Sheriff's Tourn Act 1461
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
| Citation | 1461 c. 2 |
| Year | 1461 |
(1 Edw. 4) C A P. II.
‘ALSO whereas many of the King's faithful liege People, as well Spiritual as Temporal, by the inordinate and in finite Indictments and Presentments, as well of Felony, Trespasses, and Offences, as of other Things, which of long Time have been had and used within the Countiesof this Realm, and thaken before Sheriffs for the time being in their Countiesseverally, Under-Sheriffs, their Clerks, Bailiffs, aml Ministers, at their Tourns or Law-Days, holden before them severally in the Counties, which Indictments and Presentments be oftentimes affirmed by Jurors having no Conscience, nor any Freehold, and little Goods, and often by the said Sheriffs menial Servantsand Bailiffs, and their Under-Sheriffs, by which Indictments and Presentments the said lawful liege People be attached and arrested by their Bodies, and put in Prison by the said Sheriffs, Under-Sheriffs, their Clerks, Bailiffs, and Ministers, to the great Loss of their Goods; and they so being in Prison by the said Sheriffs, Under-Sheriffs, their Clerks, Bailiffs, and their Ministers, are constrained to make grievous Fines and Ransoms, and levy of them great Fines and Amerciaments for the said Indictments and Presentments, in great Hindrance and utter Undoing of the said liege People; (2) after which Fines, Ransoms, and Amerciaments so rated and levied by the said Sherifss, Under-Sheriffs, Clerks, Bailiffs, and their Ministers, the People aforesaid be inlarged out of Prison, and the said Indictments and Presentments be imbezilled and withdrawll:’ '(3) Our said Lord the King considering the Premisses, by the Advice and Assent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and at the Request of the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by Authority of the same, hath ordained and stablished, That all Manner Indictments and Presentments that shall be taken hereafter before any of his said Sheriffs of his Counties for the time being, their Under-Sheriffs, Clerks, Bailiffs, or Ministers, at their Tourns or Law-Days before mentioned, they nor any of them shall have Power or Authority to attach, arrest, or put in Prison, or to levy any Fines or Amerciaments of any Person or Persons so indicted or presented, by reason or colour of any such Indictment or Presentment taken or to be taken...
To continue reading
Request your trial