[1579/10/32]¹

Concerning the choosing of inquests in causes of perambulation, chapter 13

²Because there are many and sundry brieves of perambulation raised within this realm, wherein the raisers and pursuers of the said brieves found themselves upon no bounds evident but intend to verify and prove their claim of the boundaries and marches of the lands debatable by the persons of inquest, being men of small rent or living and some of them having no heritage, and likewise by sundry persons who know not the lands debatable, neither yet dwell in the country near the same, thinking no objection may be made against them, so they be the good and faithful men of the country, which, as some think, is honest and faithful, having gear worth the king's unlaw and subjects of the realm wherever they dwell far or near, which, if it were true, men of no heritages should be judges and also witnesses to the property of lands and take away men's heritage and lands pertaining to them and judge the same to others who have little or no right to the same. Therefore it is statute and ordained that in all time coming in causes of perambulation no persons be received upon the inquest thereof but honest, substantial men having heritage of their own and who know best the boundaries of the said lands and dwell most closely to the same, to wit, within the sheriffdom where the said debatable lands lie (if they may be had within the same) and four halves about or four next shires if they cannot conveniently be had within the shire itself, and this to be universally observed when the brieve and claim of perambulation cannot be verified by a bound document nor other authentic writ.