Bedford Level Act 1663

XIII. The Governor, Bailiffs, and Conservators to be elected yearly.

Qualification of Governor, &c.; Removal of Governor, &c.; Governor, &c. to demand Accounts from all Officers and Agents employed.; Arrears of Rent to be received.; In Suits against any employed by this Act, General Issue may be pleaded.

And for the Continuance of the said Corporation in Succession for ever Bee it further enacted That the said Governor Bayliffs Conservators and Cominalty upon Wednesday in Whitson weeke yearely shall at a publique Meeting to be holden for the said Corporation by the greater number then present whereof the [X1 said] Governor or one of the Bayliffs to be one elect a new Governour Bayliffs and Conservators respectively, Provided that none bee capable to be or continue Governor or Bayliffes that hath not foure hundred Acres or more of the said nynety five thousand Acres nor to be a Conservator that hath not two hundred Acres or more of the said nynety five thousand Acres, nor any of the Cominalty to have a Voyce in Elections that hath not one hundred Acres or more of the said nynety five thousand Acres And that the said Governor Bayliffs and Conservators or any of them shall and may bee removed by the said Governor Bayliffs and Conservators and Cominalty or the greater number of them present at their publique meetings whereof the said Governor or one of the Bayliffes to be one, and new chosen in the place of him or them soe dead or removed And the said Governor Bayliffes and Cominalty also shall have further Power to have demand and receive an Account from all and every the Officers Agents and Servants their Executors and Administrators heretofore imployed or hereafter to be imployed for the receiving and paying of money for or in relation to the carrying on of the Works of the dreyning of the said Great Levell, and shall and may sue for and recover the same And that all arreares of Rent already incurred upon or out of any Part of the said nynety five thousand Acres upon any Contract or Lease of the said Premisses or any Part or Parcell thereof shall bee received and recovered as if the said pretended Act had beene a good and effectuall Act, And if any Suite be comenced against the said Corporation or any Person for any Matter or Thing done in pursuance of this Act, then bee or they shall or may plead the Generall [X1 Issue] and give the speciall Matter in Evidence upon any Tryall to be had touching the same, which shall bee as good and effectuall in Law as if the same had beene specially pleaded and the Jury upon the Tryall to give a Verdict accordingly.

Editorial Information

X1 interlined.