the same lands should returne to him, and his said successors againe.
The like order he appointed to be vsed by other possessors of lands,
in letting them forth to their tenants. [Sidenote: The institution of
the foure Termes.] He ordeined also, that the Termes should be kept
foure times in the yéere, in such places as he should nominate, and
that the iudges shuld sit in their seuerall places to iudge and decide
causes and matters in controuersie betwixt partie and partie, in
manner as is vsed vnto this day. He decréed moreouer, that there
should be shiriffes in euerie shire, and iustices of the peace to
keepe the countries in quiet, and to sée offendors punished.
[Sidenote: The Excheker.] Furthermore, he instituted the court of the
Excheker, and the officers belonging to the same, as the barons, the
clearks, and such other, [Sidenote: The Chancerie.] and also the high
court of Chancerie.

After he had in this sort ordeined his magistrates and ministers of
the lawes, he lastlie tooke order what ordinances he would haue
obserued: wherevpon abrogating in maner all the ancient lawes vsed in
times past, and instituted by the former kings for the good order and
quietnes of the people, [Sidenote: New lawes.] he made new, nothing so
equall or easie to be kept; which neuerthelesse those that came after
(not without their great harme) were constreined to obserue: as though
it had beene an high offense against GOD to abolish those euill lawes,
which king William (a prince nothing friendly to the English nation)
had first ordeined, and to bring in other more easie and tollerable.
[Sidenote: The lawes were written in the Norman toong.] ¶ Here by the
waie I giue you to note a great absurditie; namelie, that those lawes
which touched all, and ought to be knowne of all, were notwithstanding
written in the Norman toong, which the Englishmen vnderstood not; so
that euen at the beginning you should haue great numbers, partlie by