[Sidenote: Inquisitions taken of the misdemeanors of iustices.] [Sidenote: _Caxton._] [Sidenote: Iustices fined.] About the same time, Thomas Colebrugh or Corbridge archbishop of Yorke departed this life, and one William Gréenefield doctour of both the lawes succéeded him. ¶ There died about the same time that valiant knight the lord W. Latimer. ¶ Also Iohn Warren earle of Surrey and Sussex died this yéere & was buried at Lewes. His nephue by his son (named also Iohn) succéeded him, obteining to wife the kings néece by his daughter Elianor that was married to the earle of Bar, as before ye haue heard. Likewise Robert Bruce earle of Carrike, the fift of that name died this yeare, who was father to that Robert Bruce that was after K. of Scots. ¶ Moreouer, about this season the king ordeined certeine commissioners of iusticiaries, to make inquisitions through the realme, by the verdict of substantiall iuries vpon all officers, as maiors, shiriffes, bailiffes, exchetors, and other that had misused themselues in their offices, either by extortion, briberie, or otherwise, to the gréeuance of the people, contrarie to that they rightlie might doo and iustifie by vertue of their offices: by meanes of which inquisitions manie were accused and found culpable, and therevpon put to gréeuous fines. [Sidenote: _Matth. Westm._] [Sidenote: Intrusions punished, and other offenses against the kings peace and iustice.] [Sidenote: Forfeits.] [Sidenote: _Nic. Triuet._] [Sidenote: Traile baston.] Also the iustices, which were assigned to take these inquisitions, extended the same according to their commission against such as had made intrusions into other mens lands, and for doubt to be impleaded for the same had made alienations ouer into the hands of great men; also against such barretors as vsed to take monie to beat any man, and againe would not sticke to take monie of him whom they had so beaten, to beat him that first hired them to beat the other. The malice of such maner people was now restreined by force of these inquisitions: for such as were found culpable, were worthilie punished, some by death, and some by ransoms: diuerse also for feare to come to their answers fled the realme: also forfeits against the crowne were streightlie looked vnto, found out, and leuied; by reason whereof great summes of monie came to the kings coffers, which holpe well towards the maintenance and charges of his warres. This kind of inquisition was named commonlie Traile baston, which signifieth, Traile or draw the staffe. And forsomuch as the procéeding in this wise against such misdemenors as then were vsed, brought so great a benefit to the realme in restreining such malefactors, which greatlie (as should séeme) disquieted the state of the commonwealth, I haue thought good to set downe the substance of the same, as followeth. An extract of the foresaid writ, as it is registred in the booke that belonged to the abbeie of Abington.