212 THE USE OF THE LAW. 



Conservators of Conservators of the peace were in ancient times certain, 

 the peace called w hich were assigned by the king to see the peace main- 

 writ for term tained, and they were called to the office by the king s 

 of their lives, writ, to continue for term of their lives, or at the king s 

 or at the king s pleasure. 



Conservators of For this service, choice was made of the best men of 

 the peace, and calling in the country, and but few in the shire. They 

 ^tj-heir of- m ig- n t bind any man to keep the peace, and to good beha 

 viour, by recognizance to the king, with sureties ; and they 

 might by warrant send for the party, directing their war 

 rant to the sheriff or constable, as they please, to arrest the 

 party, and bring him before them. This they used to do 

 when complaint was made by any that he stood in fear of 

 another, and so took his oath ; or else, where the conserva 

 tor himself did, without oath or complaint, see the disposi 

 tion of any man inclined to quarrel and breach of the peace, 

 or to misbehave himself in some outrageous manner of force 

 or fraud, there, by his own discretion, he might send for 

 such a fellow, and make him find sureties of the peace, or 

 of his good behaviour, as he should see cause ; or else 

 commit him to the gaol if he refused. 



Conservators of The j udges of either bench in Westminster, barons of the 



virtue of C th y ir Exchequer, master of the rolls, and justices in eyre and 



office. assizes in their circuits, were all, without writ, conservators 



of the peace in all shires of England, and continue to this 



day. 



Justices of But now at this day conservators of the peace are out of 



peace ordained use&amp;gt; an( j m \{ eu O f them there are ordained justices of peace, 

 valors? Power assigned by the king s commissions in every county, which 

 of placing and are moveable at the king s pleasure ; but the power of 

 displacing just, placing and displacing justices of the peace is by use dele- 

 *%? g^ed from the king to the chancellor. 

 the king to the That there should be justices of peace by commissions, 

 chancellor. ft was fi rs t enacted by a statute made 1 Edward III. and 

 their authority augmented by many statutes made since in 

 every king s reign. 



The power of They are appointed to keep four sessions every year ; 

 the justices of that is, every quarter one. These sessions are a sitting of 

 peace to fine ^g j us ti ces to dispatch the affairs of their commissions. 

 the errand They have power to hear and determine in their sessions 

 not to recom- all felonies, breaches of the peace, contempts, and tres- 

 pense the party p asseS) so f ar as to fine the offender to the crown, but not 

 Paries tat. 17. to award recompense to the party grieved. 



R.2.cap.lO.& 



v. Dier, 69. b. 11s. ount poiar d inquiei de murder car. ce felon. 



