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VVHeareas Our lives and Fortunes are unavoyable contigencies, liable to tryals at Law, aswell in Criminall as Civill Causes, and depend upon matter of Fact up∣on Iuries, which for the most partare men and Mer∣cynary
men; and laboured by the one side or the other to appeare upon the Iuries, as Tales men; and the ablest are by Connivency or corrupt Composi∣tion left at home, and spared by the Bayliffe of seve∣rall Weapontakes.
For Redresse whereof, May it pleace your Most Ex∣ceellent Maiesty, to give your Princely Command, That the Sheriffes Booke of Freeholders, may be brought in at least every Easter Sessions▪ That a competent number of such as are ablest and fitest to appeare and do Services, may be appointed by the Iustices Assembled in the severall Riddings of this County; their knowledge of the Country Assis∣ted by the Baliffe; and Bookes for the services at the Assizes and Sessions: And that they have particular Summons (as by the Statutes of this Kingdome) they ought to have? which also allowes a Fee to the Sheriffe and Bayliffe for every Jury Impannel∣led and Summoned; and that at the end of every Assizes, one or two Justices of every Riding, may examine the appearances and defaults with the Clarkes of the Court? that such as appears and do service, may be acquitted. and no issues rune out a∣gainst them; and that such as neglect their duties may not be spared, allowing such reasonable Fees for their paines therein, as shall be thought meet? so that issues may be awarded and levyed, and not Compounded for (as usually they are.) And that none who hath his Quit-Writ, may be imforced at every Assizes to plead his exemption, and pay for it. So shall our Iuries be full, and the Service not done by the tales men, but by the ablest, as well for as Understanding, and the opressed be eased by your
Princely favour therein; conceiving Your Maiesty to be not onely Rex Regni, but Comes Commitatus, and all the office and power of your under Sheriffe to be derived from your Maiesty, as the Fountaines of all Honours Iustice and government, humbly beseech∣ing your Sacred Maiesty, that accordingly your She∣riffes may be commanded by you, that this your Princely favour may be acknowledged, not onely by us, but our Childrens Children may reape the benefit thereof. We further humbly beseech your Maiesty, to commend this our Petition to the care of the Honourable Houses of Parliament, that a law to establish this your Princely favour may be made and enacted, with what additions shall be thought convenient by their Wisedomes: And in the meane time, this your command be observed & kept inviolable by the Sheriffe and other Officers.