In
fact, the justices were most attentive to offenses which affected
them as rate payers for the poor. These were offenses against
cottaging laws (e.g. erection of cottages which lacked the
statutory four acres of land), harboring of "inmates", disputes of
settlement of paupers, bastardy, vagrancy, church nonattendance,
and above all, disorderly alehouses. Alehousing had been a well-
established means of poor employment since the 1200s, so it was
hard to enforce licensing laws. Further, alehouses were the
centers of social life for the common people; both women and men
met their friends there. If an attorney or solicitor delays his
client's suits to work his own gain or over charges his client,
the client can recover his costs and treble damages and the
attorney and solicitor shall be disbarred. None may be admitted to
any court of the king but such as have been brought up in the same
court or is otherwise well-practiced in soliciting of causes and
has been found by their dealings to be skillful and honest. An
attorney who allows another to use his name shall forfeit 400
shillings and be disbarred.
Offenders shall pay the charge of their own conveyance to gaol or
the sum shall be levied by sale of their goods so that the King's
subjects will no longer be burdened thereby.
Plaintiffs' costs shall be paid by the defendants where there is a
judgment against the defendant in all actions in which the
plaintiff is entitled to costs on judgment for him, to discourage
frivolous and unjust suits.
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