Page:Ruffhead - The Statutes at Large - vol 9.djvu/614

140

"HERE in the Parliament holden at Westminster in the 32. yeere of the reigne of our sovereigne Lord King the viij. that now is, it was amongst other enacted, that notwithstanding eight Countie dayes in one yeere, and nine Countie dayes another yeere, were before that time holden and kept within the countie Palatine of Chester before the Justicer of the same county, that from that time forward the said Justicer should hold and keepe but only two Sessions every yeere within the same county, the one halfe wherof to be kept after Michaelmas, and the other after Easter, and that from thenceforth all the said Countie daies should cleerly cease and determine for ever, as by the same Act at large more plainly appeereth. And forasmuch as within the same Countie Palatine it hath not bin used nor seene, that the Shiriffe of the same Countie hath kept any Shire Court for determination of Plaints, and calling the exigends, as is commonly used in other Shires of this Realme, there was therefore never sithens the making of the sayd Act, any exigend of fellonie or other cause proclaimed within the sayd Countie, to the no little hinderance of Justice, and to the great boldnesse of offendors." For reformation whereof, be it enacted by the King our Sovereigne Lord, by the assent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall, and the commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authoritie of the same, that the Shiriffe of the same Countie for the time being, after the Feast of Easter next comming, shall be bound to keepe his Shire Court in the Shire hall of the said Countie every moneth for ever, for determination of plaints and Actions under xl. s. and for Proclamations and calling of Exigends and other necessarie causes as is used in other Shires of this Realme of England, and that two head Coroners for the body of the sayd Shire shal be elected and chosen by vertue of the sayd writ, De coronatore eligendo, to be awarded out of the Exchequer of Chester, which Coroners shalbe bound to fit with the said Shiriffe at the sayd Courts, to give judgements upon Utlawries, and to doe all other things as appertaineth.

II. And be it further enacted by the authoritie aforesayd, that the sayd two Sessions in forme aforesaid, to be holden within the said Countie, shall and may be holden at such time and times, as by the said Justicer or his Deputie shall be appointed, as well before the sayd Feasts of Easter and Michaelmas as any other time, according as is most, commonly used in other Shires of this Realme, so alwaies open Proclomation be thereof made by the space of xv. daies at the least, before the first day of the keeping of the same Sessions.

"III. And where the Lordships, Townes and Hamlets of Hop and Assaph, have of old time bin reputed, accepted and taken as part and parcell of the Countie of Flint, and so have beene continued untill now of late that by an Act of Parliament made in the xxvij. yeere of the reigne of our most dread Sovereigne Lord the Kings Maiestie that now is, the fame were assigned to the Countie of Denbigh. And also where parcell of the Parish of Hawarden is at this day & of old time hath bin accepted, taken & used as part of the said Countie of Flint, & the residue of the said Parish of Hawarden is and alwaies hath bin without the precinct, limits and iurisdiction of the same Countie,' Be it also enacted by the authoritie aforesaid, that as well the sayd Lordships, Townes, and Hamlets of Hop, Assaph, and the sayd whole Parish of Hawarden, together with the Lordship of the same, as also the Lordships, Townes and Parishes of Moldesdale, Mereford and Oselie, and all the lands, tenements, and hereditaments within the precinct and limits of the same, or any of them, shall from henceforth be reputed, accepted, taken and adjudged to be within the sayd Countie of Flint, as a member, part and parcell of the same Countie of Flint, and not of or within any other Countie or Shire, any Statute, ordinance, law, or custome heeretofore had or used to the contrarie thereof in any wife notwithstanding.

IV. Provided alwaies, that the inhabitants and tenants of the sayd Lordships, Townes, Hamlets, and Parishes of Hop, Assaph, Moldesdale, Mereford and Hawarden, shall pay their misses and tallages, when and as off as the lame shall be due, with the inhabitants of such Shire or Shires as before time hath beene accustomed. And that the sayd Lordships of Hop, Moldesdale, Mereford, Oseleie, and Hawarden with the whole and intire Parish of Hawarden, and all the grounds, lands, tenements, and hereditaments within the precinct and limits of the same, shall from henceforth be called, taken and accepted the hundreds of Moldesdale in the Countie of Flint. And that the sayd Lordship of Assaph with all the grounds, lands, tenements and hereditaments within the precinct and limits of the same, shall be taken, accepted and adjudged to be as part and parcell of the hundred of Ruthland in the same Countie. Anno