Wiltshire Quarter Sessions. 



103 



Easter next ; 93 disputes are referred to justices out of sessions ; the 

 appointment of a tythingman, and the swearing-in of a hundred con- 

 stable are commanded. Pensions are granted to maimed soldiers, 

 and provisional arrangement is made for the repair of a bridge dis- 

 claimed by everybody. 



After the orders, are to be found the elections of the constables 

 of the Hundreds of Alderbury, Amesbury, Branch and Dole, Damer- 

 ham South, and Underditch. 



The work of the sessions closes with a humane order for enquiry 

 into an apparently genuine grievance laid before the court by the 

 tenants of the Manor of Stert, who as set forth at page 90, were 

 threatened with expulsion from their homes in a somewhat summary 

 fashion. 



XIX. — References to Justices out of Sessions. 



But the favourite method of dealing with controverted non- 

 criminal matters was to refer them for decision to two or more of 

 the local justices living within reach of the disputants. How nice 

 or how rough was the justice which these neighbouring arbitrators 

 administered there is nothing to show for certain. From the con- 

 sistent adoption however, year after year of this same mode of 

 adjusting differences there is every reason to suppose that in the 

 main it gave satisfaction alike to the suitors and to the court. The 

 action of the referees does not seem to have been limited within 

 hard and fast limits. The court with a seeming disposition to be quit 

 of the affair if possible, is repeatedly urging them " to end the cause 

 if they can." 



A few cases may be cited. 



Epiphany, 19th Elizabeth : — 



" Md that by commandment of Sir James Mervyn Knight I am to signifye 

 hereafter that Christpr Frowde hathe chosen him the sayd Sir James to be his 

 Arbitrator between Frowde aforesaid and J ohn Batten And that further each 

 of the said Batten and Frowde shall be bound to stand to the Award of the sayd 

 Sir James and of such other as the sayd Batten shall name And that if the Award 

 be not fyneshed by the ed of the gen r all Sessions of the peace to be holden next 

 at Warm r (then they to be at large) and that Batten have one other sufficient 

 surety e to be bounde with him for performance of the Award on his part." 



