Sergeant THORPE Judge OF ASSIZE for the NORTHERN CIRCVIT, His CHARGE, As it was delivered to the Grand-Jury at York Assizes the twentieth of March, 1648. and taken in Shortwriting. Clearly epitomizing the Statutes belonging to this Nation, which concerns (and, as a golden rule, aught to regulate) the several estates and conditions of men. And (being duly observed) do really promote the Peace and Plenty of this Commonwealth. Printed at York by Tho: Broad, 1649. Sergeant Thorp, Judge of the Assize for the Northern Circuit, his Charge, as it was delivered at York Assizes 20 March, 1648. and taken in Shorthand. GEntlemen, Friends, and Countrymen, I do not question but that the Style, and Title of our Commissions under which we are now to act and execute the Authority and Power committed to our hands, being changed from Carolus Rex Angliae, to Custodes Libertatis Angliae Authoritate Parliamenti, works divers effects upon the Tempers and spirits of men, according as the spirits themselves are tempered and affected; and that some of those spirits (like the Sun upon Wax) it softens into Obedience and compliance, and others of them again (like the same Sun upon Clay) it hardens into stiffness and oppression. Proud, Ambitious, and Malignant spirits finding themselves frustrated and defeated hereby of their designed Hopes and hopeful Designs, for obtaining their desired Ends; and being filled with prejudice to others, and self-love to their own opinions, and therefore having turned themselves aside from the use of their own Reason, and from all Overtures and Arguments of satisfaction, and having given up their understanding to blind Affections,— it startles and confounds with Passions and Amazements, heightened into choler and disdain; Because looking thorough the false Glass of their own self-Interest, they find nothing therein but imaginary shake of Foundations, overturning of Laws, and confused heaps of Ruins & Distractions. But to these, if any such be present, (especially if they have been formerly engaged in open War against the public Interest of the Nation, and so are cast by God's justice for their Transgressions into a mean and low condition) All I shall say (with the poor comfort of calamity, Pity) is this, That if they have not already tasted enough of the Cup of God's wrath for their misdoings, let them take heed they engage not again, for fear that hereafter they be enforced to drink the dregs of his displeasure. Other silly spirits there are, who standing unbottomed upon any solid Principles of their own, find themselves tossed to and fro with the Wind which blows from others mouths; one while, listening to the Prophet who bids them go up to Ramoth-Gilead and prosper; and by and by again yielding to him that bids them not go up for fear of perishing, and so they are carried into cross and obliqne opinions and actions, tending to, and endangering their utter Ruin and Destruction. And to these men, all I shall say, and advise, is this, That they will forthwith repair to the School of Reason, and suffer themselves to be guided and led by impartial and wholesome Lessons and Instructions, to a better Information of their judgements, whereby they may be settled upon undeniable grounds in the knowledge of themselves and the truth, and of their own Right, Interest, and Concernment. But another sort of men there are, who are willing to let their eyes stand in the place where Nature set them, and to make use of that Reason and judgement which God hath given them, and with erected minds, to apprehend the sense of their own future happiness, and to hearken to the voice which calls them to the flourishing actions of a reformed Commonwealth, and therefore do entertain this Change with suitable Opinions and Compliance from these grounds which they thus propound and argue with themselves. 1. That all Power and Authority is Originally and Primarily in God, and comes from God; and this they rest upon as being a Scripture truth. 2. That God, out of his Wisdom and Providence, hath dispensed and transmitted so much of this Authority and Power to men, as is necessary for their use. First, as in relation to the Inferior Creatures, to Rule and Govern them as Lord and King. And as in relation to one another from a Principle of Nature, [Conservatio suiipsius] To seek and endeavour their own preservation and security, which Principle draws them to this Conclusion [Salus populi suprema Lex,] The safety of the people is the supreme Law both of Nature and Nations. And from this Natural Principle, and supreme Law of Nature, however all men in their Original Creation are all of one and the same Substance, Mould, and Stamp, yet for preservations sake, they find a fitness in Subordinations and Degrees among them, for the better ordering of their Affairs; and so they appoint Rulers, and authorise Governors over them, as trusties for themselves. They also elect Government, create Rules, Orders, and Laws, by which they will have their Rulers and Governors to guide and Steer their Actions in the course of their Government, to which they will conform their obedience: and this Truth is ascertained from hence, That there were People before there were either Rulers or Governors of People, and that therefore these Rulers and Governors were but made by the People, and for the people, with this Reserve, That whensoever the people should perceive that their trusties & Governors did turn potestatem into potenti●m, the Power and Authority of Government, by Rule and Law formerly agreed upon, and consented unto by the people, into an Armed Force; and that they did alter the People's Rempublicam into the Governors Rem privatam, and that their Government ceasing to be free, was made to hang over the people's heads as a Lordly Scourge to their destruction; Then, and from, thenceforth, and that with good comeliness of reason, the people betake themselves to thoughts of Reformation; and finding cause to dislike their former choice, being not tied by any Scripture to any one Form of Government, they choose again and take some other Form, differing from that before, whereby they will avoid the evils they suffered under their former choice, and enjoy the good of a more beneficial preservation; for, like Mariners and men in a Ship at Sea, they will no longer trust an unskilful or perfidious Steersman, lest they should be found guilty of their own ensuing Shipwreck and destruction. This brings me to the next Assertion and Position, which I own as a most certain Truth and my greatest earthly assurance, That the People [under God] is the Original of all just Power, and that let the Government run out into what Form it will, Monarchy, Aristocracy, or Democracy, yet still the Original Fountain thereof is from the Consent and Agreement of the People. From this Assertion and Position I am led on further, by plain reason to understand, That Rulers and Governors are accountable to the People for their misgovernment; namely, when they transgress the Rules and Laws by which the people did agree they would be governed. But let me not be mistaken, for when I say Accountable to the People, I do not mean to the humours and fancies of particular men in their single & natural capacities, but to the people in their Politic Constitution, lawfully assembled by their Representative. Touching the Government of this Nation, it hath anciently been Monarchical in the frame and constitution of it, but yet it never was a pure Monarchy, for a pure Monarchy is a clear Tyranny; but it was a Political Monarchy, or Monarchy governed by Laws, taking in thereto all the goods, and avoiding all the ills both of Aristocracy and Democracie; and so I may truly say, that look upon the Frame and constitution of it alone, and as it were, upon the theoretical and contemplative part of it; and supposing it possible that the Practice would answer the Theory, no man can deny, but that it was a Frame of most excellent Order and Beauty; For, first, it had a King the chiefest Officer, one single Person; and therefore avoiding the proud Factions and contentions usually happening in Aristocracy, as likewise the disordered confusions common in single Democracy; but yet a King bounded and compassed with Laws above him, being the Rules already made and given him to Rule by; and with a necessity of concurrence and compliance with Lords and Commons below him, for future Legislative Power and Authority, and so avoiding the danger of Tyranny usually incident to Monarchies, which commonly makes the Monarches Will the Law, and so establishing the Government upon this Foundation, Voluntas Imperatoris Lex esto. But [alas] when I have showed you the Frame and Constitution of the late Government, I have showed you all the Beauty of it; for when you come to examine the practical part, you shall find nothing less than excellency or perfection in it. Look into your own Stories, and you shall always find the King and great Lords (Comites suos, as they were called) encroaching upon the people's Liberties & Rights, encroaching to themselves superlative Prerogatives, and Dominion over them: On the other side you shall find again the People struggling to preserve themselves and their own Interest, labouring still to avoid the miseries and to free themselves from the mischiefs of their sufferings. The Times and Transactions before the Norman William got the Crown, and which passed among the Britain's, Romans, Danes, and Saxons, being dark and obscure, I pass by, and therefore I shall only speak something of the times and transactions since. First, the Tyrannical Domination of that first William and his son the second William, gave the People to see their ensuing miseries; for though they made choice of the second William, who was but a second son, and rejected Robert his Elder Brother, yet they soon found their kindness was suddenly forgotten, when once the Crown was obtained, and therefore they refused when he was dead to choose again, till by engagements, Oaths, and Royal Promises of better Government, they were cheated into a second Election of Henry the first, who was a younger brother likewise. But it was not long after ere Monarchy played Rex, and Pleasure and Will Ruled, the whole Kingdom almost was turned into Forests; the Laws which the people were brought to live under, and obey, were the cruel and insupportable Laws of the Forest, which were made rather to preserve the Beasts, than the People within the bounds of Forests. Then the people finding no other remedy, betook themselves to thoughts of Reformation, as I told you at the first. And in the time of King Stephen, at Renymeed, they demanded restitution of St. Edward's Laws, for so they called that Saxon Edward, who was dead many years before, without any Heir or Successor of that kind, (for we never read of any St. King since him:) And by those Laws they say they will be governed, and to those Laws they will conform. Hereupon a new Compact is made, the Articles of Renymeed, containing most of St. Edward's Laws, are confirmed and established, by consent in Parliament, & so the people are for that time satisfied, and think themselves very safe (as they well might think so) under the security of an Act of Parliament. But yet this Act proved no security, for in a short time after all was let lose again, and the same mischiefs and oppressions upon the people were still continued, as before, and many more additions made thereto, to the utter enslaving of the English Nation. Hereupon the people stand up once more for their Liberties and Native Rights in the ancient Laws of the Land, and demand the second time to have them confirmed, and to be kept from violation; and so in the ninth year of King Henry the third was the great Charter of the Liberties of England [being but a Declaration of the ancient Common Laws of the Land, and little differing from the Articles of Renymeed, together with the Charter of the Forest,] framed and consented unto in full Parliament, and are the first Acts of Parliament now extant in Print. And so the people sat down again under the protection of this second Security; but how weak a Security it proved, let the practice of the next King, and all succeeding Kings tell you, though it hath been confirmed and allowed by themselves two and thirty times; for in the two next Kings times you shall find the goodmen of the Land discountenanced, and vain, lose, and wanton persons to be the men in highest esteem; nay, Murderers and Robbers and the like, cherished and maintained; and if brought to public justice, and condemned for their misdoings, yet pardoned again, and set at Liberty, and though [by the Fundamental Law] Parliaments [the usual Salve for the people's Soars] were to be called and held twice a year, yet were they laid aside, and rarely made use of; and then when they were called, it was but to serve the King's turn for granting Subsidies, or the like And this when the people perceived, in the time of King Edward the second, they thought fit to question his misgovernment by Articles of Impeachment in Parliament against him, and then to depose him from his Kingly Office, and to make his Son (during his Father's life-time) Warden of the Kingdom, and shortly after they made him King (while his father lived) by the name of Edward the third. And now are Acts of Parliament made against the former mischiefs: first, against the Kings granting Pardons to Robbers and Murderers; and four Acts of Parliament are made in the neck of one another, 6. E. 1. 9 2. E. 3. 2. 4. E. 3. 13. 10. E. 3. 2. 14. E. 3. 13. and pursuing one another before telling the King plainly, that he may not, he must not grant Pardons, but where he may do it by his Oath, namely, in case of Homicide, by misfortune, and Homicide in his own defence. Secondly, for more frequent holding of Parliaments, namely, That they should be held once a year, and oftener if need be. But little effect did these produce, for the mischiefs have continued, and the people have still suffered (by the breach of those Laws, even until these very times) the very same mischiefs as before. In the time of King Richard the second, the disorders of the Court, and Oppressions upon the people from thence were so great and unsupportable, that the people Articled against that King, and likewise deposed him; and so they afterward did in like manner Depose King Henry the sixth, & K. Edward the fourth by consent in Parliament. Thus you see how the exercise of Kingly Office within this Nation hath been made use on to the damage of the people, and how the people again have put in ure their Authority over their Kings, to call them to an account for their mis-governments. Touching the last King much hath been said, and too much hath been felt by this County, in relation to the last War. But (pardon me if I tell you so) it was a just punishment of God upon us of this County; for, I may truly say, the War had its Rise and Beginning here, here in this County, nay, here in this Court, for this was the first place in England where any Grand-Juries of the County charged themselves and their Country men with any Tax to raise a War against the Public Interest of the people, as they did here when at Summer Assizes in the year 1642. they charged the County with a Tax of 8600 pounds, to maintain 1000 Dragoons upon pretence to keep the Country in Peace. But, alas, the Dragoons were no sooner raised, but they were made use on for another Service, namely, to attend the King's Standard at Nottingham, and from thence were carried to fight at Edgehill against the Parliaments Forces, for better keeping the Peace in Yorkshire. And though it be true, that this Tax of 8600 pounds was never levied, yet our own great Lords and Gentlemen made it the Foundation and Rise of another Tax of thirty thousand pounds, which they laid and levied upon the County in October after, for bringing in the Earl of Newcastle and his Forces. But (as I said before) God's punishment is just upon us, for as the War began here, so it hath ever since continued among us, even at this day, when all the rest of the Kingdom is in Peace and quietness, only we are now upon Sieging, at our own Charge, of you cursed Castle at Pontefract, which began at first, and continueth to be the last of all our Enemies Holds and Garrisons within this Nation. But to return to the point of the King's Encroachments upon the People's Liberties, and therein I will clearly tell you my own thoughts in one particular, and instance in that one, (but it is to my Apprehension, Vnum magnum, and instar omnium) it is as the Lion said of her Whelp when the Fox upbraided her, That she was not so fruitful in procreation as the Fox, but brought forth only one Lion at once, ('tis true, saith the Lion) but that one is a Lion: And so I may say by the King's Negative Voice in Parliament, for admit but this one piece of Prerogative to be just, and consonant to the Constitution of the Government, and I dare affirm, that the English Nation were in a possibility (by that Constitution of Government) to be as arrant Slaves and Vassals, as were in Turkey, or among the Moors in the Galleys: For let the King put what Oppression he will upon the People, let their grievances and burdens be never so great, and let him [at the people's Desires] call Parliaments for redress thereof never so often, and let never so good Bills be prepared and presented to him, for Reformation, yet still he shall put them off with this Royal Compliment, Le Roy Sadvisera, signifying (quoad the Practice) in plain English, I will not help you, nor release the unjust Burdens and Oppressions I have laid upon you. But add to this that other Encroachment of the Lords Negative Voice upon the people, which they also have with much lordliness practised in answer to the Commons Bills, though of highest concernment for their Weal, (however they express that Negative in Court Language and good words, We will send an answer by Messengers of our own; as if the people should expect they meant to return some concurrence with them, when [God knows] nothing is less thought upon, or meant by them.) And now let the people see their own condition, now let them consider how they have been abused by good words and phrases, which if they had clearly & universally understood the meaning of; or if these Negatives had been clearly expressed, in downright language, [We will not help you, or, We will not ease you of your Burdens or Oppressions that lie so heavy upon you,] truly than I presume the people would long since have been stirred up to help themselves, and to have endeavoured as well to take away the mischief, as to avoid the misery of such a Government. For mine own part I speak it freely from my heart, That as I am a Freeman both by Birth an Education, and am Inheritable to the Laws and Free-customs of England; so I do naturally desire the security of Government, and I do willingly submit to the justice of known Laws: But I have ever adhorred all Arbitrary Powers, or to be subject to the Wills or Passions of men; & therefore I have always thought (since I could think any thing upon grounds of Judgement or Reason) That so long as these two Negatives remained upon the people, there could be no security or freedom in their Government; and there was no one thing that hath so firmly fixed me in the way I have gone, wherein I now am, and to oppose the other, as the mischiefs I understood to be in the two Negative Voices of the King and the Lords. Adding to these two fundamental Court-Errours, and destructive Positions, maintained and held forth to the people by flattering Royalists, and proud and ambitious Prelates and Courtiers, viz. First, That the King had an Original right to Rule; And secondly, That the King was accountable to none but GOD for his misgovernment: Lay but these two together with the Negative Voice, and let any man judge what they may and must necessarily produce in point of Tyranny and Oppression over the people. Thus have I shown you the true Original of all Power and Authority, and from whence it is that the Exercise of Authority and Power is practised among men, over one another; I have showed you also the justice which lies in this, That Kings, Rulers, and Governors [and particularly the King of this Nation] should be accountable to the People for their misgovernments; and how destructive a Tenent it is to say, That a King hath right to Rule over men upon Earth, and that yet GOD hath not given a Power to earthly men to call him to account for misgovernment; unless you will suppose that Kings at first did fall from Heaven, and were sent down from above to exercise their wills, and act their lusts below. Having said thus much upon this subject only to give a hint, from whence you may observe (till the Parliaments own Declaration be published, which I hope will fully and clearly set them out) what the Grounds and Reasons were that the Parliament hath found the Kingly Office within this Nation to be useless, and dangerous, and why therefore they will no more trust the Crown upon the Head of any one Person, nor transfer the custody of the Liberties of England and Englishmen into the Power of another, who may abuse them; and therefore why likewise they resolve to keep the Crown within its proper place the Cabinet of the Law, and to allow the Law only to King it among the people, and that the people themselves [by their Representatives] shall be the only Keepers of their own Liberties, by Authority derived from their own Supreme and Sovereign power; which brings me now to the stile of our Commissions, Custodes libertatis Angliae Authoritate Parliamenti. And touching the King of England his right to Rule, or Title of Law by Inheritance and Descent to the Crown of England, thus much may be safely and truly said, That if it be an Ancient and Original Inheritance fixed in one Family, it was gained at first by the power of the sword, and by Conquest, which Title in Law is but a disseisin and an unlawful Title, and therefore may be again as justly regained, as it was gained at first by Force, and by the stronger Arm and sharper Sword; And as it was so gained at first, so it hath been ever since either by the like pure force, or else by consent in Parliament upon particular cases kept and maintained; and so you will find if you look how every King since the Norman William (called the Conqueror) came to the Crown; For of all those four and twenty Kings and Queens which have since that time Kingd it among us, there are but seven of them who could pretend Legally to succeed their former Predecessors, either by Lineal, or Collateral Title. I have not leisure to repeat the particulars, and this I have said may serve to give you occasion (if you be so minded) to look further into it, and to satisfy your judgements herein, and by consequence to keep you from engaging against yourselves and the Nation, for a Name, or for a Thing which is not truth. Now I come to that which is our true business, our work of the first magnitude, Opus diei in die suo, the Articles of your Charge which I intent [for the better helping of your memories] to deliver to you in writing, with the Laws and the punishments, and briefly to run over the rehearsal of the Facts only, without further mention concerning them; yet with such necessary Expositions and Explanations of particulars as shall be needful in my passage through them; adding only this for an Animadversion to you, That you and I are trusted at this time with the administration of Justice in our own Country, amidst all the Temptations which our several Relations of Friends, Kindred, or Acquaintance can Offer unto us; which shows, that they who do so trust us, have great assurance and confidence in us; and then we must conclude, that this confidence puts a greater obligation upon us to fidelity and integrity in the discharge and performance of that Trust committed to us; add to this that [Vinculum animae] the Bond of the Soul the Obligation of an Oath, and I doubt not but it will be found, that though Love, Fear, and particular Interest be the usual Cords which halter Justice, that yet at this time they will be found to be among us but sorry and unmasculine pieces of Rhetoric, either to affright us from, or soften us in our duties. The matter of your Charge will be to inquire into, and find out the several Offences which have been committed and done against the Politic Body of the Commonwealth, as so many several Diseases and infirmities in the several parts of the natural Body of a man, which distemper and endanger the health of the whole, and they are of four sorts. First, such as are against the Peace of the Commonwealth, or whereby Public Peace is disturbed, and those I call Diseases endangering the heart of this Politic Body. Secondly, such as are against the Justice of the Commonwealth, or whereby public justice is perverted, and those I call Diseases endangering the Head of this politic Body. Thirdly, such as are against the plenty of the Commonwealth, or whereby public plenty is diminished, and those I call Diseases against the stomach of this politic Body. Fourthly, such as are against the beauty and good Complexion of the Commonwealth, or whereby this beauty and good Complexion is discoloured and defaced, contained under the Name of Common Nuisances, and those I call Diseases against the Senses, the Legs and the Feet of this politic Body. Touching those against Peace, they are of five sorts. 1. Treasons, which again are either High-Treason or Petty-Treason. 2. Felonies, which again are done either against the Person, or Possession of another. 3. Praemunire. 4. Misprisions. 5. Trespasses. High-Treasons are these. 1. If any levy War against the supreme Authority of the Nation, or adhere to the enemies thereof. And when I do so express it, Supreme Authority, I give you the meaning of the Stat. 25. E. 3. 2. which mentions it thus, If any levy war against the King, or adhere to the King's enemies within the Realm; for the name and word King [quatenus the chief Officer betrusted with the Government in the Administration of that Government] is frequently used to set forth the public Interest of the People, so we call it The King's Peace, The King's Coin, The King's Highway, and the like, all which in truth are the public concernments of the people, being for their public use and benefit, and are therefore expressed and exhibited unto us under the notion of the King's Name, because he is their public Officer, and trusted for them; so that to levy war against the King, or to adhere to the King's enemies, is to levy war against the Kingdom, & the Government of it, and the Supreme Power & Authority of it; or, which is more plain in the expression, to levy war without lawful Warrant and Authority so to do; & yet this I believe was that which hath misled (& perhaps may still misled) many of our Country men, That because they had the Person of the King with them, [betwixt whom and whom there were mutual and reciprocal deceive] and they [never remembering that when in Person he deserted the Parliament, he left the King and Kingly Authority behind, him, because he left the Kingly Office, and the Power thereof, and public Government behind him) they catcht at the shadow, but let go the substance, and so under colour of fight for the King, they fought against him. Yet because omnis non capit hoc, every man did not understand this distinction betwixt the politic and natural body of the King, therefore see how mercifully and favourably the Parliament hath dealt with these men, that they have not pressed the rigour of Law upon the Offenders of this kind, whose Offences being High-Treason by the fundamental justice of this Nation, and so their Lives, whole Estates, Lands and Goods being forfeited to the Law for the same, yet this forfeiture hath not been exacted upon them; but, in hope they will at last see their Errors, and repent for their misdoings, the Parliament hath been pleased to carry a more tender hand, and by way of commutation to pass over their Offences with the punishment of a small fine for such misdoings, yet with this silent admonition, like that to the woman in the Gospel, Go thy way and sin no more, lest a worse thing happen unto thee. 2. If any counterfeit the Great Seal, Privy Seal, or Privie-Signet. 3. If any counterfeit the Coin of the Nation, or otherwise Clip or diminish it. 4. If any kill a Judge of Justice or Oyer and Terminer in his Place doing his Office. 5. If any Jesuit or Seminary Priest, born in England, and Ordained and Professed beyond-Sea, by Authority derived from the Sea of Rome, do come into, or abide within this Realm. 6. If any the second time extol, defend, or maintain within this Realm the usurped Jurisdiction or Authority of the Pope, or any other Foreign Prince. 7. If any bring over and put in ure, or receive from beyond-Sea any Bull or Instrument of Absolution, or Reconciliation, to Absolve the people of this Nation from their Allegiance here to the Sea of Rome, or endeavour the second time to withdraw the People to the obedience of the Sea of Rome, or if any be Absolved, Reconciled or withdrawn. And here you must understand, that in Treasons all Actors and Consenters are Principals, and there are no Accessaries at all in Treason. Pettie-Treasons are these. If a servant kill his or her Master or Mistress. If a Wife kill her Husband. Praemunire. Touching Praemunire, it is properly a Writ or Process of Summons awarded against such as brought in Bulls, or Citations from the Court of Rome to obtain Ecclesiastical Benefices, by way of Provision before they fell void; for of old time divers Acts of Parliament were made, viz. in the times of K. Edward the third, K. R. 2. and K. H. 4. against the Pope's exercise of Jurisdiction within this Nation, and against those subjects that did appeal from the Courts of Justice here to the Court of Rome, and who obtained Provisions there to have Abbeys, and Priories, or Benefices with Cure here, which proceed tended (say those Statutes) to the destruction of the Realm, and of Religion; Therefore these being held to be great Offences, and so tending to the disherison of the Rights belonging to the Crown and people of England, and to the destruction of the common Law, are made to be grievously punishable, viz. To be imprisoned during life, To forfeit Lands and Goods, and to be put out of the protection of the Law. Afterward other later Laws were made in the time of Queen Elizabeth against other Offences of like nature, wherewith you have now to do, namely, If any send over or contribute money or relief for maintenance of any jesuite, or Seminary Priest, or College beyond-Sea. If any extol defend or maintain the jurisdiction or authority of the Pope, (or of any other foreign Prince) within this Nation. If any bring over any Agnus Dei, Crosses, Pictures, or Beads, Hallowed (as they call it) at Rome, to disperse among the People, or if any person receive any such, or know of this Offence, and conceal it three days. If any do Aid or Assist those who put in ure any Pope's Bulls, or Instruments of Absolution brought from Rome. Misprision of Treason are these. If any know another to be guilty of High-Treason, and do conceal it. If any Forge or Counterfeit Foreign Coin, not currant here. If any utter Counterfeit Coin, knowing it to be such. If any strike, or draw a Sword to strike a Justice sitting in place of judgement. Felonies against the person of another are those. If any commit Homicide, viz. kill or slay another. If out of precedent malice, expressed or employed, it is murder. If upon a sudden falling out, it is manslaughter. If in doing a lawful Action, it is called Chance-Medley, misadventure or misfortune. If in his own defence, it is so styled, Homicide se defendendum; and so also Poisoning, Stabbing, and Witching to death are Homicides. If any commit Rape, viz. have the carnal knowledge of a woman against her Will, or with her Will, if she be under ten years old If any take away, or consent, or assist to take away any Maid, Widow, or Wife against her Will, she being then interested in Lands or Goods. If any marry a second Husband, or Wife, the first being alive. If any commit Buggery, or Sodomy, a crime Inter Christianos non nominandum, says the Indictment. If any Gipsy or counterfeit Egyptian have continued a month within this Nation. If any person appointed by Law to abjure, refuse it, or return after abjuration. If any do wilfully and maliciously cut out the Tongue, or put out the eyes of another. If any receive, or relieve, or maintain any Jesuit or other Seminary Priest, knowing him to be such. If any incorrigible Rogue, judged dangerous, and banished, return again: If any dangerous Rogue, branded in the Shoulder, return again to a Roguish life. If any person infected with the Plague wilfully go abroad, and converse among company. Felonies against the Possession are these. If any break a Dwellinghouse in the night, with intent to do any Felonious Act there. If any rob another by the high way, or take any thing privately from his person. If any take the Goods of another in his absence, with intent to steal them. If any servant go away with his Master's Goods (delivered to him) with intent to steal them, being of the value of forty shillings, or above. If any rob a Church. If any maliciously burn the House, or Stack of Corn, or Barn of Corn of another. If any take up a Hawk, and do not carry her to the Sheriff to be proclaimed. If any do the second time forge any Deed, Evidence, or Writing, and publish it to be a good Deed. If any acknowledge a Fine, or Judgement, or Deed to be enrolled in the Name of another, and not being the true person. If any Raze, Imbezzell, or withdraw any Record of the Court. If any use the Art of Multiplication of Gold, or Silver. If any Hunt by night in Parks or Warrens with painted Faces, or other disguises, and deny it upon examination. If any persons above twelve in number raise any Tumults or unlawful assemblies. If above 40 persons shall assemble together to do any unlawful Act, and shall continue together three hours after Proclamation for their departure. If any depart out of this Nation to serve a Foreign Prince, without leave, and before Bond entered, and Oath taken according to the Statute. If any Soldier, or Mariner, who hath received Prest-wages, according to the Statute, do afterward departed from their Service without Licence. If any such Soldier or Mariner do wander and beg, without a Pass, or if they sergeant their Pass. If any Person having the Custody of public Stores of Victual, or Ammunition, imbezzell or purloin any of it, to the value of twenty shillings, or above. If any do the second time transport sheep beyond-Sea. If any persuade another to commit any Felony, or receive and assist any Felon after the Felony committed, these are Accessaries to the Felony. If any rescue a Felon from prison. if any Felon break Prison, and escape, or be suffered to escape, and be rescued. Misprision of Felony is this. If any know another to have committed Felony, and do not reveal it. Trespasses and Offences against the peace Finable are these. If any Menace, Assault, Beat, or wound another. if any make unlawful entry upon other men's Lands, or unlawfully take away other men's Goods. if any make unlawful Assemblies, Routs, or Riots. If any chide, or brawl, or draw a weapon to strike, or do strike in a Church or Church-yard. if any keep a Fair, or Market in a Church or Church-yard. If any say, or hear Mass If Papists be absent from Church a month together If any keep a Recusant Schoolmaster, or other Recusant servant in his house: If any shall voluntarily disturb the Preacher in his Sermon: If any affirm that the eating of Fish, or forbearing flesh at set times is necessary for our salvation, or for other purpose, then as a politic constitution: If any frame, make, or publish any false, scandalous, or libellous Writing or Picture against another, or to the disgrace of others, or whereby to move contention amongst men. And touching this devilish invention of Libelling and Defaming others, in these days more frequent than ever, by false and horrible lies and slanders, and Pamphlets published even against the Parliament itself and every Member of it, and every man that wishes well to it, yourselves can testify how frequent it is, and hath been of late, and therefore I beseech you be careful to find out some of those who have been offenders in it: And thus you have here mention of the Offences against Public Peace, which are as so many Diseases in the Heart of the Potique Body of the Commonwealth. Next comes the Offences against Public justice, which are also to be found out by us; and these are either against justice in the general, or are Offences by Officers trusted in particular Administrations, or by Artificers, and Labourers, and Masters and servants. Offences against Justice in general. IF any be a common stirrer and procurer of Lawsuits, or a common Brabler or Quarrel among his Neighbours; this is Barratry. If any Buy or Contract for a pretended Right or Title to Land, or other thing in Controversy of Suit, this is unlawful buying of Titles: If any maintain the Lawsuit of another, to have part of the thing in demand, or otherwise; this is maintenance of Champerty. If any get Goods of another into his hands by false Tokens and Messages; this is a deceit punishable. If any counterfeit any Deed or Writing, and publish it as true, this is Forgery: If any corrupt a Jury man, by Bribery, or Menace, to divert him from giving a just Verdict, this is Imbracerie: If any corrupt you of the Grand-Jurie by Bribes, or otherwise, to make favourable Presentments: If any Informer upon Poenall Laws do not duly pursue his Information, or if he sue out Process before the Information be exhibited, or compound before the Defendant hath answered, or after answer, without Licence: If any wilfully and corruptly swear falsely in evidence to a Jury, it is perjury, and to procure another so to do, is subornation of Perjury: If any take more Interest upon Loan of Money, then after 8 l. per Centum for a year, this is unlawful Usury and Extortion. Touching public Officers trusted in the administration of Justice, and failing in their duty. First the Sheriff. THis is a great Officer, and is much trusted in the Service of the People, and by the Statute of Articulum super Chartas, is to be chosen yearly by the People, that they might the better be assured of those they trusted: But this Privilege of Election (among others) the People have lost, and the Court of later Times did learn how to make profit, both by Electing Sheriffs, as also by keeping them off from being Elected: In his Office you find him a Judge, and a Minister of Justice: He is a Judge in his Court, called the Turn, and sits as Judge, and hath the profits in the Court, called The County Court. Touching the Turn If the Sheriff or his Deputy do not send Indictments found in his Turn, to the next Sessions: If the Sheriff or Bailiffs arrest any person upon an Indictment in his Turn, or levy the Fines, or Amerciaments imposed in his Turn, without Warrant indented from the Sessions. Touching the County Court. If the Sheriff, or his Bailiff enter Plaints in his County Court in the Absence of the Plaintiff, or of some other known person authorized by him. If the Sheriff or his Bailiffs enter more Plaints than one in his County Court upon one Cause of Action. If the Sheriff or his Bailiffs fail to Summon the Defendant to appear at the County Court: If the Sheriff or his Bailiffs leavy the Amerciaments set in the County Court upon the Defendants for not Appearing, called The Sheriff's Amerciaments, without an indented Estreet between him and two Justices of the Peace, as a Minister of Justice. As a Minister of Justice. If the Sheriff let his County or Bailiwick to farm: If the Sheriff or his Bailiffs collect the Greenwax Estreats of the Exchequer, without showing the Estreats under Seal. If the Sheriff's Officer or Gaoler for any cause but Court-Fees, detain any prisoner in Gaol after the Court hath discharged him. If any Sheriff make out any Warrant to make an Arrest, not having the Process then in his custody: If the Sheriff or his Deputy take for Breaking-up a Common Law mean Process, and making an Arrest, above two shillings four pence, viz. twenty pence the Warrant, four pence the Arrest, and four pence the Bond, if the Defendant be Bound, or four pence the Gaoler, if the Defendant come to the Gaol: If the Sheriff or his Deputy take above one shilling at pound for raising an Execution under one hundred pounds, & six pence at pound for every hundred pounds more, and this after the Execution is levied: If the Sheriff or his Bailiff take any Money, or other Reward for sparing an Arrest, or for letting to Bail persons not Bailable, or for showing him any other favour: If the Sheriffs refuse to let to Bail persons Arrested upon mean Processes, who are Bailable by Law: If the Sheriff or his Deputy take a Bond for appearance of any other Form then that directed by the Statute: If the Sheriff return any Jurors without their true Additions. If the Sheriff or his Deputy take any thing for making and returning Panels of Juries, or take above four pence for the Copy of one Pannell. If the Sheriff or Jailer deny to receive without Fee Felons sent to the Gaol. If the Bailiff of any Liberty do not perform the same duties as they are enjoined to Sheriffs in executing Warrants & Processes directed to them: Touching the Constable. This is an Officer of justice, and an Officer of Peace, and is of great Trust and good use, if he perform his Duty, and therefore by the way let me say, that care must be taken by the Justices of Peace, and Stewards in Leetes, that able and honest persons, and fit for the service be put into this employment. IF he do not endeavour to preserve the Peace, and prevent the breach of it. If he do not Arrest nightwalkers, and suspected persons. If he do not hastily pursue, Hue and Cry after Murderers, and Robbers: If he do not cause Watch by Night, and Ward by Day to be kept within his Office from Ascension day to Michaelmas day, and Ward by day the rest of the year. If he do not truly execute and return all Warrants sent to him from Justices of the Peace: If he do not appoint in Easter week Overseers of Highways: If he do not apprehend Beggars, Rogues and Vagabonds that are wand'ring or begging within his Office, and if any have hindered him from doing his duty therein; If he do not punish by Stocking such as refuse to labour in Hay and Harvest Time: If he do not Inventory Felons Goods happening within his Office. If he do not once a month search Alehouses, Maltmakers houses, and houses of gaming and Bawdry. If he do not present at the Sessions, or to the next Justices, the disorders in Alehouses, defects in Highways, Recusants absence from Church; And such as keep Dogs, Guns, Nets, and the like, for the unlawful taking of Wildfowl, and Hares. If he do not drive the Commons within his Office for infected and unlawful Cattles, once (at least) in Summer: Coroner. IF he fail to perform his duty upon Summons, as well where the Fact is by misadventures, as by man's hand: If he take any Fee where the Fact is by misadventure. If he take any Fee above thirteen shillings four pence where the Fact is by man's hand, and that of the Goods of the Manslayer, if he be in Custody, or if he escape, then of the Town where the Fact was done. Clerk of the Market. IF he take any common Fine for dispensing with faults in Weights and Measures. If he take any Fee for Marking Weights and Measures, but those allowed, one penny for a Bushel, and 100 weight; half a penny for half a Bushel, and half 100 weight; a farthing for every less weight or Measure. Clerk of the Peace. IF he take any Fee for his Office doing, but those allowed, viz. For an Alehouse Recognisance one shilling. For a Badgers or Drovers Licence two shillings. For Inrowlling Presentments for Recusants, For Inrowling of a Recognizance of a Rogue taken into service, one shilling. For Inrowling a Deed of Bargain, and Sale of Land, being under forty shillings per Annum value, one shilling. And if it exceed forty shillings per annum value, two shillings six pence. Ordinary. If he take any Fee but those allowed for Proving of a Will, or granting an Administration, viz. Where the Inventory exceeds forty pounds, five shillings. Where it is under forty pounds, and above five pounds, his fee is three shillings six pence. Where but five pounds or under, he must have six pence. Or a penny for every ten Lines ten Inches long, which Rate is also allowed for their Copies; And what is taken more than those, is Extortion. If any Minister take any Mortuary, but where the custom of the Place allows it; or where it is allowed, if he take any Mortuary for an Infant, Feme Covert, or Traveller; or if he take any thing where the Inventory is under ten Marks, or if he take above three shillings four pence where the Inventory is above ten Marks, and under thirty pounds; or if he take above fix shillings eight pence where the Inventory is above thirty pounds and under forty pounds; or if he take above ten shillings where the Inventory is above forty pounds. Searchers and Sealer's of Leather. IF they be not appointed by the Owner of the Market in Market Towns: If they (being appointed) refuse the Office: If they do not in convenient time perform their Duty and Office upon particular occasions when Leather is brought to them to view: If they be not furnished with a Register-Book and a Seal. If they fail to set down all Bargains of Tanned and unwrought Leather. If they allow such as is insufficient or disallow such as is sufficient. If they take any Fee, save such as is allowed, viz. for every can Hides two pence, and for every six dozen of Calf-Skins 2 pence: If Triers of Tand-Leather seized for insufficient be not appointed by the Owners and Rulers of Fairs or Markets. If the Tryers refuse to perform their duty. Tolgatherers. IF Owners or Rulers of Fairs and Markets have not appointed some certain place for sale of Horses there, and a Tollgatherer to attend. If the Tollgatherer do not sit in open place in Markets and Fairs, where Horses and Cattles are sold, and continue there from ten of Clock in the Morning, till Sunset. If he do not keep a Register-Book, and therein set down the Bargains brought before him, and have the Parties and Vouchers present which he knows. If he take any Fee or Reward save that allowed, viz. a penny for one Bargain. If any person coming in as a Voucher, take upon him the knowledge of the Seller, and do not intruth know him. If the Tollgatherer refuse to deliver a Copy of his Entry, or take above two pence for it. Overseers of the Poor. IF they refuse to execute their Office, being appointed thereto by the Justices of Peace. If they do not provide a common stock, and take care to keep the Poor at work upon the common Stock of the Parish. If they do not meet once a month particularly to confer about the performance of their duty. If they do not raise a weekly Taxation for the maintenance of the impotent poor. If they suffer their Parishners to wander and beg out of their Parish. Overseers of Highways. IF they refuse to execute the Office, being chosen thereto by the Constable and Neighbourhood. If they do not upon the next Sunday after Easter appoint publicly in the Church six days betwixt that and Midsummer for the Neighbours to meet for mending the Highways in the Parish. If they do not attend at the days appointed to direct the Works. If they do not present to the next Justice of Peace, or at the next Sessions the defaults of absent Parishners. If they do not present to the two next Justices of Peace the defects of Highways, & of not scouring the Ditches, that should lead and avoid the Water from standing in Highways. Touching Artificers, Labourers, Masters and Servants. IF Artificers, Labourers or Servants conspire what Wages to take and not to work under those Rates. If Artificers or Labourers undertake Work, and departed before it be finished. If they do not continue from five a Clock in the Morning till seven at night in the Summer, and from seven till five in Winter. If Labourers or Servants take any more Wages than the Rates allowed by the Justices. If any Servant assault Master or Mistress. If a Tradesman retain a Journeyman for less time than a year. If for every three Prentices they do not keep one Journeyman, and for every Prentice above three one Journeyman more. If they refuse to labour in Hay-time or Harvest. If a servant departed from one Parish to another without a Testimonial from his Master. If any Master Hire any such servant wanting a Testimonial. If any servant depart within his Term, or at the end of his Term without a Quarter's warning, unless the cause be allowed before two Justices of Peace. If any Master put away his Servant within his Term, or at the end of his Term, without a Quarters-warning, unless the cause be allowed before two Justices of Peace. Braziers and Pewterers. IF any Brazier or Pewterer buy or exchange any Metal belonging to his Trade, but in his open Shop, or Fair, or Market. If they sell their Wares of Metal not of the Alloy of London. If they use any deceitful Weights, or false Beams. cordwainers, viz. Tanner, Currier, Shoemaker and Butcher dealing with the Hide. Tanner. IF he set his fats in Tannhills. If he overlime his Hides. If he Tann any Leather in warm Owze: If he do not work the Lime well out of the Leather: If he use any Stuff but Malt, Meal, Tapwort, Henn-dung, Culidding, Ashbark, Oakbark: If he use any deceitful mixture for raising his Hides: If he suffer his Hides to be frozen with Winter Frost, or to be parched with Sommer-Sunne, or to be dried by the fire: If he Tann any rotten Hides: If he do not renew his Owze so oft as need requires: If he do not keep his Soal-Leather twelve months, and upper Leather nine months in the Owze: If he sell any Tanned Leather, which is insufficiently Tanned. If he sell any Tanned Leather out of a Market. If he sell any Tanned Leather before it be searched and Sealed. If any Tanner be a Currier or Shoemaker, or use any other Trade which cuts Leather, or è contra. Currier. IF he dwell out of a Market Town, or exercise his Trade in a Shoemaker's House. If he Currey any Leather but such as is sufficiently Tanned. If he use any other stuff in Currying outer Sole Leather, but good hard Tallow, and no less thereof then the Leather will receive. If he gash or scald any Hide, or shave any Leather too thin. If he refuse to Curry Leather brought to him with stuff to work it, or if he keep it in Summer above eight days, and in Winter above sixteen days If he be a Tanner or Shoemaker while he is a Currier. Shoemaker. IF he do not make his Wares of good Leather, Sole and Upper Leather well Tanned, and well Sewed with thread well-waxed, and twisted, and hard-drawn with Hand-Leathers. If he mix his Wares, part Neat's Leather, part Calf, Horse or Bull Hid. If he Sell any Wares upon Sundays. Butcher. IF he gash, slaughter, or cut any Hide in Flaying. If he water any Hide save in June, July, or August. If he sell any corrupt or rotten Hides. If he sell any Hid but in open Market. If he use the Trade of a Tanner. Tanned Leather. IF any buy Tanned Leather Red and unwrought, and do not make it into made Wares. If any but Tanners buy rough Hides. If any buy Tanned Leather out of a Market. If any buy Tanned Leather, before it be Searched and Sealed. If any refuse and resist the Searchers to make Search. If any engross Oak-Bark. Cloth-makers. IF any use Racking of Linen Cloth, or use Lime, or other undue mixture in Whitening Linnen-Cloth. Cooper. IF he make his Ware of unseasoned Wood: If he do not make it of due Assize, viz. The Barrel 36 gallons of Beer, and of Ale 32 gallons. The Kilderkin 18, or 16, gallons of Soap: The Firkin 9, or 8, gallons. If he do not set his Mark upon it: Tile-maker. IF he do not dig his earth before the first of November, and turn it over before the first of February, and turn it again before the first of March, and then try and tue it from Stones: If he make them of less Assize than ten inches and a half long, and six inches and a quarter broad; gutter Tyle ten inches long, and ridge Tyle fourteen inches long, and half an inch and quarter thick. And so I have done with the Offences of this kind, which are against public Justice; and now I come to those which are against the public plenty of the Stores of food and provision for the people, and are therefore in these hard and dear times to be most carefully prevented, if it may be, at least by such ways as the Law directs: Touching the Plenty of the Country, and the disorders by Victuallers IN general whatsoever tends to enhance the Price of Victual by unlawful increasing particular men's profits by, it is an offence against the plenty of it, and therefore If any do buy any sort of Victual as it is coming to a Market or Fair either by Water or Land, it is forestall. If any buy Victual in a Market, and sell it again within four miles, it is regrating: If any buy any dead Victual or Corn growing upon the ground, with intent to sell it again, it is engrossing: If any Victuallers conspire to sell their Victual at unreasonable prices: If any Victuallers sell any unwholesome Victuals: If any buy Corn having sufficient for his House-Provision for a year, and do not bring so much other Corn to the Market to be sold: If any Drover or other buy Cattles, and sell them again alive within five weeks: If any person take upon him to be a Bagger of Corn, not being lawfully Lycensed by four Justices of Peace. If any buy Butter or Cheese in gross, and sell it again in gross, or by retail out of an open shop. If any forbear to rear Calves yearly, viz. one Calf for every two Kine, or every threescore sheep he keeps; or do not keep a miltch Cow for every threescore Sheep. If any transport Sheep, Corn, Butter or Cheese beyond-sea. If any keep above two thousand Sheep at once. If any destroy Wilde-Fowls Eggs, or take Wildfowl between the last of May and the last of August. If any Hawk in standing-Corn: If any (not qualified) keep Dogs, Ferrets, Nets, or Engines to take Hares, Coneys, Pheasants, or Partridges: If any trace Hares in the Snow: If any Take or Kill Pheasants, or Partridges with Engines, Nets, or Snares, or by shooting in Guns. If any shoot Hail shot in Guns: If any hunt or kill Deer in Park or Warren: If any sell Pheasant Partridge or Hare. Alehouse-Keepers. IF any Alehousekeeper keep an Alehouse not being Licenced thereto: If they sell less than a quart a penny the best, and two quarts a penny of the worse sort: If they suffer unlawful Games, Tables, Cards or Dice in their Houses: If Innkeeper's do not sell their Hay & Oats at reasonable Prizes: If Tavern-keepers suffer people to sit Tippling in their houses If any person continue Tippling and Drinking in Tavern, Inn or Alehouse: If any person be drunk. Bakers. IF any Baker sell his Bread of less weight than the due Assize, viz. proportionable to the price of Corn in the Market, as it is regulated by a Printed Assize-book, set out to that purpose. If they do not set their proper Mark upon their Bread: If they give above thirteen to the dozen. If any but Bakers bake Horsebread to sell. Butchers. IF any Butcher kill and sell Calves under five weeks old, or any weanling under two years old: If they sell any mezelled Hogs, or Beast that died of the Murrain, or other corrupt or unwholesome meat. Fish. IF any destroy the Fry of Fish, or Fish with Nets less than two Inches and a half, wide in the Mash: If any kill any Salmon under sixteen Inches long, or Pickerils under ten inches long, or Trout under eight inches long, or Barbels under twelve inches long: If dried fish (brought in by strangers) be not of due Assize, viz. in Barrels of Herring two and thirty gallons, in Barrels of Eels thirteen gallons: in a Butt of Salmon fourscore & 4 gallons. If any bring Codd or Ling from beyond-Sea in Barrels to be sold, or otherwise then lose in bulk: if any set Tax, or Toll, or restraint upon fish brought into this Nation to be sold: If any cut out or destroy Heads or dams of Ponds, Motes, or Stews of fish, or fish many several fishings. Malt-makers. IF any Maltmaker do not make his Malt of good and sweet Barley, not Mow-burnt or Spired Barley. If they do not rub it, and dress it well, and fan half a Peck of dust out of every Quarter: If it be less time than three weeks in the Fat, Flower, & drying. Milner. IF any Milner take excessive Toll for grinding Corn, viz. above a twentieth part, or four and twentieth part, according to the strength of the Water. Wine. IF any bring in Wine in Foreign Bottoms. If any bring in Wine in Vessels not of due Assize, viz. the Butt 126 gallons, Hogshead 63 gallons, Pipe 126 gallons, Terce 84 gallons, Tun 252 gallons. If any sell Wine above the Price Proclaimed in Chancery. And thus you see how the Public plenty of the Country is diminished for a few men's particular gains, & you see also how the abuses may be reform, to a general advantage of all the people. Lastly, Common Nuisances are to be enquired after. TOuching Common-Nusances, or Offences done against the general easements of the People, as against the health, beauty, and good Complexion of the Body Politic, are these. If any erect a Cottage, and do not lay four Acres of ground to it, to be occupied with it: If any continue such unlawful Cottage. If any keep an Inmate, or undersitter in a Cottage. If any common Bridge be out of repair: If Highways to Market Towns be not enlarged and cleansed of Wood 200 Foot at least: If any common Highway be out of repair, or if any Ditches be unscowred, or undressed, which should convey and avoid the water from standing in Highways: If the Parishners have not met at the day appointed to mend the Highways, as the Law directs: If any keep common-gaming houses, Bowling-Allies, or the like: If any common Vagabonds and Beggars, or wand'ring Rogues, or dangerous Rogues do pass, or be suffered to pass from place to place, or be relieved in places where they come: If any keep or use unlawful Weights and Measures not according to the Standard of the Exchequer; or if Weights and Measures of the Standard Assize be not kept in every Market Town: If any use any Weights or Measures unsearched or unsealed: If any profane the Lords Day, viz. by travelling that day, or by using sports, and unlawful exercises that day: If any profanely swear or curse: If any keep a stoned Horse in any common ground, not being fourteen handfuls high And thus you see how the wisdom of the Common Laws of this Nation, and of the Parliaments from time to time hath provided for the security and ease of the people, and hath furnished us with a Salve for every Soar, and gives us rules and instructions how to govern ourselves, that we may be helpful and useful to one another; and from whence it is that we may well conclude, If we keep the Law the Law will keep us, and that If we place the Law in the Throne the Law will preserve & protect us in safety and security. Touching these Offences which are committed by disobedient & lawless persons, you who are culled out from all the parts of the Country and chosen to be the chief Agents and first Movers (as I may speak) in this work of Justice, which is the subject of this day's Service, and are the countries' trusties for that purpose; I do not question but your public spirits are such, and common love to your Country such (taking in even your own Interests & particular Profits and Concernments) that you will be more then ordinarily careful to cleanse the Country of these Weeds, and darnel and Cockle that grows up among the Corn, Those wicked and unreasonable men, which are as Pricks and Goads in the Sides of others, and live idly, loosely and wickedly among the people, and are as so many Plague-Soars spread over the body of the County; and the way to cleanse the Country of them, is is to execute Justice upon them; for the execution of Justice is the work of God himself, the end of the Law, the Command of the Parliament, the Magistrates Honour, the Offenders Terror, and the expectation of all honest men: And therefore (as once it was spoken in another case) let it not seem a small thing to you who are to begin this Work of Justice, that you are separated from the Congregation, and brought near to the God of Heaven to do the Service of the Tabernacle and to stand before the people, and to minister unto them. And having said thus much, I leave what remains to your diligence: All our Service gins in you, it's your Ignoramus, or Billa vera which opens and shuts, which shuts and no man opens. FINIS.