Page:The statutes of Wales (1908).djvu/70

subjects in Wales, so that his said subjects "may grow and rise to more wealth and prosperity."

The Dominion, Principality, and Country of Wales was henceforth to be divided into twelve shires, eight of which were shires of long and ancient time, viz.:

Glamorgan.
Pembroke.
Flint.
Anglesey.

Caermarthen.
Cardigan.
Caernarvon.
Merioneth.

the remaining four being the new shires of

Brecknock.
Montgomery.

Radnor.
Denbigh.

which had been constructed and defined by the Act of 1535. These new counties, having been divided into hundreds as was provided for by legislation, the division was confirmed by this Act.

The new system of courts called the "King's Great Sessions in Wales" were to be held twice in every year. The twelve shires were divided into four circuits, each comprising three counties, presided over by one Justice, learned in the laws, to keep the Great Sessions. Later, in 1575, another Justice was added to each circuit (18 Elizabeth, c. 8).

The circuits were—

Chester	$\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$	Denbighshire	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	under the Justice of Chester.
		Flintshire
		Montgomery
Caernarvon	$\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$	Caernarvonshire	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	under the Justice of North Wales.
		Merionethshire
		Anglesey
Caermarthen	$\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$	Caermarthenshire	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	under the Justice of Caermarthen, &c.
		Pembrokeshire
		Cardiganshire
Brecknock	$\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$	Radnorshire	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	under the Justice of Radnor, &c.
		Brecknockshire
		Glamorganshire

The Justices, appointed under the Great Seal, were to hear all manner of pleas, actions, and criminal matters according