Page:The histories of Launceston and Dunheved, in the county of Cornwall.djvu/245

 THE SERGEANT'S OATH. 223 You shall make true, upright, and indifferent returnes as well of all somons, attachments, and arrests, as of all writes of Venire facias, tales, and execucons, to you directed, not wetingly nor willingly hindering or delaying, either the prtie ptf or dft, of his right, or lawful suite, for any bribe, rewarde, or other affecon, or any other corruption ; You shall likewise present all such as you knowe to keipe daily tavernes, not being bound by recognizance according to the forme of the statute in that case provided ; You shall also carefully, trulie, and justlie pnt [present] all such as you shall knowe to be unlawfull night-watchers, loyterers, idlers, and suspecte prsons ; You shall diligently and faithfully, to yor power, collecte and gather, as well the amerciaments, extreated or to be extreated unto you, during the time of yo r office, as other receipts and collections to be given you in chardge in behalfe of the towne, and chardgable, or to be chardged, upon yor accompte, and a true and just accompte of all and every the said receipts to make, when you shal be thereunto required by the Mayor of the towne, or his brethren, or the more part of them, and, upon the same accompte rendered, to aske none allowance but only such as you in conscience shall thinke to be lawfull and just, or of right ought to be allowed ; You shall keipe secret the prvie counsell of this towne, in matters of weight, and put Mr. Mayor or his brethren spedy to understand of such as you shall knowe to goe aboute any conspiracy, convict, rebellion, or uprore, either against the queene's ma tie, or against her laws or pease, or against the sayd Mayor and Commaltie of the sayd Burge ; and in all and every other thinge, as other the sargents to the Mayce of this bourough before this time have of right used to doe, or ought to have done, as neire as God shall give you grace : So helpe you God, and by the holie contents of this book. The present national system of Poor Laws was com- menced by the Statute 43 Eliz. c. 2, which appointed Overseers of the Poor, authorized the erection of Poor- houses, and taxed the householders in order to raise a poor-rate. By an Act of 23 Ed. III. (1349), it had been declared illegal to give anything to a beggar that was able to work. In 1388 poor people were ordered to abide in the place of their birth ; and by Statutes of 1495 and