They formed commissions to study
situations and sent orders to Justices of the Peace on methods to
address certain problems and to Sheriffs to carry out certain
acts. About 1618, a group within the Privy Council began to
concentrate on foreign affairs, especially "cabinet counsels",
that is, with secret matters. James sold high offices of state to
supplement his income. His income from customs had increased so
much that it was now three times that from Crown lands.
The Sheriff looked after Crown lands and revenues in his county.
He gathered the rents, the annuities, the stray animals, the
deodands, the fees due to the King, the goods of felons and
traitors. He was still a means of communication between the Privy
Council and the county. He announced new statutes of Parliament
and proclamations by the king at the county courts and in the
markets. He used posse comitatus to disperse riots. He was the
functionary of the assize court, impaneling its juries, bringing
accused men before it, and carrying out its penalties. He carried
out elections of members of the House of Commons.
There were two high constables for each hundred. They were chosen
by the Justices of the Peace at quarter sessions, and were usually
small gentry or well-to-do yeomen. They were the intermediaries
between the justices and the petty constables. The petty constable
was the executive official of the village.
Pages:
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739