When, therefore, the Demandant offers himself in Court on the appointed day, the first inquiry is, whether the Sheriff has the Summoners, and the Writ there present or not; if he have, and the Summons be proved, the Suit must be proceeded in, in the manner we have mentioned. But, if the Sheriff should neither be present on that day, nor appear within the fourth day, to which time the Tenant must be awaited, then let the Sheriff be again commanded by the King’s Writ, to summon the Tenant, concerning the principal cause, by a Writ of second Summons, and that he himself appear to shew why he neglected to make the Summons, as enjoined him by the first Writ. The Writ of second Summons contains that which first issued, with the addition of the following clause: “_and be you yourself then there present to shew wherefore you did not summon him, as it was commanded you by my other Writ, and have there this Writ, and that other Writ_.” At the day appointed, the Sheriff appearing, either says that he executed the King’s precept, or confesses that he has not done it. Should he acknowledge the latter, then he shall be amerced to the King. But, in this case, the Demandant shall lose his first day, and the Tenant must be again summoned. But should the Sheriff allege that he had injoined lawful Summoners to execute the first Summons—and they, being present, acknowledge the fact, then not only the Sheriff, but the Summoners shall be amerced,[75] if they have not executed such Summons as it was their duty to do; and thus again the first day will become useless to the Demandant. [Footnote 75: It should rather seem that in Bracton’s time the Summoners only would be amerced. (Bracton 336. a.)]