69 
Some Western Circuit Assize Aecords of the 
~~ Seventeenth Centurp. 
By_W. W..Ravenui.t. 
the Toor of our Aaah and I was able to give several extracts 
from them which attracted some interest. It may be remembered 
that these consisted, not only of commissions, precepts, calendars, 
and indictments, but also of four volumes of the orders of the Judges 
of Assize extending from A.D. 1629 to A.D. 1688, useful to those 
who would study the history of our county in the seventeenth 
century, and very illustrative of the country life of that period. 
The paper I then read was published in our Magazine, vol. xviii., 
p- 136, and to thatels beg leave to refer you. 
To-night wt propose to give you some further extracts from these 
order books. They, even now, can only be specimens culled from a 
large number of similar materials. 
I go at once to the year of grace 1646. Such scanty crops as 
there were, here and there, were ripening; and it seemed as if there 
might be the blessings of harvest for some at any rate, as the 
fighting had ceased, Even the forts still held for the King were 
surrendering to the Parliament. The last, perhaps, of these, the 
westernmost of the western circuit, Pendennis Castle, the guardian 
of Falmouth, saw her gallant governor, Arundell, march forth with 
honours on the 17th of August. 
For some time past those practical souls still left in the House of 
Commons had’ been turning their attention to “ the settlement of 
these kingdoms.” The lawyers of influence amongst them knew 
the value of an Assize for such a purpose. “ Let there be one. 
There has been none for more than three years. The commissions 
shall be sealed with our own great seal. Our powers as to this 
