By 12 E. 2. c. 5. sheriffs and other bailiffs who receive the Kings writs returnable in his court shall put their proper names with their returns, so that the court may know of whom they took such returns if need be.
Roberdesmen, &c.
By 5 E. 3. c. 14. if any man have suspicion of evil of roberdesmen, wastours and drawlatches, be it by night or day, they shall be incontinently arrested by the constables of the towns. And if they be arrested within franchises, they shall be delivered to the bailiffs of the franchises, and kept in prison till the coming of the justices assigned to deliver the gaols. And in the mean time the bailiffs of the franchises shall inquire of such arrests and at the coming of the justices return their inquests before them and that which they have found, and the causes of taking, with the bodies, and the justices shall proceed to the deliverance of those arrested according to the law. And in case bailiffs of franchises have not enquired of such arrests they shall be amerced.
Decayed bridges.
By 22 H. 8. c. 5. § 5. the justices of peace of the shire, city or town corporate, within which any decayed bridges, or any part thereof, shall happen to be, shall have power to enquire, hear and determine all annoyances being within the limits of their commissions or authorities, and if the annoyance be presented, then to make process into every shire against such as owen to make or amend any such bridges. And all sheriffs and bailiffs of liberties and franchises shall truly serve and execute such process as shall come to their hands from the said justices of peace afore whom any presentment shall be had for any such annoyance, according to the tenour and effect of the said process to them directed, without favour, affection or corruption, upon pain to make such fine as shall be set upon them, or any of them, by the discretion of the said justices.
Attendance on
the justices.
All lords that have franchises, or their bailiffs, shall attend upon the justices of assise and gaol delivery, upon pain of forfeiture of their franchises. 20 E. 4. 6. Br. Forfeiture de terres, &c. 115.
By 27 H. 8. c. 24. § 7. all stewards, bailiffs, and other ministers of any liberties or franchises which in times past have used or ought to attend upon the justices of assise, justices of gaol delivery, and justices of the peace at large in any county, shall be attendant to the justices of assise, justices of gaol delivery, and justices of peace of the same shires wherein such liberties and franchises be, and make due execution of all process to them to be directed, for ministration of justice within such liberties or franchises; and all such bailiffs or their deputies or deputy shall give their attendance and assistance upon the sheriff, together with the sheriff's bailiffs at all courts of gaol-delivery from time to time, for execution of prisoners according to justice.
Inquiry at sessions.
It was an article of inquiry at the sessions if the bailiffs of liberties and franchises had duly executed their office, which consists in three points viz. In due execution of the precepts to them sent, and in due returns to be made to the sheriff of those precepts, and that they took nothing for doing their office, except the fees to them assigned and due by course of law. Fitz. Iust. P. fol. 28. (Crompton. 49.)