In 1531 it was enacted, "That every person or persons, being the
king's natural subject born, which either by the name of citizen, or
of a freeman, or any other name, doth enjoy and use the liberties and
privileges of any city, borough, or town corporate, where he dwelleth
and maketh his abode, being worth in _movable goods and substance_ to
the clear value of _forty pounds_, be henceforth admitted in trials
of murders and felonies in every sessions and gaol delivery, to be
kept and holden in and for the liberty of such cities, boroughs, and
towns corporate, albeit they have no freehold; any act, statute, use,
custom, or ordinance to the contrary hereof notwithstanding."--_23
Henry VIII._, ch. 13. (1531.)
In 1585 it was enacted, "That in all cases where any jurors to be
returned for trial of any issue or issues joined in any of the
Queen's majesty's courts of King's Bench, Common Pleas, and the
Exchequer, or before justices of assize, by the laws of this realm
now in force, ought to have estate of freehold in lands, tenements,
or hereditaments, of the clear yearly value of _forty shillings_,
that in every such case the jurors that shall be returned from and
after the end of this present session of parliament, shall every of
them have estate of freehold in lands, tenements, or hereditaments,
to the clear yearly value of _four pounds_ at the least."--_27
Elizabeth_, ch. 6. (1585.)
In 1664-5 it was enacted, "That all jurors (other than strangers upon
trials _per medietatem linguæ_) who are to be returned for the trials
of issues joined in any of (his) majesty's courts of king's bench,
common pleas, or the exchequer, or before justices of assize, or nisi
prius, oyer and terminer, gaol delivery, or general or quarter
sessions of the peace, from and after the twentieth day of April,
which shall be in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and
sixty-five, in any county of this realm of England, shall every of
them thon have, in their own name, or in trust for them, within the
same county, _twenty pounds by the year_, at least, above reprises,
in their own or their wives' right, of freehold lands, or of ancient
demesne, or of rents in fee, fee-tail, or for life. And that in every
county within the dominion of Wales every such juror shall then have,
within the same, _eight pounds by the year_, at the least, above
reprises, in manner aforesaid. All which persons having such estate
as aforesaid are hereby enabled and made liable to be returned and
serve as jurors for the trial of issues before the justices
aforesaid, any law or statute to the contrary in any wise
notwithstanding."--_16 and 17 Charles II._, ch. 3. (1664-5.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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