When an action is brought within this borough and its court, before the bailiffs, on any bond or bill of debt, seeking payment of that debt, the custom of this borough is, and has always been that judgement shall be given and executed only as regards the debt itself, not for damages incurred, although under the law the complaint must be entered by and upon that penalty. Furthermore, the custom is that in every action of debt by bond or bill [a court fine of] 12d. in the pound, [assessed] only on the debt itself, shall be paid to the town by those who lose any such action, or by their pledges and sureties in the action. With the proviso that the defendant’s attorney may request that the debt itself be enquired into by the country according to the custom of this borough.