| Administrative history | An Act of 1670 (22 & 23 Charles II cap. 22) directed the Clerk of the Peace to make lists in duplicate called 'estreats' or extracts of fines due and recognizances forfeited, one copy for the Sheriff and one for the Exchequer to which the Sheriff had to account for the sums collected. 'Sheriff's returns' are the former copies returned with an endorsement certifying the sums the Sheriff had been able to levy and why others were not forthcoming. |