74 History of the English Landed Interest. 



village policeman of the nineteenth century. Even the short 

 staff and the manner in which it was kept out of sight ^ till 

 absolutely required stamped the headborough as the prototype 

 of that official afterwards created by Sir Robert Peel. 



From the Orders of the Privy Council already mentioned, we 

 learn that these petty constables were, in all parishes, to be 

 "chosen of the abler sort of parishioners," and that, because 

 "it is found by dayly experience, that the remissenesse and 

 negligence " of these subordinate officials " is a great cause 

 of the swarming of rogues and beggars, therefore the high 

 constables in their severall divisions are specially to be 

 charged to looke into the petty constables that they use 

 diligence in their offices ; and the high constables to present 

 to the Justices of Peace the defaults of the Petty Constables," 

 etc., etc. 



The same Council further ordered that " Watches in the night 

 and Warding by day" were to be appointed in everj' town and 

 village for the apprehension of rogues and vagabonds, and for 

 safety and good order. 



It will probably interest our readers to learn that two other 

 old communal officers not only survived then, but have lin- 

 gered on to the present day. In several parishes in Lanca- 

 shire, possibly in some also of other counties, the ancient 

 communal herdsman and the two champions or burleymen are 

 important if seldom employed officials. In our own district, 

 for example, where the penfold or pound has long vanished, 

 and the police have relieved the communal herdsman of his 

 task of looking after stray livestock, he as well as the two 

 burleymen are solemnly elected each recurring Lady Day by 

 a small and select conclave of ratepayers. 



Under the protection of these various institutions for the 

 prevention, detection, and punishment of crime, our forefathers 

 lived more or less secure in the rural England of a.d. 1700. 

 The deterrent influence which could not fail to be exercised 

 by the sight of the gibbet, pillor}'^, whipping-post and stocks 

 erected in those particular spots throughout the land, where the 



» The Neto State of England, Part III. cli. vii. p. 78. 



