Page:The statutes of Wales (1908).djvu/179

A.D. 1495] the said parts, daily take and use to take divers persons goods and chattels in the said Counties, Duchy and Seigniories, by the name and under colour of distress, where they have no manner of fee, seigniory nor cause to take such distress, but feign some actions and quarrels to grieve and destroy the faithful people of the said Counties Duchy and Seigniories against law, reason and conscience; and the aforesaid persons, goods and chattels so taken, bring and carry out of the Counties Duchy and Seigniories aforesaid where they be taken, to divers other places in England and ; and many times, for taking of such distresses, and in resistance of them, great assemblies of people, riots, maims and murders be made and had, and if it be not hastily remedied other inconveniences be like thereof to follow, of which takings, bringings, and carryings in this behalf no due punishment is, wherefore the people of the said parts daily abound and increase in evil governance: Our said Sovereign Lord the King, willing to remedy the said premises, by advice assent and authority aforesaid, hath ordained and stablished, That if any person take any goods chattels or person in any of the said Counties, Duchy or Seigniory and them bring or carry to any places out of any of the said Counties, Duchy or Seigniories in which they be taken, to any other places. That all manner of such takings, bringings or carryings shall be had and judged felony; and if any person thereof be duly attainted in any manner, that he shall have execution as a felon should have, and that no manner of person in the said Counties, Duchy, or Seigniories, nor in none other places in arrested accused or indicted of felony in any manner shall be admitted to disclaim out of the said County Duchy or Seigniory where he is so indicted accused or arrested. Provided always that no person shall be indamaged nor grieved by this ordinance for taking within his fee, or for any manner of cause wherefore distress or taking is lawful by the common law of England; This ordinance to endure for five years.

A.D. 1495]

To the discreet Commons in this present Parliament assembled.

Where in divers Castles Manors Lordships Lands and Tenements