360 OFFICE OF CONSTABLES. 



them safe without impairing, and inventary them in pre 

 sence of honest neighbours. 



Thirdly, for matters of common nuisance and grievances, 

 they are of very variable nature, according to the several 

 comforts which man s life and society requireth, and the 

 contraries which infest the same. 



In all which, be it matter of corrupting air, water, or 

 victuals, stopping, straitening, or endangering of passages, 

 or general deceits in weights, measures, sizes, or counter 

 feiting wares, and things vendible; the office of constable 

 is to give, as much as in him lies, information of them, and 

 of the offenders, in leets, that they may be presented ; but 

 because leets are kept but twice in the year, and many of 

 those things require present and speedy remedy, the con 

 stable, in things notorious and of vulgar nature, ought to 

 forbid and repress them in the mean time : if not, they are 

 for their contempt to be fined and imprisoned, or both, by 

 the justices in their sessions. 



8. Question, What is their oath ? 



Answer. The manner of the oath they take is as followeth : 



&quot; You shall swear that you shall well and truly serve the 

 king, and the lord of this law-day ; and you shall cause the 

 peace of our sovereign lord the king well and truly to be 

 kept to your power : and you shall arrest all those that 

 you see committing riots, debates, and affrays in breach of 

 peace : and you shall well and truly endeavour yourself to 

 your best knowledge, that the statute of Winchester for 

 watching, hue and cry, and the statutes made for the pu 

 nishment of sturdy beggars, vagabonds, rogues, and other 

 idle persons coming within your office be truly executed, 

 and the offenders be punished : and you shall endeavour, 

 upon complaint made, to apprehend barreters and riotous 

 persons making affrays, and likewise to apprehend felons ; 

 and if any of them make resistance with force, and multi 

 tude of misdemeanors, you shall make outcry, and pursue 

 them till they be taken ; and shall look unto such persons 

 as use unlawful games ; and you shall have regard unto 

 the maintenance of artillery ; and you shall well and truly 

 execute all process and precepts sent unto you from the 

 justices of the peace of the county ; and you shall make 

 good and faithful presentments of all bloodsheds, outcries, 

 affrays, and rescues made within your office : and you shall 

 well and truly, according to your own power and know 

 ledge, do that which belongeth to your office of constable 

 to do, for this year to come. So help/ &c. 



