WILTSHIRE MAGAZINE. 
‘¢ MULTORUM MANIBUS GRANDE LEVATUR ONUS,”’— Ovid. 
Che Sheritt’s Guen, Co. Hilts, 
A.D. 1489. 
By the Rey. Canon J. E. Jackson, F.S.A. 
s Ora RN,” (says Jacob’s Law Dictionary) “is the King’s Leet 
5 Ale ah (or Court) through all a County, of which the Sheriff is 
Fudge, and this Court is incident to his Office, wherefore it is called 
the Sheriff’s Tourn. It had its name originally from the Sheriff 
. taking a Tour or Circuit about his shire and holding this Court in 
several places: for the word Turn properly taken, doth not signify 
the Court of the Sheriff, but his Perambulation.” In ancient times 
this Court used to be held in every Hundred in a County as often as 
the Sheriff thought fit, but by Statute it was afterwards limited to 
twice a year. A Jury was sworn, and Tithing-men made their pre- 
sentments. The offences presented were chiefly of the minor sort, 
nuisances and annoyances; such as selling of corrupt victuals, keep- 
ing false weights and measures, disturbances of the peace, injury to 
public roads, and the like; matters which have long since devolved 
upon Magistrates at Petty Sessions. Old payments due to the 
Crown, either from a Hundred, a Tithing or a Manor: “ Certain 
Money,” or “ Tithing Silver,” “Certain Silver,” or “ Cert-silver,” 
* Leet (sometimes corrupted to “ Lady) Silver,” were at such times 
received by the King’s Officers.! 
The places at which the Sheriff, or his Deputy, attended in his 
“Turn” or Cireuit, to hold his Court, were not always either in 
1This is I believe the meaning of the word ‘‘ Certum.”’ Payments of this 
name still continue, in the Hundred of Malmesbury for example, not to the 
Crown, but to the Lord of the Hundred. 
VOL. XIII.—NO. XXXVIII. I 
