the absence of the Earle which the Earle should doe After Earles by reason of their high imployments and atttendance vpon the King being not able to follow the businesse of the Countie were deliuered of that burthen onely enioying the honour and the authoritie for the administration and execution of Iustice which the Earle formerly had is now committed to the Sherife And yet the Sherife hath this his authoritie from the King by his Letters Patents immediately and not from the Earle Subuicecomes And the Sherife may make his Deputie scz his Vndersherife who in matters concerning their ministeriall Office at this day wholly executeth the place in the right of the High-sherife But where the Sherife hath a iudicial power or is made Iudge of the cause there it seemeth hee must execute it in person and not by his Vndersherife or other Deputie See hereof hic Cap. 4. Sherifes were long before the Conquest Their antiquitie and were first ordained by King Aelfred about An' 872. as some write yet others thinke them to haue bin long time before They are the Kings Deputies within their Countie and their charge Charge is to defend and keep the Kings peace within their said Countie and to suppresse and punish malefactors there to execute the commandements Processe and Precepts of the King and his Iustices and to keepe the Kings rights of his Crowne within their Countie They are also to bee attendant vpon the King in time of warre and to cause all the People of their Countie to goe with the King for to defend the Land against the Kings enemies They also haue the administration of Iustice in some cases committed vnto their charge within their County scz within their Tourne they are to enquire of and deale with matters concerning the King Commonwealth and in their Countie-Court to heare and determine particular suits matters betweene partie and partie What manner of persons They must therefore be men of sufficient estate of lands within the same Countie and such as may
King by Attainder Escheat and alienation in Mortmaine The meane profits of lands for intrusions and alienations without License But in most cases for Lands or Tenements or the profits thereof there must first be an office found for the King viz. an enquirie must bee made by twelue men vpon their oath to finde the Kings title and the certainty what Lands or Tenements they be and the yearely value thereof before the Officer may seise them And yet in these cases following the Sherife or the Escheator may ex officio as it seemeth and without any Office found seise the same scz In cases where any are attainted during their liues of high Treason and here they shal forfeit all their lands and hereditaments in fee simple or fee taile So where the Kings Tenant in fee simple is attainted of pettie Treason or of Felonie and is put to death or dieth of himselfe the Kings Officer may seise the same for here a possession in Law vesteth in the King And in these cases the King shall haue the forfeiture of their lands from the time of the offence Also where a possession in Law of lands c. is cast vpon the King by discent Reuerter Remainder or Escheat vt supra So in cases of Wardship and Primer seisin or during the vacancie of a Bishopricke In which three last cases the possession in law of a Chattell is vested in the King But in other cases the Officer may not seise any lands or Tenements nor the profits thereof without an office found for the King or other matter of Record and Processe scz a Scire facias made out against the parties and retorned c. As where the King is entituled to enter for a Condition broken or for Mortmaine or for alienation without licence So in case where the King is intituled to seise the temporalties of a Bishop for a contempt So in Cases of Ideocie Lunicie and the like So where the King is to haue Annum diem vastum of the lands of persons attainted Also where an Office is found which doth not intitle the king to the possession by Entry but onely dy action there the Officer must first haue processe or other warrant for to seise the land c. As where it is found by an Office That the Kings Tenant for life or yeares hath done wast Or that his Tenant in fee simple hath cessed by two yeares Or that his tenant in fee hath made a feoffment by collusion contrary to thâ—â—â—tute of Marlebridge â—ote where the Office is found before the Escheator there the Escheator is chargeable vpon his accompt But of lands whereof the Office is found before Commissioners there the sherife shall be charged And yet neither of them shall bee charged but where there is an Office found or that they shall meddle ex officio c. And where there is an Office found they shall be charged onely according to the yearely value found by the Office And therefore in all these former cases where the Sherife shall seise any lands or tenements or the profits therof it is safest for the sherife that there be an Office first found thereof or at least for him to haue the kings writ other warrant of law so to doe But the Escheator is more specially appointed for the finding out of the Kings title to Lands Tenements and or other things CHAP. 7. Franchises A Franchise is a Royall priuiledge in the hands of a subiect And such are euery Libertie or commodity which of their owne natures are appertaining to the King and are deriued from the Crowne and by the speciall gift or grant of the king are come to a common person or subiect Of these some are more Royall as authority to pardon Treason Felony Vtlary c. Or to make Iustices the like which none can doe but the King 27. H. 8. cap. 24. Some are lesse Royall as Conusance of Pleas Chases Parks Warrens Fayres Markets Toll Courts Leets or Hundreds Wayfes Estrayes Wreckes Catalla felonum fugitiuorum vtlagatorum the correction of the Assises of bread and Ale Pillory tumbrell and the like these a subiect may haue Now if any man doe hold or vse any of these last sort of Franchises without or contrary to the kings grant or lawfull Prescription it seemes to be enquirable in the sherifes Tourne as a Purprestor Againe as it is parcell of the Sherifes oath to keepe the Kings Franchises so the Sherife may seise to the Kings vse ex Officio many of these things as namely wayfes estrayes wreckes and felons and vtlaws goods c. except where some other person hath the same by Charter or by Prescription Note in the former cases Capite precedente the king is to haue seisin or possession of the lands themselues So as the King may let them c. But where the king is not to haue seisin of the land it selfe but is onely intituled to the profits of the lands there the sherife ex Officio and without any office found may seise to the Kings vse the profits of such lands As the lands of a Clarke conuict of felonie Also the profits of the lands of persons outlawed in a personall action the Sherife or Escheator may seise ex offiico See hic Cap. 15. what the Officer may seise doe or take in the name of the profits of lands Also goods Goods and chattels of felons fugitiues and the like the sherife may seise ex officio And yet dicitur that the Escheator is rather and more vsually accomptable for these And that the Sherife is not acccomptable or chargeable for these saue in a grosse summe for the forme of the profits of the County See plus hic cap. 14 125. And note that no subiect can haue these things scz bona seu catalla felonum fugitiuorum vtlagatorum but by Charter and not by Prescription Also Franchises or Liberties seised into the kings hands vpon iudgement giuen in a Quo warranto the sherife shall answer the profits thereof to the kings vse But the Sherife must first haue a writ or precept directed to him for the seising of diuers Franchises before he may seise them for that there bee diuers Franchises which may not be seised but at the Kings suit in a Quo warranto which writ is to try the validitie of the Franchise c. as Conuzance of Plees correction of the Assises of bread Leets Hundreds Fayres Markets and the like CHAP. 8. Suits IT is parcell of the Sherifes Oath truly to keepe the kings suits Now Suite is a seruice which a man ought to do by reason of his land and tenure to performe this he ought to go to the Court of the king or of some other there to doe that which appertaineth to the nature of his suite And both the Sherifes Courts scz his Torne and Countie Court seeme also to be both of them the Kings Courts by reason that the suite belonging to them both
is a Suite Royall and due by reason of Resiancy within the County And therefore as the sherife by his oath standeth bound to keepe the kings suits So inclusiue hee standeth bound duely to keepe his said two Courts and to see that all Suitors belonging to the same Courts giue their attendance and doe their suit and seruice there Besides the sherifes Torne is principally to cause euery man to appeare there in person to do their Allegeance to the King and there to bee sworne the Kings Liegemen And the sherife there also is to enquire of things pertaining to the King and Common-wealth and to preserue diuers of the Kings rights and to reforme and redresse diuers common Nusances and trespasses vpon the presentment of the suitors Also by the word Suits may be vnderstood the kings Suits in law scz That the Kings Suits in Law shall bee preferred and that the sherife for the kings profit therein is to doe his best endeauour according to his office scz That the king bee first payd and his debt first leuyed vide hic cap. 10. 19. 25. 58. CHAP. 9. Rents THe sherife by his Oath is also bound not to assent to decrease to lessing ne concealement of the Kings rents Now the sherife is Balliuus Comitatus and as a Baylife of a Mannor is to gather vp his Lords rents so the sherifes Office is to gather vp within his Bayliwicke the Kings rents and moneyes though at this day for the kings rents this rather belongeth to the kings Receâ—uers scz to gather vp the Ordinary Rents of the Kings lands And yet if the Sherife shall distraine the Kings farmor or tenant for Rent due to the King and shall accompt for the same in the Eschequor it is a good iustification for the Sherife in an action brought against him for taking the Tenants cattell Also the Sherife is accomptable to the King of all Farmes Rents Issues and profits of the County which run in accompt vnder the name of Viscontiels scz for these the Sherif so soon as he is made Sherife is accomptable yet in a summe in grosse But for the extreats of the greene waxe for Fynes and Amerciaments Issues the Kings debts and such the Sherife is not chargeable nor to leuie vntill they be estreated vnto him or the same without processe or other warrant and then when he hath leuied them he is chargeable Also for the kings Ordinary Rents the Sherife vpon processe to him directed for the leuying thereof may leuy the same and that either vpon the body or goods of the Kings tenant or of his sureties or vpon the lands of his Tenants or vpon his heires or executors or other possessors of his lands or goods Note that there bee certaine fermes called Viscountiels for which the Sherife for his time payeth a certaine Rent to the king and maketh what profit he can of them and for these the Sherife is accomptable vt supra scz in a sum in grosse and presently And these Viscountiels are said to be certaine duties of ancient time due to the king c. scz for Castle gard for the Sherifes ayde for the Leet fee c. And these are commonly called Certainties which are gathered vp by the Sherife or their baylifes CHAP. 10. The Kings Debts THe Sherife also vpon Processe as vpon the greene waxe scz vpon the Estreat to him deliuered out of the Eschequor vnder the Seale of that Court is to leuy the kings debts And this the Sherife may doe either vpon the body or goods of the Debtor or his sureties or vpon their lands in their owne hands or in the hands of the heires feoffees or any other person clayming or hauing the same from them by discent or by purchase Also the Executors Administrators Assignes and other possessors of the goods of the Kings Debtor are chargeable to the kings debt And vpon Processe c. the Sherife may seise inroll praise and sell the goods of the kings debtor being dead that praising of the goods must be per visum vicinorum c. and according to the value of the debt But goods or a lease for yeares sold away by the Debtor bona fide are not liable thereto Also vpon processe the Sherife may distreine for the kings debt in all places within his County and may impound the distresses in a common pound and after 15. dayes may sell the same away if the debt be not satisfied in the meane time But if any bring the Tally of payment of this debt in the Eschequor the distresse shall cease Also if the debtor brings the Tally of any Sherife or Baylife of payment made to them of the thing demanded and will find Sureties to appeare in the Eschequor vpon the next accompt c. the distresse shall cease Also if the Kings Debtor shall finde sufficient Sureties to the Sherife to pay the Kings Debt before the day of the Retorne of the writ the Sherife must deliuer the distresse These distresses made by the Sherife must be reasonable after the value of the debt and must not be of Plow Cattle nor of Sheepe if the Officer can finde other sufficient distresse nor shall be driuen too farre The reasonablenesse of the Distresse must be by estimation of neighbours scz That the goods be praised by neighbours Note that in these former cases where the Sherife c. commeth to leuie or distreine for the Kings debt hee must first shew to the Debtor demanding the same the processe or Estreates vnder the seale of the Eschequor for the leuying thereof Also the Sherife shall make Tallies or acquittances to all such as shall pay him the debt And the Sherife must quite the Debtors thereof at his next accompt in the Eschequor hic cap 13. If the Debt once payd bee another time demanded of the party hee shall recouer treble damages against the sherife c. But the Sherife for the Kings debts c. doe by any Ecclesiasticall person may not distreine in the Church nor in the ancient fees or passions of the Church nor in the Kings high way if hee can finde goods sufficient elsewhere Neither may the Sherife distreine or take for the kings debt c. due by any Ecclesiastical person any goods which doe belong to the Church or to the Parish The Sherife may not distreine vpon the wifes Dower or inheritance for her husbands Debt due to the king after the Couerture So hee may not distreine vpon a ioynt Estate purchased by or assured to the husband and wife for this debt due after What other goods the Sherife may not distreine or meddle with for the Kings Debt See hic cap. 15. But the kings Debtors their bodies Lands and Goods and their Heires and Assignes and their Executors and Administrators and all other possessors of the goods after their death are chargeable Also the Rents of their Farmours or Tenants yea the Tenants themselues their goods are liable to pay the Kings debts
c. Note that the Kings Suits shall bee preferred and his debts shall bee first payd But for the kings Debts the Sherife is not chargeable or accomptable neither may he distreine for or otherwise leuy the same without Proces or other warrant CHAP. 11. Issues THe word Issues in our Law seemeth to be taken three wayes or in three manners to this our purpose 1 First For the Issues and profits of lands or tenements as where the King is entituled to haue the Lands or profits of lands of persons attainted or outlawed or for alienation without Licence or in mortmaine for a condition broken or the like whereof postea 2 Secondly For such Issues profits of the Countie which goe vnder the name of Viscountiels whereof hic Cap. 3. hic postea 3 Thirdly For Issues to be lost for default of apparance scz by Iurors or by the Tenant or Defendant c. of which here For this last sort these Issues are sometimes set by the Court as an Amerciament fine forfeiture paine or punishment for default of appearance of Iurors Mainpernors or Pledges and sometimes of Witnesses And these Issues or profits thus growing due to the King are to be leuied by the Sherife c. Sometimes these Issues are set and returned by the Sherife to the end to cause an appearance of Iurors of the Tenant and Defendant and these also are to be leuied by the Sherife to the Kings vse Sometimes the lands themselues shal be seised by the Sherife into the Kings hands for default of appearance of the Tenant in a reall Action as in a grand Cape or a petite Cape And in these and the like cases where by Writ the land is seised into the Kings hands the King shall haue the lands to his owne vse and the Sherife shall bee charged with the Issues and profits of the said Lands from the time that the Lands were so seised by him c. Vide hic Cap. 62. What is contained vnder the name of Issues See Cap. 89. How much the Sherife must return in issues vpon the Defendant or Tenant see Ibidem What Issues he must returne vpon Iurors Cap. 90. Vpon whom and what lands such Issues shall be leuied Ibidem If the Sherife shall returne a Iuror in issues who is not sufficient the Sherife is punishable Ibidem So if the Sherife shall returne any issues vpon any Iuror or hundred or which was not lawfully summoned Ibidem Issues If the Sherife shall returne the Issues of any Recognisance Pledge or Mainpernor which at the time of the Return was not sufficient to answer the said Issues and amerciaments the Sherife shall bee charged there in the Exchequer For all manner of Issues and profits of the Countie which runne vnder the name of Viscountiels the Sherife so soone as hee is made Sherife is accountable for the same yet in a summe in grosse But for other Issues lost for default of appearance the Sherif is not accountable nor shall bee charged therewith vntill they shall be estreated vnder the Seale of the Exchequer and that the same estreats shall be deliuered to him Neither may the Sherife leuie the same without such Warrant If such Issues lost for default of apparance shall be returned by the Sherif vpon any man the partie hath no remedie be the Issues neuer so great Now for the first sort scz for the profits of lands after the death of the Kings Tenant in Capite and an Office found the King shall haue Primer Seisin scz the Issues and profits of all their lands from the time of the death of his Tenant Hic Cap. 6. Also the King shall haue the Issues and profits of the lands of such his Tenant aliening without licence scz from the time of the Office found the Kings Tenant who getteth Liuerie out of the Kings hands wrongfully shall answer the Issues behind c. Where the King enters for a Condition broken or for a Mortmaine c. the King shall be answered of the measure Issues and profits of those lands scz from the time of the kings title first accrued And of the Issues of the lands of felons Fugitiues and Outlawes c. scz from the time of the Attainder c. Hic Cap. 14. And so in all these cases the King shall bee answered of all the Issues of the lands after an office thereof found but before an Office found the Sherife or Escheator is not to meddle Hic Cap. 6. An Abator shall bee charged and not the heire for his time If such lands whereof the King is to haue the meane issues or profits shal be in diuers mens hands after the kings title accrued euerie of them shal answer for his time Issues lost for default of appearance either by the tenāt or in any other case of a Distresse infinite as in case of Iurors after a venire fac the Sherife vpon the Estreats out of the Eschequor c. may leuie the same vpon the lands in the hands of the delinquent of his wife of his heire in Tayle of his Successor of his Lessee or farmour of him in reuersion of the purchaser yea in the hands of a stranger whose beasts are their leuant and couehant And vpon these Estreates the Sherife is to leuy and gather vp accordingly these Issues and to bring them into the Eschequor and there to account for them If any Officer c. shall collect or leuie any Issues Estreated to him of any other than of the right person charged by the Estreate with the payment of the said issues they shall bee punished Plus hic Cap. 89. 90. CHAP. 12 13. Amerciaments and Fines AN Amerciament is properly a penalty assessed vpon an Offendor by his equals pro pares scz by the Country vpon Oath or assessed by the Court vpon some Officer of the Court. A Fyne hath diuers significations but to this purpose a Fyne is most commonly taken for a summe of money which is set or assessed vpon an Offendor in some Court of Record by the Court or Iudge there for some contempt or offence and which the offendor doth giue for and in satisfaction of his offence default or contempt Againe that which is assessed by the Court vpon an Officer of the Court for misdemeanor is called an Amerciament Royall But being assessed vpon an Estranger for misdemeanour it is called a Fyne All Amerciaments and Fynes for misdemeanors contempts defaults or other Offence set or assessed vpon any Offendor in any of the Kings Courts the Sherife vpon Processe or Estreats out of the Eschequer c. is to gather vp the same and to account for the same in the Eschequer Those Estreats must rehearse and shew the cause of the Amerciaments c. See hic cap. 90. What persons and for what causes men shall be amercied see my booke at large hic cap. 115. Such lands and such persons as are chargeable or lyable to the paiment of Issues shall also bee