410 ANNALS OP ROGER BE HOVEDEN. A.D. 1176. justices shall refer it to him, or to those who shall be in his place, in consequence of their doubts. Still, to the best of their ability, they are to exert themselves to consult the convenience of our lord the king. " Throughout those counties through which they are to go, they are to hold assizes for the trial of wicked thieves and evil-doers to the land ; the same being held by consent of the king, and of his son, and of his subjects. "Also, the justices are to take precaution that the castles already dismantled are quite dismantled, and that those which are to be dismantled are utterly razed to the ground. And, if they do not, our lord the king will desire to have the judgment of his court on them as contemners of his commands. " The justices are to make enquiry as to escheats, and churches, and lands, and female wards,82 that are at the disposal of our lord the king. " The bailiffs of our lord the king are to be answerable in the exchequer both for the rents of assize, and their other levies which they make in their bailiwicks ; with the exception of those which relate to the shrievalty. " The justices are to make enquiry as to the keepers83 of the [royal] castles, both who they are, and how much they owe, and where ; and, after that, they are to report thereon to our lord the king. " A robber, immediately he is taken, is to be given into the custody of the sheriff; and, if the sheriff is absent, then he is to be taken to the nearest castellan, and let him take charge of him until such time as he shall deliver him over to the sheriff. "The justices are to cause, according to the custom of the country, enquiry to be made for those who have withdrawn from the kingdom ; and, unless they are ready to return within a time named, and to take their trial in the court of our lord the king, they are. to be outlawed ; and the names of those out lawed are to be brought at Easter and at the feast of Saint Michael to the exchequer, and are to be sent immediately to our lord the king." 8 S The female wards over whom he had the "jus maritagli," or right of giving in marriage. 8 3 These seem to be the same officers that are called by Fleta " villici castrorum," or " stewards of the king's manors."