16. In each of these manors there was a _Reeve_, who was the lord’s immediate officer. His name and institution are both of Saxon origin. The _Thane_ who generally presided in person at his own court, had at first no other officer belonging to it than the _Gerefa_ or _Reve_, who generally received a settlement on the manor, in consideration of his services; and thus, in most manors, did the office become predial, or attached to some particular lands. In some manors however, it was not confined to one denomination only, but imposed on several of the tenants in rotation, by virtue of their tenure. This officer’s duty is to account to the lord or his steward, for all the ancient quit-rents both of freehold and copyhold, and all the heriots that fall due within the manor, together with the fines, leviable amercements, and all the other casual profits within the same. But he is not bound to audit out of the manor, unless the lord will recompense him for his pains; nor even then, unless he chooses it. Being an officer of great antiquity, he is not bound to collect any but _old rents_, which were payable before the eighteenth year of _Edward the First_. 17. The majority of the homagers sworn at the lord’s court, for the better preservation of order, have, time beyond all memory of man, with the lord’s consent, used to make bye-laws for the establishment of the common good, and for preventing of public annoyances: and such laws made with reasonable penalties and clauses for distress for such penalties, have been immemorially binding and concluding to all tenants of the manor, provided such laws or orders cross not the general laws and statutes of the kingdom. Though many of the following Customs and Regulations are now become obsolete, they are in general too interesting to be omitted in the History of the town.