Page:The statutes of Wales (1908).djvu/238

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106
THE STATUTES OF WALES
[A.D. 1542-3

Law, Usage or Custom in the said Dominion of Wales heretofore had to the contrary hereof notwithstanding.

24. Item, Provided always, and be it enacted, That the said Stewards, nor any of them, nor the Sheriff of the said Counties in Wales, shall have any Power or Authority to enquire of any manner of Felony in any such Leet, Lawday or Torn, within the said Dominion to be holden.

25. And that from henceforth no Leet nor Lawday be kept by the Steward or other Officer of any Lordship or Manor in the said Dominion of Wales, but in such Lordships and Places where it was accustomed to be kept before the making of the Act of Parliament concerning Wales, made in the twenty-sixth Year of our said Sovereign Lord's Reign; so always the Place where such Court shall be kept, be meet and convenient for that Purpose.

26. Item, That all Mayors, Bailiffs and Head Officers of Corporate Towns in Wales, may hold Pleas and determine Actions, and do every other thing concerning common Justice, according to their lawful Grants and laudable Customs of such Towns; so always they follow the Course, Trade and Fashion of the Laws and Customs of the Realm of England, and not of any Welsh Laws or Customs. And that in every of the said Towns they may try all Issues joined, or hereafter to be joined, in any Action personal, by six Men, according as heretofore in divers Places in the said Country it hath been used; any Thing contamed in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding.

27. Provided always, and be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That forasmuch as there be divers and many small Boroughs and Towns Corporate within the said Dominion of Wales, whereof many have their Commencement by Grants made from the Lords Marchers, and some by other Means, our said Sovereign Lord shall from henceforth, by Virtue of this Act, have full Power and Authority, by his Letters Patents, to be inrolled in his Grace's High Court of Chancery, at any Time within seven Years hereafter next ensuing to the End of this present Parliament, to repel, annihilate and dissolve such and as many of the said Boroughs and Towns Corporate, and all Liberties and Customs of the same, as to his Highness shall be thought expedient to the Intent his Majesty, at his Grace's Pleasure, may duly erect, ordain and make such and as many other Boroughs and Towns Corporate within the said Dominion, being more apt and convenient for that Purpose, and