[Imampaictjg]

In Olde England the Sheriff was the King's man, considered to be the governor of the County in which he had office. I ran across this oath that was required of the incumbent:

the following Oath shall be taken by all High Sheriffs, except the Sheriffs of Wales and of the County Palatine of Chester, &c. “I A.B. do swear that I will well and truly serve the King’s Majesty in the Office of Sheriff of the County of …… and promote his Majesty’s Profit in all things that belong to my Office as far as I legally can or may. I will truly preserve the King’s Rights and all that belongeth to the Crown. I will not assent to decrease, lessen, or conceal the King’s Rights, or the Rights of his Franchises; and wheresoever I shall have Knowledge that the Rights of the Crown are concealed or withdrawn, be it in Lands, Rents, Franchises, Suits or Services, or in any other Matter or Thing, I will do my utmost to make them be restored to the Crown again; and, if I may not do it myself, I will certify and inform the King thereof, or some of his Judges. I will not respite or delay to levy the King’s Debts for any Gift, Promise, Reward or Favour, where I may raise the same without great Grievance to the Debtors. I will do Right as well to Poor as to Rich, in all Things belonging to my Office. I will do no Wrong to any Man for any Gift, Reward , or Promise, nor for Favour or Hatred. I will disturb no Man’s Right, and will truly and faithfully acquit at the Exchequer all those of whom I shall receive any Debts or Duties belonging to the Crown. I will take nothing whereby the King may lose, or whereby his Right may be disturbed, injured or delayed. I will truly return, and truly serve all the King’s Writs according to the best of my Skill and Knowledge. I will take no Bailiffs into my Service but such as I will answer for, and will cause each of them to take such Oaths as I do in what belongeth to their Business and Occupation. I will truly set and return reasonable and due Issues of them that be within my Bailiwick, according to their Estate and Circumstances, and make due Panels of Persons able and sufficient, and not suspected or procured, as is appointed by the Statutes of this Realm. I have not sold or let to Farm, nor contracted for, nor have I granted or promised for Reward or Benefit, now will I sell or let to Farm, no contract for grant for Reward or Benefit by myself or any other Person for me, or for my Use, directly or indicrectly, my Sheriffwick or any Bailiwick thereof, or any Office belonging thereunto for the Profits of the same to any Person or Persons whatsoever. I will truly and diligently execute the good Laws and Statutes of this Realm, and in all Things well and truly behave myself in my Office for the Honour of the King and the Good of his Subjects, and discharge the same according to the best of my Skill and Power. So help me God.” The text can be found "A New Abridgment of the Law" by Mathew Bacon on Google books ... a free download.

Note the COMMERCIAL nature of the office?