of 1534 (26 Henry 8, c. ii), against Welshmen making affrays in the Counties of Hereford, Gloucester, and Salop, until the last day of the next Parliament. It may be here observed that, so far as lawlessness was concerned, Wales did not stand alone at this period, for Henry also had occasion to deal with rebellion and disorder in almost every part of his realm.
A.D. 1539.—In 1539 it was stated, that owing to more pressing business, the King had not had time to proceed with the allotment of townships in Wales, so an Act (31 Henry 8, c. 11) extended this power for a further period of three years.
A.D. 1540.—The Act "for the Trial of Treasons in Wales" (32 Henry 8, c. 4) provided that treasons committed where the original writs in Chancery "commonly runneth not" should be tried by the oaths of twelve men of the shire before the King's appointed Commissioners. Persons accused of treason or misprision of treason within the Principality and Dominion of Wales and the Marches of the same might be tried wheresoever the King should appoint, and by Commissioners of oyer and terminer, provided always that peers of the realm were to retain their ancient privilege of trial by their peers.
In the same year, by the Act (32 Henry 8, c. 27) for the resumption at Calais, Berwick, and Wales, reciting that "whereas divers subjects of the King had by sinister and subtle means obtained divers grants and letters patents of offices within the King's Dominion of Wales, contrary to the common wealth of the country there: and also to the great disquieting vexation and trouble of the King's loving and obedient subjects," it was ordained that, from September 1, 1540, all such grants should be made void and of no effect.
Another Act of 1540 (32 Henry 8, c. 37) enabled executors to recover and maintain actions for arrears of rent due to the testator: but, by section 2, it was not to
