once after Easter, the Sheriff was to make his "tourn" in the several commotes, at which all freeholders, and all others holding lands and dwelling in that commote (except men of religion, clerks, and women) were to attend. The "commote" or "cymwd" was selected because it was the most ancient division of Cymric land. The "cantref" was a collection of "cymwds." The "cymwds" varied in size. There are several comparatively modern lists of these ancient divisions in existence, which show that they were well recognized in later times: they are mentioned in the laws of Howel Dda for administrative and legal purposes, and were doubtless in existence during all the mediaeval history of the Country.[1] At his "tourn" the Sheriff, by the oath of twelve of the most discreet and lawful freeholders, or more at his discretion, made inquiry as to certain matters duly specified in section 4 of the statute, principally offences of a criminal character.
The Sheriff was to inquire, inter alia "of Mascherers, that sell and buy stolen meat knowingly; of Whittawers, that is, those that whiten hides of oxen and horses, knowing the same to have been stolen, that they may not be known again; of Redubbers of stolen cloths, that turn them into a new shape and change the old one, as making a coat or surcoat of a cloak and the like; of them that shear sheep by night in the folds, and that slay them and any other beasts; of them that take and collect by night the ears of corn in autumn and carry them away; and of them that give lodgings to persons unknown for more than two nights, etc., etc."
All the men of the whole "commote" were sworn and required to make due presentment as to the capital and lesser offences arising within their district. In capital offences they were to inform the Sheriff secretly of the names of the offenders to prevent their escape, but this secrecy was not required in the lesser offences. This grand jury brought
- ↑ See Brynmor-Jones and Rhys, "The Welsh People," Appendix A.
