THE JURISDICTION OF THE MARCHES. 297 



therefore if all commissions, and instructions, and practices, 

 have coupled these four shires, it is not the map that will 

 sever them. 



To the second head he gave this answer. First he ob 

 served in general that they had not showed one statute, or 

 one book-case, or one record, the commissions of oyer and 

 terminer only excepted, wherein the word marches was used 

 for lordships marchers since the statute of 34. So that it 

 is evident, that as they granted the nature of those marches 

 was destroyed and extinct by 27, so the name was discon 

 tinued soon after, and did but remain a very small while, 

 like the sound of a bell, after it hath been rung ; and as in 

 deed it is usual when names are altered, that the old name, 

 which is expired, will continue for a small time. 



Secondly, he said, that whereas they had made the com 

 parison, that our acceptation of the word was popular, and 

 theirs was legal, because it was extant in book-cases, and 

 statutes, and records, they must needs confess that they 

 are beaten from that hold ; for the name ceased to be legal 

 clearly by the law of 27, which made the alteration in the 

 thing itself, whereof the name is but a shadow ; and if the 

 name did remain afterwards, then it was neither legal, nor 

 so much as vulgar, but it was only by abuse, and by a trope 

 or catachresis. 



Thirdly, he showed the impossibility how that significa 

 tion should continue, and be intended by the statute of 34. 

 For if it did, it must be in one of these two senses, either 

 that it was meant of the lordships marchers made part of 

 Wales, or of the lordships marchers annexed to the four 

 shires of England. 



For the first of these, it is plainly impugned by the sta 

 tute itself; for the first clause of the statute doth set forth 

 that the principality and dominion of Wales shall consist 

 of twelve shires : wherein the four new erected counties, 

 which were formerly lordships marchers, and whatsoever 

 else was lordships marchers annexed to the ancient coun 

 ties of Wales, is comprehended ; so that of necessity all 

 that territory or border must be Wales ; then followeth the 

 clause immediately, whereupon we now differ, namely, that 

 there shall be and remain a president and council in the 

 principality of Wales, and the marches of the same ; so that 

 the parliament could not forget so soon what they had said 

 in the clause next before: and therefore by the marches 

 they meant somewhat else besides that which was Wales. 

 Then if they fly to the second signification, and say that it 



