SEVERAL proposals, tendered to the consideration of the honourable Committee for Regulating of Courts of Justice, for a through Reformation thereof, and the general satisfaction of all the Nation, save only some 20 or few more of the head Officers; who being taken away, and these proposals granted, will save the Commonwealth many hundred thousand pounds in few years.  
THAT the Grand and Head Officers of the several Courts of Westminster, as the Six-Clearks, Prothonotharies, and the like; having in the reign of the late Kings, and times of Monopolies and Patentees, obtained divers Patents of several impertinent Offices and vast Fees, have and do take the same, and force the People to pay them accordingly: By means whereof they have and do raise great sums of money out of the people's Purses and purchase great Estates therewith; And yet will not suffer the true labourers, that discharge all the Offices, and take all the pains to have so much as will reasonably maintain them, their Wives and Families.  
1. THAT all the head Officers and Masters of Offices, may be required to bring in all their Fees and Demands, to the end it may appear to the Committee what vast sums they raise for doing no manner of service for the same, but merely keep books of Receipts and Entries of what they receive, and subscribe their names to what they neither peruse nor understand.  
2. That all Deputies, Under-clearks and other inferior Officers, that do perform all the service, and dispatch all the people's businesses, may be also required to bring in Particulars of what they receive for their Fees and pains; and what they will be contented to take for dispatching the business of the Commonwealth in each Office: And also to bring in the names of such Offices as are burdensome and unnecessary; to the end the same may be taken away, and also to Propose a way for supply thereof, less burdensome to the Commonwealth, with more speedy dispatch of business.  
3. That this being done, all these head or chief Officers may be taken away, and some honest able Men chosen out of the several Offices, to make Entries and Registries, to supply their rooms, and to have a certain rasonable Stipend for the same; and the rest of the inferior Officers and clerks, that take all the pains, to have some reasonable allowance for the same, viz. one part out of three of the Fees now taken by the head Officers, or but half thereof at most.  
4. That all the needless and chargeable Entries, tedious Proceedings (which the head Officers have contrived in the several Courts, for their own vast advantage) may be abolished: And that the inferior Officers and clerks, may bring in Particulars to the Committee for the due regulation thereof, and shortening of Proceedings, whereby Causes may be speedier heard, at cheaper rates then formerly.  
5. That all Fines paid to Cursitors, in England, upon any Original sued forth, and all Fines paid upon levying of Fines and Recoveries, in Wales, and all damage-clear may be quite abolished; being grievous Monopolies and Oppressions, which depended only on kingly Government, and ought now, to die with the Government.  
6. That hereafter no Judges, Lord Keepers or Lords Commissioners, or Masters of the Rolls, may receive any Fees under any notion whatsoever but only a Stipend suitable to their Places and Trusts; it being a dishonour for Persons of their Degree to take Fees: And that they may not practise whilst in Commission for Judges, nor sell any Places or Offices, as formerly they have done, for vast sums; and suffer the same to be executed by men that were never bred up in such Places and employments.  
7. That the grievous oppression of gaolers and Keepers of Prisons, and their under Officers may be eased, and that they may not rob both Creditor & Debtor, as formerly; but may hereafter have certain Stipends and allowances suitable to their trust and places, and that there may be fewer Prisons than are now used.  
8. That the like course may be taken with Sheriffs, bailiffs, Ketchpoles, and others their Agents; by whose extortion and indirect practice the People are grievously oppressed and damnified.  
9 That all arrests by those vexatious writs of Latitats, Bills of Middlesex, Quo Minus, Capias and the like, and that indirect proceedings to the outlawry unknown to the party Outlawed may be abolished: And that before any man's Person shall be arrested or restrained he may have legal summons, by way of original or other Writ, directed to the sheriff for that purpose, to be done personally, or else at his dwelling house with his Family, or other place of his usual and constant abode: And that there be fourteen days warning from the time of his personal summons and the day of his appearance at least; and a month between the time of summons left at his house, &c. and the day of his appearance; and if upon due return made of such Summons the party do not appear, either in Person, or by Attorney on Record, whereby the plaintiff may be enabled to proceed; the plaintiff to be at liberty, to proceed with process against his person or goods; or else, by way of outlawry, to force his appearance, and obedience to the Law. But I refer myself to Mr. Leach his proposals; who if required to attend the Committee can inform them at large of these and many more abuses.  
10. That all Justices of Peace may have a certain annual stipend out of the public Treasury, for their service; And neither they, nor their clerks, Servants, or Agents, to take any other fees, gratuities, or rewards, save only the usual allowed fees, taken by the clerks for their warrants, and for binding men, &c.  
11. That all men's estates may be made liable to pay their just debts; & no fradulent entails, or other feigned estates in trust, may avoid the real Creditor. And that no man may be imprisoned, that hath not wherewithal to satisfy his Creditor.  
12. That (for avoiding the defrauding of Creditors, and divers suits and inconveniences, that come by entails) these entails may be taken away; And that all men's estates may be reduced to a more certainty & plainness. And that (according to many true and former proposals) there may be a public Register, in every County, to Register all Deeds, Contracts, Agreements, bargains, &c. And Commissioners appointed to receive their acknowledgement; which will avoid many hundred suits, & other inconveniences to the commonwealth.  
13. That for the avoiding of many litigious suits, for small matters; which may be easily tried at a cheaper rate, in the town Court, County Court, &c. in the proper County where the Action lies. Hereafter no action, or suit, may be commenced in any of the Courts of Westminster, for any cause whatsoever, under twenty pounds in value, unless the party defendant live in London or Middlesex; or doth reside or remain there at the time of the Action brought; whereby he may receive due summons before arrest, according to the former proposal.  
14. That the marshal's Court, being a vexatious, troublesome, chargeable, and unnecessary Court, may be quite abolished and taken away. And that so much of the Exchequer, and Chequer of Pleas as had relation, and dependence on Kingly Government; and shall be now found inconvenient, or burdensome to the commonwealth may be also abolished.  
15. That the fees, and number of Lawyers may be ascertained; and they not suffered to swarm, as they do, before they have either experience or practise: The great ones now devouring the little ones; so that one cannot subsist by the other. And for the better regulation of the Law, and avoiding those many grievous inconveniences, which daily experience doth teach, by permitting Lawyers that are members of the House, to have some of them, great Offices, which by their power they uphold; and others to practise at Westminster, and in the Circuits, when they should attend their duty, in discharge of their trust in Parliament. That hereafter no member of Parliament shall enjoy any Offices belonging to the Law; or practice in any Court, or Circuit, whilst they continue members of Parliament: which if granted, will advantage the commonwealth many thousand pounds in the year.  
16. That the number of Attorneys may be ascertained, together with their fees: and not to suffer every broken man, or litigious person to be Attorney; that are neither of ability to do the business, or to answer for what they do: it being often in the power of an Attorney to ruin many, if they be so wickedly bent. And that no Malignant, or ill-affected Lawyers, or Attorneys, or other Officers, may be suffered to practise or officiate.  
17. That the same course may be taken with Solicitors; and none to be permitted to solicit; unless he be approved by the Judges of the same Court and sworn, as attorneys be; and their names enroled; and their fees, and number ascertained. And that no Offices or Places whatsoever, be bought, or sold, as hitherto hath been practised, to the great prejudice of the commonwealth.  
If these proposals be entertained with the same affection and zeal as they have been penned, and the Author encouraged; he intends to present divers more; which may prove very good, for information of the Committee: and if by them thought fit to be granted, will prove, in all likelihood, of vast use and benefit to the commonwealth.