PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE JUSTICES 73 



set specific wages are prescribed, and for the second, 

 the rates of the twentieth year, both as to wages for their 

 labour and as to prices for their products ; the third set 

 of artisans, and all other workmen, artisans and labourers, 

 and ail other servants not specified are to take an oath 

 before the justices that they will obey these articles ; a 

 still later clause describing the powers of the justices 

 mentions workmen, labourers and all other servants, and 

 also hostelers, innkeepers and sellers of victuals and of 

 other commodities not specified. 



In the second group it is stated that lords, seneschals, 

 bailiffs and constables are to impose on agricultural 

 labourers twice a year the oaths of good behavior re- 

 ferred to, and to punish delinquents by stocks; the last 

 three sets of officials are themselves to be sworn before 

 the justices to investigate all cases of disobedience to the 

 statute and to report the same at quarter sessions, and 

 are liable to punishment by the justices for neglect of 

 their duties.' 



An examination of the existing rolls shows that occa- 

 sionally the phraseology of the indictment is ambiguous : 

 "he infringed against the statute" ''or he was convicted 

 in a plea of trespass,"^ but more often the accusation is 

 specific. A few examples must be cited under the var- 

 ious clauses of the law. 



Compulsory service clause? A smith will not work for 

 his neighbors but prefers the service of others at a higher 

 than the legal rate : ^ several men are vagabonds by night 



' 13-15- '145 and 158. 



"For the attitude of the upper courts toward this clause, cf. pt. ii, ch. 

 ii, s. 4. 

 ' i6<;. 



