WESTMINSTER THE FIRST

The statute 3 Edw. I.,, A. D. 1275. This statute which deserves the name of a code rather than an act, is divided into fifty-one .chapters. Without extending the exemption of churchmen from civil jurisdiction, it potects the property of the church from the violence and spoliation of the king and the nobles, provides for freedom of popular elections, because sheriffs, coroners, and conserv ators of the peace were still chosen by the freeholders in the county court, and at tempts had been made to influence the election of knights of the shire, from the time when they were instituted. It contains a declaration to enforce the enactment of Magna Charta against excessive fines; which might operate as perpetual imprisonment; enumerates and corrects the abuses of tear ures, particularly as to marriage of wards-; regulates the levying of tolls, which were imposed arbitrarily by the barons and by cities and boroughs; corrects and restrains the powers of the king eecheator and other officers; amends the criminal law, putting the crime of rape on the footing to which it has been lately restored, as a most grievous, but not capital 0ffense; and embraces the subject of procedure in civil and criminal matters, introducing many regulations to render it cheap, simple, and expeditious. 1 Camp. Lives Ld. Ch. p. 167; 2 Reeve, Eng. Law, c. 9, p. 107. Certain parts of this act are repealed by St 26 A 27 Vict c. 125. Wharton.