SHEPHERD’S _market_, near Curzon street.† SHEPHERD’S _mews_, Park street, Southwark.† SHEPHERD’S _street_, Oxford street.† SHEPHERD’S _yard_, Shoreditch.† SHERBURN _lane_, Lombard street; thus named from the brook Langbourn, which anciently ran out of Fenchurch street, and here turning south, divided into several shares, rills, or streams. This lane was also anciently called Southbourn lane, because these rills here ran south to the Thames. _Maitland._ SHERIFFS, two very ancient officers of the city, established in the time of the Saxons: but Richard I. changed the name of these officers to the Norman appellation of Bailiff, which signifies an Intendant, Collector, or petty Magistrate; as the Saxon Sciregrave implies a Judge, Overseer, or Collector. However, the appellation of Bailiff proving of no long duration, the more ancient one of Sheriff was restored to that office. The Sheriffs are chosen by the Liverymen of the several companies on Midsummer day, the Lord Mayor drinking to those whom he nominates for their approbation: but any person who can swear that he is not worth 15000_l._ may be excused from serving the office; however, if he is qualified with respect to fortune, he is obliged to serve, or to pay a fine of about 500_l._ or otherwise to engage in a law suit with the city. This last is particularly the case of the dissenters, who look upon themselves as disqualified by law; since by act of Parliament, every person who serves the office of Sheriff ought to have received the sacrament in the church of England, twelve months before he enters upon his office. Any gentleman of the city may be chosen an Alderman, without his serving the office of Sheriff; but he is obliged to be a Sheriff before he can be Lord Mayor. The office of Sheriff, according to our great antiquary Mr. Camden, is to collect the public revenues within his jurisdiction, to gather into the Exchequer all fines, to serve the King’s writs of process, and by the _posse comitatus_ to compel headstrong and obstinate men to submit to the decisions of the law; to attend the Judges, and execute their orders, to impanel juries, and to take care that all condemned criminals be duly executed. All actions for debt in the city are entered at the two compters belonging to the Sheriffs, where the prisoners either give bail, or are confined in prison, unless being freemen, they chuse to be carried to Ludgate. See the article COMPTER. SHERIFFS COURTS, are courts of record held in Guildhall every Wednesday and Friday, for actions entered in Wood street Compter, and on Thursdays and Saturdays for those entered at the Poultry Compter, of which the Sheriffs being Judges, each has his Assistant or Deputy, who are commonly called Judges of these courts, before whom are tried actions of debt, trespass, covenant, &c. where the testimony of an absent witness in writing is allowed to be good evidence. _Maitland._