A description of Gozo at the turn of the eighteenth century : part 3

Abstract

Renovated in 1667, the Governatorial Tribunal inside the Castello is chaired by the Governor, a judge for civil and criminal cases, a fiscal officer and a notary. A night captain and other supporting personnel are also attached. Its archive preserves all civil and criminal cases and related registers and documents from 1551 onwards. Earlier records were reduced to ashes by the Turks. Petty litigations where an ounce or less is at stake are chaired by an idiot judge. The Governatorial Tribunal complex incorporates also three detention units, namely one in the Governor’s house, another affixed to and accessed through the sentinels quarters, and a third abutting onto the archive. The Jurors’ Court at Rabat is presided by four jurors, a treasurer and a notary. They hold their sittings in the notary’s banca where all registers, acts, case files and related documents from 1551 onwards are kept. As in the case of the governatorial archives previous records were lost during the 1551 assault. The Juror’s Court employs four inspectors to regulate the open public spaces, shops, taverns and butchers on the island and certify the weights, scales and measures in circulation. They are to report any contraventions detected and advise the Court on the penalty to be imposed, which is not to exceed 15 tari. Said inspectors are obliged also to disseminate all edicts issued by same Court.