Before the Act of 1535 founding the several shires of Wales, the King's writ did not run in Wales, and by an Act of 1514 (6 Henry 8, c. 4) proclamations awarded upon writs of exigent could not be directed into Wales, but only to the sheriff of the county next adjoining. By this Act of 1547, such writs and proclamations were to be issued by the King's Justices at Westminster against any persons dwelling in the Dominion and Principality of Wales, and to carry out its provisions the sheriffs for the counties of Wales and Chester were to have deputies in the Courts at Westminster to receive all writs, so that persons resident in Wales were to be outlawed in the same manner as in England.
A.D. 1548.—It appears from a clause in an Act passed in 1548 (2-3 Edward 6, c, 13, s. 16) that the tithe question was one which even at that time commanded the notice of Parliament. A custom then existed in many parts of Wales that "the parsons and curates in those parts" levied tithes on "such cattle and goods as hath been given with the marriage of any person." This custom was expressly declared by Parliament to be "grievous and unreasonable especially where the benefices are else sufficient for the finding of the said ministers and curates." Tithes on marriage goods were therefore abolished, notwithstanding the existence of any such custom. No compensation for vested interests was furnished by this Act.
A.D. 1554.—In this year was passed an Act touching the sea sands of Glamorganshire. In order to prevent the damage caused in that county owing to sand being driven by the "outrageous course and rage of the sea" to land by storms and winds, authority was given to Commissioners of Sewers to take steps to save the good ground lying on the sea coasts from hurt and destruction. Leland, in his Itinerary of Wales, which he made in 1536-1539, describes the sea coast referred to in the following terms: "From Newton to Kenfike Ryver a 6 miles. Of these 6 miles 3 be high cliffes on the shore; the other low shore and sandy grounde. For the
