So that if any one of them did start into any undutiful action, the Borsolder was bound to bring him forth, when, joyning eft-soones with all his tything, would follow that loose person thorough all places, till they brought him in. And if all that tything fayled, then all that lathe was charged for that tything, and if that lathe fayled, then all that hundred was demaunded for them; and if the hundred, then the shire, who, joyning eft-soones together, would not rest till they had found out and delivered in that undutifull fellow, which was not amesnable to law. And herein it seemes, that that good Saxon King followed the Counsell of Iethro to Moyses, who advised him to divide the people into hundreds, and to set Captaines and wise men of trust over them, who should take the charge of them, and ease of that burthen. And so did Romulus (as you may read) [o 1] divide the Romanes into tribes, and the tribes into centuries or hundreths. By this ordinance, this King brought this realme of England, (which before was most troublesome,) unto that quiet state, that no one bad person could stirre but he was straight taken holde of by those of his owne tything, and their Borsholder, who being his neighbor or next kinsman were privie to all his waves, and looked narrowly into his life.
- ↑ divide the Romanes into tribes,] Li vie speaking of Romulus hath it thus, Populum in curias 30. divisit, &c. Eodem tempore & centuriae trea equitum conscriptæ sunt. And so we have it in Sextus Aurel. Victor's booke, de viris illustrious urbis Romæ. Tres equitum centurias instiutuit (saith he) Plebem in triginta curias distribuit. Sir James Ware.
