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Then Gentlemen, Coroner, Clerk of the Market, of the Peace,Searchers and Sealers of Leather, Toll-gatherers, Overseers of the Poor, and of the Highway, all these are reprefentable by you, for their Neglects in their feveral Offices.

If Artificers, Labourers, or Servants confpire what Wages to take, and not to work under those

Rates.

If Artificers or Labourers undertake Work, and depart before it be finished.

If Labourers or Servants take any more Wages than the Rates allowed by the Faftices.

If any Servant affault Mafter or Mistriss.

If any refuse to labour in Hay-time or Harvest; thefe alfo are prefentable by you.

So are Tanners, Curriers, Shoomakers, Butchers, Clothmakers, Coopers, if they fail to do according to the Law.

And now, Gentlemen, I am to inform you of

Offences against the PLENTY of the Nation, fuch as these :

If any do buy any fort of Victuals as it is coming to a Market or Fair, this is Foreftalling.

If any buy Victuals in a Market, and fell it again within four miles, this is Regrating.

If any buy any dead Victuals, or Corn growing upon the Ground, with intent to fell it again, this is Engroffing.

If any Victuallers confire to fell their Victuals at unreasonable Prices.

If any destroy Wild-fowls Eggs, or take Wildfowl, between the last of May and the last of Auguft.

If any not qualified by Law keep Dogs, &c. for deftroying of Hares, Pheasants, &c.

But this Law is to be understood and executed with the fame moderation as all other Statutes are, for it was never the intention of our Lawmakers, that the Law fhould be expounded otherwife than according to Equity and Justice; and therefore many Laws are made rather in terrorem, than that they should be executed ftrictly in the words of it; for there is scarcely any Law, but if executed rigidly, according to the Letter of the Statute, but would rather be Grievous than a Benefit to the Subject; for it is a Maxim in the Law, That Summum jus eft fumma Injuria: And therefore put the cafe, that a Man has a Gun or Greyhound, if it can't be proved that he has destroyed Game, it will be very hard to bring him within this Law. If a Man who lives remote from Neighbors keeps a Gun for a defence of his House, furely it will be fevere to judge him an Offender against Law, for every Man's Houfe is his Castle, and the Law will allow us Means whereby we may defend our Selves and Goods against any Violence that shall be offered.

If any fell Pheasants, Partridge, or Hares.

The

The laft Matters that I fhall mention to

you are,

Common Nufances.

If any erect a Cottage, and do not lay four Acres of Ground to it, to be occupied with it. If any continue fuch unlawful Cottage. If any keep an Inmate in a Cottage.

If any Common Bridge be out of repair.

If common Highways be out of repair; or if any Ditches be unfcoured or undreft, which should convey the Water from standing in the Highways.

If the Parishioners have not met at the day appointed to mend the Highways, as the Law directs.

If any common Vagabonds and Beggars, or Wandring Rogues do pass, or be fuffer'd to pass, from place to place.

If any prophane the Lord's Day, by travelling that day, or by using Sports and Unlawful Exercifes that day.

If any prophanely fwear or curse. Thefe and the like are by you to be fented.

Gentlemen,

pre

I have now gone through the feveral Heads of your Charge; many Particulars I have omitted, because I endeavoured to be as fhort as I could; thofe that I have given you, I thought to be the moft material and proper at this time; wherein I have been deficient, I queftion not but your Experience will be able to inform

you.

- Iiii

And

And Gentlemen, you must understand thus much in general, That it is required from you not only to prefent thofe Offenders that thall come to you by other Hands, that is, by Indictment or Prefentment: But, if upon your own Knowledge any have offended in thefe or the like Cafes, you are to Prefent them upon your own Knowledge.

Gentlemen,

There is now an Opportunity put into your Hands, to do a great deal of Good or Hurt: If you fhall duly prefent all fuch Offences as fhall come to your Knowledge, you then merit the Good Opinion and Love of your Country but if you thall conceal any, then you do a great Differvice to your Country, and make your self a Party in the Crime, by concealing it.

In my Discourse I have in fome Cafes given you my Opinion, and I have done it really and truly from my Heart, out of my fincere Loyalty to my King and Love to my Country; and if I am mistaken, I hope you will rather pardon than blame me, for I have no intention to deceive you. I wish we were all of one Mind, but it is our Mifery that it is otherwise. I know fome parts of my Difcourfe will not relifh with every body, but I cannot help it: This is a time that every Man's Principles ought to be known; I am not ashamed of mine, and therefore have been the more free with you. I'll trouble you no further, but pray God Almighty direct you in your Work

My

A

РОЕМ

On the Death of

My Lady Warrington.

H

OW vain is every thing that lives by breath,
That's only born to be destroy'd by Death!
And all the while it doth its Breath retain
Is fure of nothing, but of Toyl and Pain,

And only toyls that it may toyl again.
And of all things that thus fo wretched are,
It is Man's Lot to have the worfer Share :
He that was made the Lord o'er all the reft,
Is doom'd with anxious Cares to be oppreft,
Being decreed by an Eternal Law

In a moft tedious irksome Yoke to draw
For he muft Sweat and toyl, if he will live;
From which he never muft expect Reprieve.
Those things that do him 'bove the Beast prefer
'Serve only for to waste his Days with Care,
And make him fondly after Baubles run,
To feek for Reft, and find himself undone.
His Reason often does to Madneß grow;
His Knowledge does his Scanty Talent show.

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