A guide to surveyors of the high-ways shewing the office and duty of such surveyors, with several cases and resolutions in law relating to the same : collected and gathered out of publick acts of Parliament now in force, and out of the year-books, and other books of the municipal laws of this kingdom : with an abridgment of the statute of 22 H. 8 Chap. 5 for the repairing of bridges, with cases relating thereunto : and likewise a summary of the statutes made for paving, cleansing, &c., streets, lanes, &c., in London and other towns and places, and an abstract of statutes made for the repairs of high-ways and bridges in particular places, methodiz'd into short chapters for the ready finding out any matter contain'd in the book / by G. Meriton, Gent.

CHAP. XVII. The Heads of the two Statutes made in the 18 and 27 Qears of Queen Elizabeth for the maintenance and repair of Rochester-Bridge in the County of Kent.

THE morrow after the General Quarter-Sessions of the Peace holden next after Easter in Kent, the Wardens and Commonalty of the Lands Contributory to Rochester-Bridge, or so many of them as can conveniently attend, shall for ever as∣semble at the Castle of Rochester near the Bridge, and there elect by the most Voices, two Persons of the same Commonalty, such as are House-keepers, and commonly resident within the County of Kent, and are healthful and can attend the Office, to be Wardens of the said Bridge, and twelve Persons of the said Commonalty to be As∣sistants

to the Wardens for one whole year after the Feast of Pentecost then next following, at which said Electi∣ons of Wardens and Assistants, two Housholders at the least out of every Parish within seven miles of the said Bridge wherein any Contributory Lands lie, shall be present to give their Voices at the said Elections; and the two Wardens thus chosen shall do their endeavour for that Year to benefit the said Bridge, and shall receive the Fines, Rents and Revenues of the Lands be∣longing to the Bridge, and of all Contribution Mony payable to the use of the same Bridge, and shall answer and pay out of the same as cause shall require; and the new Wardens so chosen, if then present, shall be bound to the former Wardens to make ac∣count of all Receipts, and payment of Arrearages found upon the same; and if any who is chosen Warden, shall be absent at the time of Election then notice shall be given by Letter sent by one or both of the former Wardens, and delivered at the Dwelling-house of such absent Person elected, on pain of five pounds; and every such absent Person so elected before the Feast of Pentecost then next following, before

the Custos Rotulorum of that County▪ or two Justices of the Peace of the same County (one to be of the Quorum) shall become bound to ren∣der Account and pay of Arrearages as aforesaid; and every Warden elected as aforesaid, refusing to become bound, to forfeit ten pounds, to be recovered by the former Wardens in an Action of Debt for the use of the Bridge; and if any refuse to stand, notwith∣standing the Fine, or being elected and bound, dies before the end of the Year, then at the Quarter-Sessions of the County to be held in conve∣nient time next after such death or refusal, and before the said presixed day of Election, a new one of the Commonalty qualified, as aforesaid, shall be chosen by the said Justices at the Sessions, and by the other War∣den and twelve Assistants, or major∣part of them present at the Sessions, to serve to the end of that Year, who at a convenient time to be then pre∣fixed, shall become bound as aforesaid, under the pain above limited; and at the Election of new Wardens and Assistants, all other Officers concern∣ing the said Bridge and their Stipends, shall be appointed by the said two

elected Wardens; and the old Wardens shall every Year account, upon Oath, on Thursday in Whitsun-Week, in the presence of the new Wardens, or of one of them, and such four of the Assistants as are assigned to be Au∣ditors in the House called Crown-Inn in Rochester, or at some other place appointed, and none of the Assist∣ants or Auditors so assigned, to be absent at the Account, on pain of ten pounds; the Wardens and As∣sistants, or major-part of them, are to consent to, and subscribe to all Leases made of the Bridges Land, which Leases shall be made but of such effect as Tenant in Tail may do, by the Statute of 32 H. 8. chap. 8. save Leases of Houses not having three Acres of Land belonging to them, which may be made for fifty Years; and every seven Years shall be made a Terrer of the Lands leased; and Owners Tenants of Lands contri∣butary to the maintenance of the said Bridge, shall not be assessed to pay towards the maintainance thereof, but only when the Rents and Profits of the Lands belonging to the same be not sufficient; and then in such case the two Wardens and more

part of the twelve Assistants shall Tax all the contributary Lands, Rating every Parish where those Lands be, proportionably at such Sums of Mony to be paid as by the said Wardens, &c. shall be appointed, in writing under their Hands and Seals, for which Mony any persons by them appointed may distrain, and sell the Distress, rendring the overplus, if any be, to the Owners of such Di∣stress.

Notes

• 18 El. ch. 17. Stat. at large printed 1587. f. 616, 617. Keb. St. f. 863.
• Absence of House holders at the E∣lection of the Wardens forfeit 10 s. a piece, 27 El. ch. 25. Stat. at large f. 723. Keb. f. 890.
• New Wardens bound to the former Wardens to make account and elected War∣dens being absent to have notice sent in writing.
• Forfeiture of Warden refusine to be bound, and how choice is to be made of ano∣ther in such case.
• Old Wardens every year to ac∣count upon Oath in the presence of the nevv War∣dens.
• Wardens and As∣sistants to consent to and subscribe Leases of the Bridges Lands, and for vvhat Term.
• When Ovvners or Tenants of contributary Lands may be Taxed. 18 El. ch. 17. Stat. at large printed 1587. f. 617. Keb. Stat. f. 863.
• 27 El. ch. 15. Stat. at large f. 722. Keb▪ Stat. f. 890.