[001] and other bailiffs who hold and determine pleas of the crown and of replevin, [002] either by oath or in some other way, in county or hundred courts, though they have [003] no jurisdiction therein without the special mandate of the lord king and by his [004] writ, with the sole exception of the sheriff, who in matters of unlawful taking and [005] detainer is the king's justice in this regard. Of the excesses of sheriffs and other [006] bailiffs: whether they have fomented litigation for the purpose of acquiring lands [007] or wardships or of obtaining money or other profits by which justice and truth are [008] stifled or suffer delay. Of sheriffs and other ambidextrous bailiffs who take bribes [009] from both sides. Of the ridings, hundreds or wapentakes or other bailiwicks of the [010] lord king let to farm in the time of former sheriffs. Of the king's prises on land or [011] in fresh or salt water, and the liberties pertaining to his castles or his counties or [012] his boroughs or any other places whatsoever: what they are, and how much they [013] are worth a year, and who has taken them or concealed them or withheld them. Of [014] sheriffs and other bailiffs who have taken bribes from those accused of homicide [015] for releasing them on bail though they should not be replevied without the special [016] order of the lord king.1 Of sheriffs and other bailiffs who have imprisoned those [017] accused of theft by indictments or an approver's appeal and have kept them in [018] prison until they could obtain ransom from them, though they may and ought to [019] be allowed bail by the law of the land without any ransom, or if they took ransom [020] from such men that they not be imprisoned. Of sheriffs and other bailiffs who have [021] twice or several times taken money from someone, as though he had been amerced [022] several times when he had been amerced only once. Of sheriffs and other bailiffs [023] who have distrained several men bearing the same name for several amercements [024] when one2 only had been amerced. Of sheriffs and other bailiffs who have distrained [025] anyone to pay more than the sum at which he was amerced by summons of the [026] exchequer. Of bailiffs who hold their ale-drinkings, which they sometimes call [027] scot-ales, sometimes filast-ales, in order to extort money from those who owe suit [028] to their hundreds and their bailiwicks; and also of those who, though they do not [029] hold ale-drinkings, extort gifts in harvest time, corn, lambs and other things, by [030] virtue of their office, by which they aggrieve and harass the poor.
Volume 2, Page 332
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