262 THE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS 



be garrifoned by Engliflimen only, entire flrangers 

 to the Welfli, who fliould be fent from fome diilant 

 parts of England. 



The Welfh people appear in their turn to have 

 entertained equal feverity againft the Englifh. Prior 

 to the reign of Henry V. they had a cuflom, called 

 the afach, by which it was neceflary to have the 

 oaths of three hundred men, before an Enghfhman 

 who had been accufed of any crime, could be ac- 

 quitted. Before its abolition by this monarch, an 

 accufed Englifhman was liable to continue in gaol 

 for life 5 as among his enemies, even a far fmaller 

 number of compurgators than this ftrange law re- 

 quired could not have been obtained. Henry or- 

 dained that every attempt to enforce this cufLoni 

 fliouid be a penal offence, and the profecutor v>-as 

 liable to two years' imprifonment, to pay treble cods, 

 and a fine and ranfom before he could be releafed. 



It appears by an a6t paifed in the reign of king 

 Henry V., that many of the Welili had entered the 

 Enghfh counties, and hiding themfelves in the woods 

 during the day time,, had frequently in the night 

 carried off into their own country the king's liege 

 fubjefts. There they had fometimes detained them 

 amongft the mountains for fix months and upwards, 

 iill they were ranfomed by iheir friends. Perfons 

 thus offending were declared guilty of felony, and a 

 inode is prefcribed by this aft for their feizure and 

 punifhment. 



ThefV. 



