And for the greater security of the country the King has commanded that in the great towns, which are enclosed, the gates be shut from sunset until sunrise; and that no man lodge in the suburbs, or in any foreign part of the town save only in the daytime, nor yet in the daytime, if the host will not answer for him; and that the bailiffs of towns every week, or at the least every fortnight, make enquiry as to all persons lodging in the suburbs, and in foreign parts of the towns; and if they find any who receives or lodges in any manner persons who may be suspected of being against the peace, the bailiffs shall do right therein. And it is commanded that from henceforth watches be kept, as has been used in times past, that is to say, from the day of the Ascension to the day of St. Michael, in every city by six men at every gate; in every borough by twelve men; in every town by six men or four, according to the number of the inhabitants who dwell [in the town], and that they keep watch continually all night, from sunset to sunrise. And if any stranger pass by them, he shall be arrested until morning; and if no suspicion be found, he shall go quit; and if they find cause of suspicion, he shall be delivered to the sheriff forthwith, and he shall receive him without danger, and keep him safely, until he be delivered in due manner. And if they will not suffer themselves to be arrested, hue and cry shall be levied against them, and those who keep watch shall follow with all the town, with the towns near, with hue and cry from town to town, until they be taken and delivered to the sheriff, as before is said; and for the arrest of such strangers none shall be called in question. And further, it is commanded, that highways from one market town to another be enlarged, where there are woods, hedges, or ditches, so that there be neither ditches, underwood, nor bushes wherein a man may lurk to do hurt, near the road, within two hundred feet on the one side, and two hundred feet on the other side, provided that this statute extend not to oaks, or to great woods, so as it be clear underneath. And if by default of the lord who will not abate the ditch, underwood, or bushes in the manner aforesaid, any robberies be done, that the lord be answerable therefor; and if murder be done, that the lord make fine at the King's pleasure. And if the lord be not able to clear away the underwood, that the country aid him in doing it. And the King wills, that in his demesne lands and woods, within his forest and without, the roads be enlarged as aforesaid. And if, perchance, a park be near the highway, it is requisite that the lord of the park diminish his park, so that there be a space of two hundred feet from the highway, as before said, or that he make such a wall, ditch, or hedge, that evil doers will not be able to pass or return, to do evil. 9. THE RECOVERY OF DEBT ON A RECOGNISANCE [_Chancery Files_, 415], 1293.