alienated had been condemned as at the good pleasure of the king, and he had not given satisfaction for the required sum, it is unjust that he should have alienated a thing that was not his own at a loss to the fisc.
XVII. That a Sheriff is not allowed to receive money due to himself from those who do not pay the king: and what is to be done if he should happen to receive it.
Likewise the sheriff is to be warned on account of the oath, concerning those who do not pay, which is required of him—nay, which he himself is seen to have offered of his own free will, in order that thus he might be absolved from the summons made against him,—that he do not receive from any debtor who does not pay the king, anything, in the meantime, that was justly due to himself. For it is not likely that the sheriff could not find enough to pay the sum due the king among the chattels of him who, willingly or unwillingly, has paid what is required to the sheriff himself. But if, before taking the oath, the sheriff has remembered of himself or through another that he has received something from such persons;—or even after taking it, provided the exchequer of that day is nevertheless not yet dismissed; that is, while his account is fresh; — and if, coming in public, he be willing to prove with querulous voice—taking an oath concerning these things—that he had forgotten at that time having received anything: he shall be acquitted on paying in the name of the debtor the money received. But if—which God forbid—after giving his oath, and after the exchequer is dissolved, this should become known through another,—he shall not then be released simply on payment of what he had received, but, being declared at the good pleasure of the king on account of his offence, he shall be pecuniarily punished. Finally, let it suffice to have warned the sheriff that after receiving the summons he shall diligently inquire in the neighbourhood if the man who was not solvent, by taking a wife, or the woman by marrying some one richer, or in any other way, has grown rich, so that he or she may give satisfaction for what is required. If this be found to be so, upon the oath of the sheriff he or she shall be obliged
