to flie unto. And for this cause it is as greatly frequented with sutes as any one Court at Westminster whatsoever, the more for that it is the best cheape Court in England for ffees and there is great speed made in trial of all causes."
The Council lived too long. If it had ended with the sixteenth century its record would probably have been higher. Its work had been done long before 1641. Wales had ceased then to be lawless and turbulent, and the ordinary courts of the land would have been sufficient for the maintenance of order and the settlement of disputes.
A full and accurate account of the history of this Council is to be found in the remarkably interesting and learned thesis written by Miss Caroline A. J. Skeel, D.Lit, F.R.Hist.S.
A.D. 1543.—The final legislation relating to Wales in the reign of Henry the Eighth occurred in 1543. It was (35 Henry 8, c. 11) an "Act for the due payment of the fees and wages " of members of Parliament. Every knight of the shire was to receive four shillings per day for his attendance in Parliament, and for so many days as were reasonably spent in going to and returning from Parliament. Every citizen burgess (borough member) was to receive two shillings per day. The sheriffs of the counties of Wales and Monmouthshire were to have full power to levy and collect the same, and were liable to a fine of £20 if they did not accomplish their duties within two months. The principal officers of the boroughs were also deputed to perform similar duties in providing for the payment of their local parliamentary representatives. The burgesses were, under this Act, to have a voice in the election of their members. The assessment for these payments was to be made by two Justices of the peace.
This Act was rendered necessary because the fees payable under the Act of 1535 had been negligently levied. It remained in force until its repeal by the Statute Law Revision Act, 1856, but the rights under the Act of 1535 were not repealed until the Statute Law Revision Act of 1887.
