100 JUDICIAL CHARGE UPON THE 



Besides open force, there is a kind of force that 

 cometh with an armed hand, but disguised, that is 

 no less hateful and hurtful ; and that is, abuse and 

 oppression by authority. And therefore you shall 

 inquire of all extortions, in officers and ministers; as 

 sheriffs, bailiffs of hundreds, escheators, coroners, 

 constables, ordinaries, and others, who by colour of 

 office do poll the people. 



For frauds and deceits, I do chiefly commend to 

 your care the frauds and deceits in that which is the 

 chief means of all just contract and permutation, 

 which is, weights and measures ; wherein, although 

 God hath pronounced that a false weight is an 

 abomination, yet the abuse is so common and so 

 general, I mean of weights, and I speak upon know 

 ledge and late examination, that if one were to 

 build a church, he should need but false weights, 

 and not seek them far, of the piles of brass to make 

 the bells, and the weights of lead to make the bat 

 tlements : and herein you are to make special 

 inquiry, whether the clerk of the market within the 

 verge, to whom properly it appertains, hath done 

 his duty. 



For nuisances and grievances, I will for the pre 

 sent only single out one, that ye present the decays 

 of highways and bridges ; for where the majesty of 

 a king s house draws recourse and access, it is both 

 disgraceful to the king, and diseaseful to the people, 

 if the ways near-abouts be not fair and good ; 

 wherein it is strange to see the chargeable pave 

 ments and causeways in the avenues and entrances 



