A briefe Collection how the Court of Request, com∣monly called the Court of Con∣science, in London, hath beene established and continued for many yeeres past, for the re∣liefe of poore Debtors in Lon∣don, and the Liberties there∣of, viz.
FIrst, I finde that primo February, Anno 9. H. 8. an Act of Common Councell was made, that the Lord Maior and Aldermen of the same City for the time being, should monethly assigne and appoint two Al∣dermen, and foure discreet Commo∣ners to be Commissioners to sit in the same Court twice a weeke, viz. Wed∣nesday, and Saterday, there to heare and determine all matters brought be∣fore them betweene party and party, (being Citizens and Freemen of Lon∣don) in all cases where the due debt or damage did not exceed forty shillings.
This Act was to continue but for two yeeres then next ensuing: But being found charitable and profitable for the reliefe of such poore Debtors as were not able to make present payment of their debts; and to restraine malicious persons, from proceeding in their wil∣full Suits: and also to bee a great ease and helpe to such poore persons as had small debts owing to them, and were not able to prosecute Suits in Law for the same elsewhere: The same Act hath sithence bin continued by divers other Acts of Common Councell: and hereby (besides the said two Aldermen monthly assigned) the number of Com∣missioners were increased, from foure to twelve. And so by that Authority, the same Court continued till the end of the Raigne of Queene Elizabeth, &c.
And then divers people, being Ci∣tizens and Freemen of London (contrary to their Oathes formerly taken) repi∣ning at the authority of the same court, and not regarding the expence of any charges how great soever, so they might have their desires upon their poore Debtors, and being often animated thereunto by divers Attorneys and So∣licitors (for their owne particular gaine) did dayly commence Suits, for such petty debts and causes against poore men (Citizens and Freemen of London) in the high Courts at West∣minster, or else-where out of the said Court of Requests, to avoid the juris∣diction of the same Court, and to barre the said Commissioners from staying such Suits, and examining the said cau∣ses, and thereby caused the said poore men many times to pay sixe times as much charges as their principall debts or damage did amount unto, to the un∣doing of such poore men, their wives and children, and also to the filling of the Prisons with the poore so sued: where otherwise they might have got their Debts in the said Court of Re∣quests, for very small charge and little trouble.
For remedy whereof, & for the streng∣thening & establishing the said Court, an Act of Parliament was then made in Anno primo Iacobi Regis, that every Ci∣tizen and Freeman of London, that had, or should have any Debts owing to him, not amounting to forty shillings, by any Debtors (Citizens and Free men of London) inhabiting in London or the liberties thereof, should or might cause such Debtors to be warned to ap∣peare before the Commissioners of the said Court; and that the said Com∣missioner, or the greater number of them, should from time to time set downe such orders betweene such par∣ties, Plantiffe and Defendant, Credi∣tor and Debtor, touching such debts not exceeding forty shillings, as they should finde to stand with equity and good conscience.
But sithence the making of that Act, divers persons (intending to subvert the good and charitable intent of the same)