❧
By
the
King
.
❧
A
Proclamation
for
Iurors
.
AS
it
is
a
principall
part
of
our
Kingly
Office
,
to
administer
Iustice
to
our
people
,
by
which
our
Crowne
and
Scepter
is
also
established
and
confirmed
:
So
wee
conceiue
,
that
we
may
truely
and
iustly
thus
farre
reape
the
fruit
of
a
good
conscience
,
as
to
be
witnesse
to
our selfe
,
and
likewise
to
report
our selues
,
not
onely
to
our
Priuie
Counsell
,
(
which
are
acquainted
with
our
more
secret
cares
and
cogitations
)
and
our
Iudges
and
Counsell
at
Law
(
with
whom
wee
haue
had
more
frequent
conference
,
then
Princes
formerly
haue
vsed
)
but
generally
also
to
all
other
our
louing
Subiects
,
in
regard
of
some
our
Publique
actions
,
Whether
in
these
few
yeeres
of
our
Reigne
(
notwithstanding
wee
could
not
bee
at
our
first
entrance
so
well
enformed
,
as
now
wee
are
,
in
the
Lawes
and
Customes
of
this
our
Realme
)
wee
haue
not
exercised
and
employed
our
Princely
care
,
power
and
meanes
,
for
the
furtherance
and
aduancement
of
Iustice
duely
and
speedily
to
bee
administred
to
all
our
louing
Subiects
.
For
it
appeareth
,
that
wee
haue
to
that
end
bene
at
charge
to
encrease
the
number
of
our
Iudges
in
our
principall
Benches
,
haue
endeuoured
to
moderate
some
differences
and
contentions
amongst
our
Courts
in
point
of
Iurisdiction
,
to
auoyd
double
vexation
of
Suits
,
and
haue
from
time
to
time
,
in
person
giuen
more
strait
charge
&
admonition
to
our
Iudges
before
their
Circuits
and
visitations
,
and
receiued
againe
from
them
more
strait
accompts
&
reports
at
their
returnes
,
then
hath
bene
heretofore
accustomed
.
And
as
we
haue
bene
thus
carefull
concerning
our
Courts
,
and
Iudges
of
the
Law
:
So
may
we
in
no
wise
omit
to
extend
our
Princely
care
to
persons
of
another
condition
,
on
whom
(
though
they
be
not
to
be
termed
Iudges
)
there
lyeth
a
principall
part
of
Iudicature
:
which
are
those
,
who
by
the
custome
of
the
Realme
are
called
Iurors
,
which
serue
to
try
and
decide
the
issues
&
points
of
fact
in
all
controuersies
and
causes
.
A
matter
no
lesse
important
to
the
summe
of
Iustice
,
then
the
true
and
iudicious
exposition
of
the
Lawes
themselues
.
For
euen
that
Iudgement
which
was
giuen
by
a
King
in
Person
,
and
is
so
much
commended
in
the
Scriptures
,
was
not
any
learned
exposition
of
the
Law
,
but
a
wise
sifting
and
examination
of
the
fact
,
where
testimonie
was
obscure
,
and
failed
.
To
which
sort
of
persons
also
the
Law
of
this
our
Realme
doeth
ascribe
such
trust
and
confidence
,
as
it
doeth
not
so
absolutely
tye
them
to
the
euidences
and
proofes
produced
,
but
that
it
leaueth
both
supply
of
Testimonie
,
and
the
discerning
and
credit
of
Testimonie
to
the
Iuries
consciences
and
vnderstanding
.
But
herewithall
we
consider
with
our selues
,
That
this
proceeding
by
Iurie
(
which
is
one
of
the
ancient
Lawes
and
Customes
of
this
our
Island
of
Great
Britaine
,
and
almost
proper
and
singular
vnto
it
,
in
regard
of
other
Nations
)
as
it
is
an
excellent
institution
in
it selfe
,
so
neuerthelesse
it
is
then
laudable
and
good
,
when
those
persons
,
which
serue
vpon
the
said
Iuries
,
are
men
of
such
qualitie
,
credit
&
vnderstanding
,
as
are
worthy
to
be
trusted
with
so
great
a
charge
,
as
to
try
mens
liues
,
good
names
,
lands
and
goods
,
and
whatsoeuer
they
hold
deare
in
this
world
.
Wherein
we
cannot
but
obserue
,
and
highly
commend
the
wisedome
of
the
Lawes
of
this
our
Realme
(
taking
them
in
their
owne
nature
,
before
abuses
crept
in
)
which
haue
in
this
point
so
well
prouided
.
For
as
in
the
triall
of
any
Peere
of
this
Realme
,
the
Law
doeth
not
admit
any
to
passe
vpon
him
but
Peeres
:
So
in
the
triall
of
any
of
the
Commons
(
which
the
Law
beholdeth
but
as
one
body
)
there
is
no
person
whatsoeuer
of
that
body
by
rule
of
Law
exempted
,
in
respect
of
his
qualitie
and
degree
onely
,
from
the
seruice
vpon
Iuries
:
whereas
on
the
contrary
part
the
Law
hath
limitted
,
that
none
serue
,
except
he
haue
a
certaine
proportion
of
Freehold
.
And
yet
notwithstanding
,
Time
and
abuse
haue
so
embased
the
estimation
of
this
seruice
,
and
altered
the
vse
thereof
,
as
Sheriffs
,
Vndersheriffes
,
Bailiffes
,
and
other
inferiour
Ministers
,
do
not
onely
spare
Gentlemen
of
qualitie
,
in
a
kinde
of
awe
,
and
vnwillingnesse
to
offend
them
,
but
do
likewise
for
lucre
,
gaine
and
reward
,
forbeare
to
returne
many
of
the
ablest
and
fittest
persons
;
So
that
the
seruice
oftentimes
resteth
vpon
such
as
are
either
simple
and
ignorant
,
and
almost
at
a
gaze
in
any
cause
of
difficultie
,
or
else
vpon
those
that
are
so
accustomed
and
inured
to
passe
and
serue
vpon
Iuries
,
as
they
haue
almost
lost
that
tendernesse
of
Conscience
,
which
in
such
cases
is
to
bee
wished
,
and
make
the
seruice
,
as
it
were
an
occupation
and
practise
.
Vpon
these
grounds
therefore
,
and
vpon
aduise
taken
with
our
priuy
Councell
,
and
conference
with
our
Iudges
and
Councell
at
Law
,
We
haue
resolued
to
giue
some
remedy
to
those
abuses
,
and
to
restore
the
forme
of
tryals
in
this
our
Realme
of
England
,
to
the
ancient
integrity
and
credit
,
as
much
as
in
vs
lyeth
.
And
therefore
we
doe
hereby
publish
and
declare
to
all
our
louing
Subiects
,
that
they
take
light
from
vs
of
the
greatnes
of
this
seruice
,
and
that
the
Gentlemen
of
best
qualitie
doe
put
away
that
vaine
&
vntrue
conceit
,
that
they
are
any
wayes
disgraced
,
or
disesteemed
,
if
they
be
called
vpon
or
vsed
in
this
part
of
Iustice
,
to
be
tryers
of
the
fact
,
Knowing
that
all
Iudgement
is
Gods
principally
,
and
by
him
committed
vnto
vs
within
the
Precinct
of
our
Kingdomes
,
as
his
Minister
vpon
Earth
,
to
whom
likewise
they
are
subordinate
.
And
we
doe
likewise
charge
and
command
all
our
Iudges
,
Iustices
,
Sheriffes
,
Vndersheriffes
,
Bayliffes
and
others
to
whom
it
may
appertaine
,
To
take
knowledge
that
this
is
our
expresse
Will
and
pleasure
,
That
all
persons
which
haue
Freehold
,
according
to
the
Law
,
shall
be
returned
to
serue
vpon
Iuries
,
as
occasion
shall
require
.
Foreseeing
also
that
they
vse
a
respect
,
that
the
same
persons
be
not
too
often
returned
and
troubled
,
but
that
the
seruice
may
rest
more
equally
and
indifferently
vpon
the
whole
body
of
sufficient
Freeholders
in
euery
County
,
the
one
to
ease
and
relieue
the
other
,
and
that
there
be
a
discretion
vsed
,
as
well
in
returning
the
most
principall
Persons
vpon
the
greatest
causes
,
as
in
sorting
men
of
quality
with
their
equals
,
as
neere
as
may
be
.
And
now
that
we
haue
thus
declared
our
earnest
care
and
zeale
for
the
furtherance
of
Iustice
in
this
kinde
,
seeing
it
hath
beene
vsuall
for
Sheriffes
and
other
Ministers
(
to
whom
it
appertaines
)
to
forbeare
the
returning
of
diuers
persons
,
in
respect
that
they
were
sonnes
of
Peeres
of
our
Realme
,
or
men
of
extraordinary
place
and
calling
,
which
we
haue
no
way
misliked
,
and
do
well
allow
:
Intending
likewise
that
such
,
and
so
conuenient
respect
be
vsed
particularly
to
our
Iustices
of
peace
,
in
regard
of
the
place
they
hold
,
and
their
continuall
imployments
,
as
they
may
be
no
oftner
vsed
in
seruices
of
that
nature
,
then
shal
be
necessary
:
And
forasmuch
as
Wee
doe
well
consider
that
it
may
so
fall
out
many
times
,
that
diuers
persons
besides
those
aboue
named
,
and
such
other
as
the
Lawe
for
naturall
impotencie
dispenseth
withall
in
an
ordinary
course
,
may
likewise
be
found
meete
to
bee
forborne
in
these
seruices
:
We
doe
hereby
declare
,
that
We
are
also
resolued
by
vertue
of
our
Prerogatiue
(
and
according
to
the
ancient
presidents
of
our
Progenitors
)
to
graunt
speciall
exemption
by
our
Letters
Patents
to
some
such
persons
,
and
vpon
such
speciall
causes
as
We
shall
thinke
iust
and
reasonable
,
not
meaning
from
hencefoorth
to
leaue
it
in
the
power
of
any
other
,
but
in
the
speciall
cases
aforesayd
,
to
doe
that
which
is
onely
proper
to
our selfe
.
In
which
course
(
as
in
all
the
rest
of
our
proceedings
)
although
it
appeareth
vnto
vs
by
a
Certificate
lately
made
from
the
Sheriffes
,
of
the
state
of
the
Freeholders
in
this
Kingdome
,
that
the
multitude
of
them
is
great
,
&
are
otherwise
as
certainly
enformed
,
that
the
one
halfe
is
not
certified
:
and
although
We
haue
bene
and
are
daily
importuned
for
some
particular
exemptions
by
diuers
persons
,
as
well
Knights
and
Gentlemen
,
as
other
Freeholders
of
good
abilitie
:
Neuerthelesse
,
because
it
may
appeare
that
Wee
doe
and
euer
will
preferre
the
precious
care
of
Iustice
before
all
other
second
considerations
,
Wee
resolue
there
shall
bee
so
good
a
moderation
in
the
number
,
as
well
as
in
the
choyce
of
the
persons
,
as
no
preiudice
shall
arise
therby
in
the
ordinary
course
of
Iustice
,
Although
our
meaning
be
,
that
all
such
Grants
so
to
bee
made
by
Vs
,
shall
extend
aswell
to
all
causes
concerning
our Selfe
,
our
Heires
and
Successours
,
as
our
subiects
.
All
which
We
haue
thought
fit
to
notifie
by
this
our
Proclamation
.
Giuen
at
our
Honour
of
Hampton
Court
the
fifth
day
of
October
,
in
the
fifth
yeere
of
our
Reigne
of
Great
Britaine
,
France
and
Ireland
.
God
saue
the
King
.