Page:Ruffhead - The Statutes at Large - vol 9.djvu/653

 APPENDIX. From the Parliament Rolls. nave Competent and certaine rewards fuitable to theft' Paynes and Labour •whereby they may in due manner fupport the quallity of their Places And that it is but fitting and neceffary for the Subject to allow a moderate Payment where they receive a proportionable advantage (a Fee of Fower Pence in tymes of that Antiquity being as much in Value as Two Shillings now) by reafon whereof in Procefs of Tyme and the irnproved Rate of all neceflaries the prefent recompence of thofe ancient Officers is noe way competent and proportionable to their Paynes and Attendance which are likewife very much ihcreafed without any increafe hitherto of what was foe antiently allowed as aforefaid And for that it ap- peares that in all other Courts at Weftminjhr there is Twelve Pence taken for every Affidavitt And for that it hath bin found inconvenient for Suiters to put in Anfwers or returne Comiflions in the private Studdyes of the Matters So that through the Difficulty of finding fuch Anfweres and Co- miflions (with what Matter they were left) or through the Matters abfence at fuch tyme as they are called for It frequently happens the perfons (conceived to be in contempt) are expofed to much trouble and charge thereby And for that it is more proper fafe and fatisfactory to the Subject in Generall That Affidavits Anfwers Recognizances and Acknowledgments of Deeds fhould be difpatched in fome pub- lique certaine and open Place where the Perfons that doe the fame may be publiquely feene and knowne rather then in private Studdies or Houfes For the more proper and folemne difpatch of the aforefaid Bufinefles And for the better incouragement of the faid Mafters in the due difcharge of their Places Be it Enacted by the Kings moft Excellent Majefty by and with the Advice and Confent of the Lords and Commons affembled in Parliament and by the Authority of the fame That from and after the Three and Twentieth Day of OElober in this prefent yeare of Our Lord One Thoufand Six Hundred Sixty and One there fhall be One Publique Office kept and no more as nere to the Rolls as conveniently may be In which the faid Mafters fome or One of them fhall conftantly attend for the Adminiftring. of Oathes Caption of Deeds and Recognizances and the Difpatch of all Matters incident to their Of- fice (referrences upon Accounts and infufficient Anfwers onely excepted) from the houres of Seaven of the Clock in the Morning untill Twelve at Noone and from Two in the "Afternoone untill Six at Night and that from henceforth it fhall and may be lawful! to and for the Mafters of the Chancery in Ordinary now being And which hereafter for the tyme to come fhall be to demand and take the feverall Fees hereafter exprefled That is to fay For every Affidavit or Oath taken in the faid Office Twelve Pence For every Bill of Cofts to be taxed by them for the Plaintiffes not putting in his Bill Or not proceeding to reply or for the Defendants not appearing in due tyme Two Shillings and Six Pence For the Acknowledgment of every Deed to be enrolled Two Shillings for the Caption of every Recogni- zance two Shillings for every Exemplification examined by Two of the faid Mafters to each of the faid' Mafters who fhall examine the fame for every Skin of Parchment foe exa,mined Two Shillings For every Report or Certificate to be made in Purfuance of any Order made upon the hearing of the Caufe Twenty Shillings And for every other Certificate or report of any Order made upon Petition or mo- tion onely Tenne Shillings to be paid by the Party that takes out the Report or Certificate any Law Statute or Cuftome to the contrary hereof in any wife notwithftanding And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforefaid That if the faid Mafters of the Chancery or any of them fhall hereafter directly or indirectly by any Art Shift Colour or devife have take or receiv'd any Money Fee rewarde Covenant Obligation Promife or any other thing for his Report or Certificate in Writing or otherwife or for any- other the Matters in this Act expreffed other then the refpective Fee or Fees in this Act before men- tioned that then every fuch Mafter being thereof legally convicted fhall thenceforth be difabled from the Execution of his faid Office of Mafter of the Chancery in ordinary and alfo fhall forfeite and loofe for every fuch offence to the Party grieved in that behalfe foe much Money as he or they fhall take con- trary to this prefent Act And more over fhall loofe and forfeite One Hundred Pounds Sterling whereof One moyety fhall be to Our Soueraigne Lord the King his Heirs and Succeffors and the other moyety to the Party greived in that behalfe who fhall fue by Adtion of Debt Bill Plaint Information or otherwife in any of the Kings Courts for the recovery of the fame in which Action no efToine pro- tection or wager of Law fhalbe allowed And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforefaid That be- fore the Feaft Day of All Saints next enfuing there fhall bee fett up in the publique Office aforefaid and in the Chappell of the Rolls feverall Tables containing the feverall Fees in this Act before men- tioned to the intent that all Parties concern'd may take Notice thereof. 179 A a z Jkno