Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
A Statute of the Fortieth Year of King Edward III., enacted in a parliament held in Kilkenny, A.D. 1367, before Lionel Duke of Clarence, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. (Author: [unknown])
article 7
Vll. Also, whereas by conspiracies, confederacies, champerties,
maintainors of quarrel, false swearers, retainers, sharers of
damages, the liege commons of the
p.27
said land in pursuit of their rights are much disturbed,
aggrieved, and deprived of their inheritance; it is
ordained and established, that diligent inquiry be made of such in every county,
by the Justices to hold pleas in the chief place,
and of their maintainors, and that due and expeditious execution
be had against those who shall be attainted thereof, according to the form of the Statute
in this respect made in England, without fine or redemption to be taken of
them, that others may, by such speedy execution, be deterred from doing or maintaining
such horrible acts contrary to law, in grievance of the said liege commons:
and that, thereupon, the archbishops and bishops of the said land, each within his diocese,
shall have letters patent of our lord the king, from his chancery of Ireland,
to inquire of the articles aforesaid when they think fit; and, thereupon,
according to the law of holy Church to proceed against them by censures, and to
certify into the said Chancery the names of those who shall be before them
found guilty thereof, so that our lord the king, to the honour of
God and the holy Church, the government of his laws, and the preservation
of his said people, may inflict due punishment for the same.