As exemplified in the Manor of Castle Combe. 161 
over strangers coming in for work, or residence, and in later times 
by enforcing the statutes regulating the settlement of the Poor, 
whom, also, they relieved at their discretion. They chose their 
own officers, numerous as we have seen, each with his special 
department and authority, to see that their “orders” were obeyed 
as well as the general statutes of the realm, and to bring all 
offenders to Justice. These officers had power to levy by distress 
the fines forfeited by order of the Court, and were expected to 
account for them at the succeeding Court to the Lord’s bailiff, and 
he to the Auditor or Supervisor. They collected and applotted 
among themselves the public as well as the local taxes, or compo- 
sitions to which they were liable. They possessed a “ Peculiar” 
Jurisdiction for the proof of Wills. 
Moreover the inhabitants at these Courts determined all disputes 
among themselves, or arising within the limits of the Manor, 
and all pleas of debt or damage, both as to person and property. 
They inspected their own provision-shops, regulated their own ale- 
houses, their market, their poor, their roads, paths, fences, common- 
rights, and crops. And all this without the intervention of a 
Justice of Peace, or an Attorney! without payment of a single 
lawyer’s fee! 
The Steward of the Manor was paid an annual stipend by the 
Lord, and though presiding over the Courts, and probably more or 
less influencing, as well as recording, their proceedings, does not 
appear to have been empowered to exercise much direct authority 
over them. He acted, of course, as attorney or agent for the Lord 
in all matters in which his interests were concerned, saw that the 
proceedings were regular, and gave advice to the Lord’s tenants, 
who composed the Homage and Jury. He was occasionally, but 
not necessarily a lawyer by profession. William of Westbury, made 
a Judge of the King’s Bench in 1426, had been previously for 
many years Steward of the Manor of Castle Combe. 
It may be questioned whether such communities have gained 
much by the gradual extinction of all these ancient privileges and 
customs of Self-government to a considerable extent, which has 
taken place very generally within the last two centuries. No doubt 
Y 
