THE USE OF THE LAW. 213 



They are to suppress riots and tumults, to restore pos- Authority of 

 sessions forcibly taken away, to examine all felons appre- the J ustl ces f 



. 11 ii j iifi j. j. peace, through 



bended and brought before them ; to see impotent poor ^ hom run a f\ 

 people, or maimed soldiers provided for according to the the county ser- 

 laws, and rogues, vagabonds, and beggars punished. They vices unto the 

 are both to license and suppress alehouses, badgers of corn 

 and victuals, and to punish forestallers, regrators, and en 

 grossers. 



Through these in effect run all the county services to the 

 crown, as taxations of subsidies, mustering men, arming 

 them, and levying forces, that is done by a special commis 

 sion or precept from the king. Any of these justices, by 

 oath taken by a man that he standeth in fear that another 

 man will beat him, or kill him, or burn his house, are to Beating, kill- 

 send for the party by warrant of attachment, directed to 

 the sheriff or constable, and then to bind the party with 

 sureties by recognizance to the king to keep the peace, and surety of the 

 also to appear at the next sessions of the peace ; at which P eace - 

 next sessions, when every justice of peace hath therein de 

 livered all their recognizances so taken, then the parties Recognizance 

 are called, and the cause of binding to the peace examined, of the P eace 

 and both parties being heard, the whole bench is to deter- She jSIticwfat 

 mine as they see cause, either to continue the party so their sessions. 

 bound, or else to discharge him. 



The justices of peace in their sessions are attended by Quarter ses- 

 the constables and bailiffs of all hundreds and liberties 

 within the county, and by the sheriff or his deputy, to be 

 employed as occasion shall serve in executing the precepts 

 and directions of the court. They proceed in this sort: 

 the sheriff doth summon twenty-four freeholders, discreet 

 men of the said county, whereof some sixteen are selected 

 and sworn, and have their charge to serve as the grand 

 jury, the party indicted is to traverse the indictment, or 

 else to confess it, and so submit himself to be fined as the 

 court shall think meet (regard had to the offence), except 

 the punishment be certainly appointed, as often it is, by 

 special statutes. 



The justices of peace are many in every county, and to 

 them are brought all traitors, felons, and other malefactors 

 of any sort upon their first apprehension, and that justice 

 to whom they are brought examineth them, and heareth 

 their accusations, but judgeth not upon it ; only if he find 

 the suspicion but light, then he taketh bond, with sureties 

 of the accused, to appear either at the next assizes, if it be 

 a matter of treason or felony, or else at the quarter sessions, 



