Note 135 — Book IV.
John Beames translation
Mr. Madox informs us, when speaking of the King’s Debtor, “If he was a Clergyman, and had no lay Fee, whereby he might be distrained, writs were wont to issue to the Bishop of the Diocese, commanding him to distrain such Debtor, by his Ecclesiastical Benefices. Many of these writs had in them a clause importing, that if the Bishop failed to make due Execution, the King would cause the Debt to be levied on the Bishop’s Barony.” (Madox’s Excheq. c. 23.)