2i6 ENFORCEMENT OF THE STATUTES OF LABOURERS 



urer and the barons of the exchequer, that twice after- 

 wards in the course of the decade caused changes in the 

 law as to the disposition of these same penalties; first, in 

 the matter of the claims of the lords of franchises, and 

 second, in the application of certain arrears of penalties. It 

 was the council again, apparently at the instigation of the 

 king, which issued special grants of the penalties to certain 

 favored individuals. It is to be kept constantly in mind 

 that the systematic control exercised by the exchequer 

 over the work of the justices of labourers, was undoubt- 

 edly on many more occasions than have been noted, subject 

 to the supervision and advice of the council through the con- 

 necting link of the treasurer who was a member of the 

 council. 



The form of the commissions issued to the justices of 

 labourers and the limits of the geographical districts with- 

 in which they were to act, seem to have been decided by 

 the council ; and while there are on record many petitions 

 in parliament in the matter of the extension of the juris- 

 diction of the justices of labourers, notably in their relation 

 to the preservation of the peace, and of the question of the 

 consolidation of the two commissions, it appears that the 

 council had really settled the matter previous to the par- 

 liamentary legislation on the subject. The appointment of 

 the justices and their removal are chiefly in the hands of the 

 council, subject undoubtedly to suggestions from local 

 communities; the supervision of the proceedings of the 

 justices is steadily exercised by the council, through the 

 issue of supplementary instructions to them, or through the 

 appointment of special commissions of investigation ; on at 

 least one occasion, even during the short period under con- 

 sideration, there is an appeal to the council from the parties 

 to a suit brought in the first instance before the justices of 

 labourers. More rarely, the council, instead of acting 



