RURAL ECONOMY IN YORKSHIRE IN 1041. 91 



allwayes sufficient and able men bownd with them for the well 

 executinge of theire offices, and performance of theire charge 

 that they take in hand. Some Sheriffes give the bailyes theire 

 places freely, others againe wiU sell a baihffes place for tenne 

 powndes, or lifteene powndes. When an High Sherifte goeth 

 out of place hee is to give all such matters as are not fully 

 finished into the succeediuge Sheriffes accoimtes. As the head 

 bailyes or bailyes of weapontackes stande bownde to the High 

 Sheriffe, soe they hkewise appoynte under baihffes whoe lye in 

 suretyes to them for the well discharginge of theire offices ; and 

 out of everie process which an under-baily serveth the heade 

 baily is to have 8d., or some say 16d., and the imder baily that 

 serveth them but 8d. The baily of every weapontacke is to 

 keepe a courte, which is called the weapontacke-courte, three 

 weeke-courte, or Sheriffes tiu-ne ; wheare any pettie cause or 

 small trespasse may bee heard and ended once within three 

 weekes ; the baily himselfe is in steade of atturney to both 

 plaintive and defendant for bringinge of theire cause to a 

 tryall ; the steward of the com'te is the judge, and instruckter 

 of the jmy ; the jury is either of townes-men or neare neigh- 

 bours, whoe are (for theire paines) to bee allowed 6s., viz. ; 7d. 

 a man, which is to bee payd by the partie that is casten, or 

 losseth the suite. 



The Manner of Ratinge, Assessing e, and Levyinge of 

 polle-money. 



The commissioners beinge nominated by the Parhament, and 

 theire commission sent downe, some of the commissioners, 

 whoe are justices of the peace and men of most note, direckt 

 theire warrants to all the cheife constables in that weapon- 

 tacke, gi\dnge them authority and charge to sende abroade theire 

 warrants to aU and singular pettie-constables within theire se- 

 verall beacons and divisions, enjoyninge them hkewise to nomi- 

 nate and sette downe within theire warrants whoe shall be the 

 assessors in each towne, viz. ; for everie gi'eate towne fower, 

 and for everie lesser towne, two, and those of the ablest and 

 most miderstandinge men ; this beinge done, the cheife consta- 

 ble is to give directions to all pettie constables that they give 

 present warninge to all such persons within theire severall con- 

 stableries as are nominated for assessors, to bee and personally 

 appeare before the commissioners att such a place, such a day, 

 and such an houre, then and there to receive fiu'ther instruc- 

 tions from the commissioners concerninge what is to bee done 

 in that kinde ; then when they come togeather, the manner is 

 for the pettie constables and assessors of one whole beacon or 



