Part 24 (1/2)

V.

T H A T all Courts shall be open, and Justice shall neither be sold, denied, nor delayed.

VI.

T H A T in all Courts, all Persons of all Persuasions may freely appear in their own Way, and according to their own Manner, and there personally plead their own Cause themselves; or if unable, by their Friend: And the first Process shall be the Exhibition of the Complaint in Court, fourteen Days before the Trial; and that the Party complained against may be fitted for the same, he or she shall be summoned, no less than ten Days before, and a Copy of the Complaint delivered him or her, at his or her Dwelling-house. But before the Complaint of any Person be received, he shall solemnly declare in Court, That he believes in his Conscience his Cause is just.

VII.

T H A T all Pleadings, Processes, and Records in Court shall be short, and in _English_, and in an ordinary and plain Character, that they may be understood, and Justice speedily administred.

VIII.

T H A T all Trials shall be by twelve Men, and as near as may be, Peers or Equals, and of the Neighbourhood, and Men without just Exception in Cases of Life, there shall be first twenty-four returned by the Sheriffs for a Grand Inquest, of whom twelve at least shall find the Complaint to be true; and then the twelve Men, or Peers, to be likewise returned by the Sheriff, shall have the final Judgment. But reasonable Challenges shall be always admitted against the said twelve Men, or any of them.

IX.

T H A T all Fees in all Cases shall be moderate, and settled by the provincial Council and general a.s.sembly, and be hung up in a Table in every respective Court; and whosoever shall be convicted of taking more, shall pay two-fold, and be dismissed his Employment, one Moiety of which shall go to the Party wronged.

X.

T H A T all Prisons shall be Work-houses for Felons, Vagrants, and loose and idle Persons; whereof one shall be in every County.

XI.

T H A T all Prisoners shall be bailable by sufficient Sureties, unless for capital Offences, where the Proof is evident, or the Presumption great.

XII.

T H A T all Persons wrongfully imprisoned or prosecuted at Law, shall have double Damages against the Informer or Prosecutor.

XIII.

T H A T all Prisons shall be free as to Fees, Food, and Lodging.

XIV.

T H A T all Lands and Goods shall be liable to pay Debts, except where there is legal Issue, and then all the Goods, and one third of the Land only.

XV.