life of the Welsh nation; it gave a new stimulus to the continuance of the Welsh language; it produced a demand for education; and laid the foundations of the modern national movement in Wales.
A.D. 1566.—In 1566, by 8 Elizabeth, c. 20, the provisions of sections 6-10 of 26 Henry 8, c. 6 (1534) as to the trial of felonies in the county of Merioneth were repealed. The Act of 1534 had directed that not only were such offences, when committed in the county of Merioneth (one of the three ancient shires of North Wales), to be tried in the next English shire adjoining, but at the discretion of the Justices they might also be heard and determined in the counties of Anglesea and Caernarvon. This was a state of affairs declared to be "much to the discredit of the inhabitants of Merionethshire," so the jurisdiction in Anglesea and Caernarvon was taken away by Parliament, and Merionethshire ceased to be singled out for special legislative treatment.
A.D. 1575.—Additional Justices were appointed for Wales by 18 Elizabeth, c. 8. This statute referred to the Great Sessions, and declared that by the good administration of justice "the same Principality and Dominion of Wales, and the said County Palatine of Chester, are reduced to great obedience to her Majesty's laws, and the same greatly inhabited, manured, and peopled," and that one Justice in each circuit was unable to deal with the many great and weighty cases which arose. It was therefore provided at the most humble petition and suit of Her Majesty's subjects of the said Principality and Dominion of Wales that there should be two justices learned in the laws in every of the said circuits who, with their associates, should hold the Courts of Great Sessions.
A.D. 1584.—By a statute promulgated in 1584 (27 Elizabeth, c. 9) a system of registration of the transfer of real property was devised for Wales. The various writs of "fines and recoveries" were to be enrolled on parchment An office of enrolment was instituted in every Welsh shire
