of the Seventeenth Century. 73 
before the Assizes as anciently they have done and of right ought to 
doe, by meanes whereof many offenders oftn escape unpunished. It 
is therefore nowe ordered by this Court That all petty constables and 
Tythingmen w'in the sev’rall hundreds and lib'ties of this County 
shall from henceforth a ffortnight at least before any Assizes make 
their prsentments in writinge of all misdemean™ and offences comitted 
and done w'Yin their libties and tythinges w* are not punished, and 
carry the same prsentmts before the next Justice of the peace to be 
sworne unto it. And afterwards the said petty conbles and Tything 
men are to deliver the same present™* to the Constables of their 
hundreds before every Assizes, who are to deliver the same into the 
Gort with their owne presentmts, That proces may goe forth to call 
in the offenders to answere to their offences. And coppies of this 
order are to be sent to the Con of every hundred w'*in this County 
who are to publish the same in their hundreds before the next Assizes 
that p'sentments may be made accordingly.” 
Penruddock and Grove had fallen, the fourteen Major-Generals, 
“those Dragons,” were out harrying the land. The above looks 
like a whisper of one of them dropped into the ear of the Chief 
Baron, and passed on by him to the Grand Jury. Such an order 
would increase the prevailing discontent, and may, amongst other 
things, have induced “ His Highness” once more to summon 
“ His Parliament,” which assembled “ for grievances ” on the 17th 
of September following. 
Then at the same Assizes “ John Parker of Leigh, upon hearing 
of the matter in open court, it is ordered by his consent (?) that he 
shall take the apprentice, Edward Lewis, placed with him by the 
churchwardens and overseers of the poore with the consent of the 
Justices of the Place.” 
Judges of assize have ceased to act in such matters, and also in 
the following. 
Somerset Assizes, Chard,28th July,1656,before ChiefBaron Steele : 
« fforasmuch as many useful lawes have been and are in force for the preservation 
of tymber notwithstandinge which many persons mindinge theire private lucre 
doe win the county distroy and grubb upp their woods w‘*out leavinge standolls 
_accordinge to Lawe and otherwise offende in destroyinge the same w® being 
taken notice of and p'sented by the Grand Inquest for this County att this 
Assizes—This Cort doth refer and recomend a business of soe publique concern- 
ment to the Justices of peace att their next publique Q'. Sessions to consider how 
by such waies as they shall find just to encourage some ffitt p'sons to inquire 
out and prosecute accordinge to Lawe and Justice such as doe or shall offend in 
the p'misses.” 
