In the 16th century, when figure and fortune, or quality and wealth,
were more considered than wisdom or probity, or justice and equity, in
our courts of law, Judge Doddridge took upon him to reprimand the
sheriff of the county of Huntingdon, for impanneling a grand jury of
freeholders who were not, in his opinion, men of figure and fortune.
The sheriff, who was a man of sense, and of wit and humour, resolved
at the next assizes to try how far sounds would work upon that judge,
and gain his approbation. He presented him with the following pannel,
which had the desired effect, for when the names were read over
emphatically, the judge thought that he had now indeed a jury of
figure and fortune:--
_A true copy of a Jury taken before Judge Doddridge, at the Assizes
holden at Huntingdon, July,_ 1619.
Maximilian King--of Torland.
Henry Prince--of Godmanchester.
George Duke--of Somersham.
William Marquess--of Stukely.
Edmund Earl--of Hartford.
Richard Baron--of Bythorpe.
Stephen Pope--of Newton.
Stephen Cardinal--of Kimbolton.
Humphry Bishop--of Bugden.
Robert Lord--of Worsley.
Robert Knight--of Winwinck.
William Abbot--of Stukely.
Robert Baron--of St. Neot's.
William Dean--of Old Weston.
John Archdeacon--of Paxton.
Peter Squire--of Easton.
Edward Friar--of Ellerton.
Henry Monk--of Stukely.
George Gentleman--of Spaldock.
George Priest--of Graffham.
Richard Deacon--of Catsworth.
Thomas Yeoman--of Barham.