2l0 A BORDfiR WARDEN COtJRT 



Our knowledge of what took place at these meetings, and of 

 the course of procedure, is chiefly due to the zeal of Dr. 

 William Nicolson, Bishop of Carlisle from 1702 to 1718, the 

 results of whose investigations have been printed under the 

 title of Leges Marchiarum. 



An English Warden Court in the reign of Queen Elizabeth 

 was opened by the Wardens' oflicers proclaiming silence, in 

 order that the Royal Commission of Wardens might be read. 

 The Grand Jury, drawn from the gentlemen of the district 

 summoned to serve on the jury, was impannelled and duly 

 sworn. The following oath was administered to the foreman 

 of the jury : — 



" Ye shall trulie enquire, and trewe presentment maike of all 

 thyngs that shall be gyven yowe in charpje, the Qnene's counsell, 

 yower fellowes' and yower owne, ye shall keipe and not dysclose. 

 So help yow God and Holydom." 



After the i^est of the jury had been sworn, in fours, an 

 ^exhortation was made to them as to their duty to the 

 Commonwealth. The address ended with these words : — 



" Therfor stand together, and here yower charge." 



The jury was charged, first to enquire of March treason, 

 that is to say — 



" Where any Inglyshe man trystes or entercommoneth, or bryngeth 

 in any Scottes man to come into this realnie, in time of peace or 

 warr, to do any slaughter, to burne, robb, steale, or do any other 

 offence within this realme." 



And amongst other subjects it was charged to enquire 

 whether any Englishman in time of peace or war supported any 

 Scotsman — 



" With anye armoure or artillarye belonginge to warr, as jacks, 

 splentes, brigandens, coits of playt, billes, halberdes, battel-axes, 

 bowes, arrows, speires, dartes, or any manner of gunnes, as 

 serpentines, half-hawks, harque-buzes, cnrryes, colyvers, hand 

 gunnes or daggers." 



Whether they have had business-dealing, by water or land, 

 in fairs, markets or otherwise, by selling to any Scots man or 

 woman without a licence of the Lord Warden, etc., etc. 



