haue thought it their part to expound any thing they could meete with in their vvalke And in deede a Lavvyer professeth true Philosophy and therefore should not be ignorant if it vvere possible of either beastes foules or creeping things nor of the trees from the Cedar in Lebanon to the Hyssop that springeth out of the vvall And therefore if I haue either omitted any hard vvord vvithin my circuit or set it dovvne not expounded I giue you good leaue to impute the one to my negligence the other to mine ignorance and so cōmend these my paines to your best profit and you vnto God Nouember 3. 1607. IO. COVVELL These faults I haue noted according to the words alphabetically which of necessitie require emendation IN the word Rawnge for Pouralleeses read Pourallees In the word Reasonable ayde reade Claimeth of his tenents houlding c. For the word Remittere read Remitter In the word Returno habendo for Expleuied reade Repleuied In the word Scot and Lot for Aulote Auscote reade Anlote Anscote For the word Statutum de laboriis reade Laborariis In the word Terme for Certifie reade Rectifie For the word Thrid with hawan man reade Thrid nith For the word Tost read Toft In the word Tolle for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the word Verdour for Verdioir read Verdeur For the word Vicountie reade Vicountiel In the word Watlingstreat for Tosse read Fosse in the word Widow for Vide read Vuide For the word Woolferthfod read Wolferhefod The signification of Words A B ABATE Iutrudere seemeth to be taken from the French Abatre i. decutere destruere prosternere It is in the Writers of the Common law vsed both actiuely and passiuely or rather neuterly as to abate a castell or a fortlet Old Nat. br fo 45. which in Westm 1. cap. 17. is plainely interpreted to be as much as to beate downe And to abate a Writ is by some exception to defeate or ouerthrow it Britton cap. 48. And in this Actiue voice it hath two significations one generall another speciall generall as in the former examples and againe in Kitchin fol. 173. Abater meason is to ruine or cast downe a house especiall as in the Old Nat br fol. 115. A stranger abateth that is entreth vpon a house or lād void by the death of him that last possessed it before the heire take his possession and so keepeth him out Wherefore as he that putteth out him in possession is said to disseise so he that steppeth in betweene the former possessor and his heire is said to abate In the neuter signification it is vsed ann 34. Edw. 1. stat 2. of ioynt tenants viz. the Writ of the demandant shall abate that is shall be disabled frustrated or ouerthrowne So in Stawnfords plees of the crowne fol. 148. In this case a man may say that the appeale abateth by covin that is that the accusation is defeated by deceit See Intrusion Abatement Intrusio cōmeth also of the French abatement i. deiectio decussio prostratio and is likewise vsed as the verbe abate both actiuely and passiuely somtime signifying the act of the abator as the abatement of the heire into the land before he hath agreed with the Lord. Old nat br fol. 91. Sometime the affection or passion of the thing abated as abatement of the writ Kitchin fol. 214. And in this signification it is as much as exceptio dilatoria with the Civilians Brit. cap. 51. or rather an effect of it For the exception alledged and made good worketh the abatement And this exception may be taken either to the insufficiencie of the matter or to the incertaintie of the allegation by the misnaming of the plaintiffe defendant or place to the variance betweene the Writ and the specialtie or record to the incertaintie of the VVrit count or declaration or to the death of the plaintiffe or defendant new tearmes of the law verbo Abatement of Writ And he that will reade more of this may looke vpon the new booke of Entries verbo Briefe Abatour Intrusor is he that abateth that is thrusteth into a house or land void by the death of the former possessor and not yet entred or taken vp by his heire Old nat br fol. 115. Perkins fol. 76. If there be a disseissor abator or intrudor vpon any land by the deceipt of the woman c. Abbot Abbas in French Abbè is by skilfull Linguists said to come from the Syriacke word Abba i. pater and in our common law is vsed for him that in the covent or fellowship of Canons hath the rule and preheminence He is by Iustinian novel constitut 115. § 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tearmed Archimandrita of others Coenobiarcha vel Archimonachus Hoto in verbis feuda Of these some here in England were mitred some not Stowes annals pa. 442. And those that were mitred were exempted from the iurisdiction of the diocesan hauing in themselues episcopal authoritie within their precincts and being also Lords of the Parlament Of this kind thus saith Corasius Aliqui Abbates habent iurisdictionem episcopalem ad quos cum Ecclesia pleno iure pertineat in eorum Monasteriis Episcopus nihil exercet cap. Ea quae Vbi Panor extra de statu Monacho Haec dictus author in Paraphrasi de sacerdotio materia parte pri cap. 9. And these were called Abbots soueraigne anno 9. R. 2. cap 4. and Abbots generals as M. Fearne noteth in his glory of generositie pag. 126. The other sort were subiect to the diocesan in all spirituall gouernement cap. Monasteria 18. quaest 2. cap. Abbas cap. visit andi cum quatuor sequentibus ibidem ca. Omnes 16. quaest 7. cap. Cùm venerabilis extra de religîosis domibus And as Abbots so were there Lord Priors also who both had exempt iurisdiction were Lords of the Parlament as appeareth by S. Edward Cooke de iure Ecclesiastico fol. 28. a. Abeyance seemeth to be deriued from the French Abayer i. allatrare to barke at as dogs do against a stranger or spaniels at a Fesant put to the pearke So children are said bayer à la mamme when seing the dug they struggle and make meanes towards it And they likewise bayer a l'argent qui spe atque animo incumbunt pecuniae This word in Litleton cap. Discontinuance is thus vsed The right of Fee-simple lyeth in abeyance that is as himselfe interpreteth all onely in the remembrance intendmēt and consideration of the law Also in the same place the Francke tenement of the glebe of the parsonage is in no man during the time that the parsonage is void but is in abeyance And againe It is a principle in lawe that of euery land there is Fee-simple in some man or the Fee-simple is in abeyance Considering these places and comparing them with the signification of
is vsed anno 20. Ed 1. anno 11. H. 6. cap. 2. in these words Iustices assigned to take assises And the Substantiue assignement hath the same signification Wests symb parte 1. lib. 2. sect 496. seq In which maner is also vsed the adiectiue assignee assignatus viz. for him that is appointed or deputed by another to do any act or performe any businesse or enioy any commoditie And an assignee may be either in deed or in law Assignee in deed is he that is appointed by a person an assignee in lawe is he whom the lawe so maketh without any appointment of the person v. Dyer fol. 6. num 5. Perkins in Grauntes saith that an assignee is he that occupieth a thing in his owne right and deputè he that doth it in the right of another Assise assisa commeth of the French assise which in the grand custumarie of Normandy cap. 24. is defined to this effect Assise is an assembly of Knights and other substantiall men with the Bailiffe or Iustice in a certain place and at a certaine time appointed And againe cap. 55. Assise is a court in the which whatsoeuer is done ought to haue perpetuall strength This Normane word assise commeth of the French asseoir â— collocare to settle or bestow in some place certaine as sâ—asseoir is to sit downe by another And metaphorically it is vsed of things incorporeall as asseoir son iugement sur quelque lieu is interponere iudicium suum Of this verbe commeth the participle assis as estre assis i. sedere And this Participle in the grand custumarie of Normandie cap. 68. is vsed as we would say appointed limited or determined viz. au iour qui est assis à faire la battaille se doibuent les champions offrir á la iustice that is at the day which is appointed for the combat the champions ought to offer themselues to the Iustice So that by all these places compared together it is euident whence the original of this word assise floweth How diuersly it is vsed in our common lawe it followeth that we declare First Litleton in the chapter Rents saith that it is aequivocum where he setteth downe three seuerall significations of it one as it is taken for a writ another as it is vsed for a Iurie the third as for an ordinance And him he that listeth may reade more at large My collections haue serued me thus first assise is taken for a writ directed to the Shyreeue for the recouerie of possession of things immoueable whereof your selfe or your auncestor haue bene disseised And this is as well of things corporall as incorporeall rights being of foure sorts as here they follow in their order Assise of novel disseisin assisa nova disseisina lyeth where a tenent in Fee-simple Fee-taile or for tearme of life is lately disseised of his lands or tenements or else of a rent seruice rent seck or rent charge of common of pasture of an office of tolle tronage passage pownage or for a nusance leuied and diuers other such like For confirmation whereof you may reade Glanvile lib. 10. cap. 2. Bracton lib. 4. tract 1. per totum Britton cap. 70. seqq Register orig fol. 197. Fitz. nat br fol. 177. 178. 179. new booke of entries fol. 74. col 3. West 2. cap. 25. anno 13. Ed. 1. And to this may aptly be added the Bill of fresh force friscae fortiae which is directed to the officers or magistrates of Cities or Townes corporate being a kinde of assise for recovery of possession in such places within 40. daies after the force as the ordinarie assise is in the countie Fitzh nat br fo 7. c. This the Civilians call iudicium possessorium recuperandi Assise of mort d' auncester assisa mortis antecessoris lyeth where my father mother brother sister vncle aunte c. died seised of lands tenements rents c. that he had in see simple and after his death a straunger abateth an it is good as well against the abatour as any other in possession How likewise this is extended see Bracton li. 4. tract 3. per totum Britton ca. 70. cum multis sequent Fitzh nat br fo 114. Register orig fo 223. This the Civilians call Iudicium possessorium adipiscendi Assise of darrein presentment assisa vltima praesentationis lieth where I or mine auncestor haue presented a Clerke to a Church and after the Church being voide by the death of the said Clerke or otherwise a strauÌ„ger presenteth his Clerke to the same Church in disturbance of me And how otherwise this writ is vsed See Bracton li. 4. tract 2. Register orig fo 30. Fitzh nat br fo 195. Assise de vtrum assisa vtrum lieth either for a parson against a lay man or a lay man against a parson for land or tenement doubtfull whether it be lay see or free almes And of this see Bracton li. 4. tract 5. cap. 1. seqq Brit. ca. 95. The reason why these writs be called assises may be diuers First because they settle the possession and so an outward right in him that obteineth by them Secondly they were originally spedde and executed at a certaine time and place formerly appointed For by the Norman law the time and place must be knowne 40. daies before the Iustices sate of them and by our lawe there must be likewise 15. daies of preparation except they be tried in those standing courts of the king in Westminster as appeareth by Fitzh nat br fo 177. D. E. Lastly they may be called assises because they are tried most commonly by especial courts set appointed for the purpose as may be well proved not onely out of the custumarie of Normandie but our bookes also which shew that in auncient times Iustices were apointed by especiall commission to dispatch controversies of possession one or more in this or that onely countie as accasion fell out or disseisins were offered that as well in terme time as out of terme whereas of later daies wee see that all these commissions of asseses of eyre of oyer terminer of gaol deliuerie and of nisi prius are dispatched all at one time by two severall circuits in the yeare out of terme and by such as haue the greatest sway of Iustice being al of them either the Kings ordinarie Iustices of his benches Sergeants at the lawe or such like Assise in the second signification according to Litleton is vsed for a Iurie For to vse his owne example it is set downe in the beginning of the record of an assise of novel disseisin Assissa venit recognitura which is as much to say as Iuratores veniunt recognituri The reason why the Iurie is called an assise he giueth to be this because by the writte of assise the Shyreeue is commaunded quòd faciat duodecim liberos legales homines de viceneto c. videre tenementum illud nomina eorum imbreviari quod summoneat eos per bonas
certificate from the Bishop of the dioces to the Kings Iustices after iust enquiry made that the party inquired of is a bastard or not a bastard vpon some question of inheritance Bastardy speciall is a suite commenced in the Kings court against him that calleth another bastard so termed as it seemeth because bastardy is the principall and especiall case in triall and no inheritance contended for And by this it appeareth that in both these significations bastardy is rather taken for an examination or triall whether a mans birth be defectiue or illegitimat itselfe See Broke titulo Bastardy 〈◊〉 29. and Docter Ridlies booke pa. 203. 204. Baston is in french a staffe club or coulestaffe It signifieth in the statuts of our realme one of the warden of the fleets his seruants or officers that attendeth the Kings court with a red staffe for the taking of such to warde as be committed by the court So it is vsed anno 1. R. 2. ca. 12. anno 5. Eliz. ca. 23. Batable ground seemeth to be the ground in question heretofore whether it belōged to England or Scotland lying betweene both the kingdomes anno 23. H. 8. ca. 16. as if we should say debatable ground For by that name M. Skene de verbo sign verbo Plegius calleth ground that is in controuersie betweene two Battell duellum commeth of the French bataille i. bellum praelium and signifieth in our cōmon lawe a triall by combate The maner wherof becauseit is long and full of ceremonies I doe for the better and more full vnderstanding of it referre you to Glanvile lib. 2. cap. 3. 4. 5. to Bracton lib. 3. tract 2 cap. 21. fol. 140 to Britton cap. 22. and to S. Thomas Swith de repub Anglorum li. 2. cap. 7. lib. 3. cap. 3. See Bombat Battery cōmeth of the French batre i. verberare cudere percutere and signifieth in our common lawe a violent striking of any man which the Civilians call iniuriam personalem quia personae infertur per verbera cruciatū c. Wesemb parat Π. de Iniur fam libel Baubels baubella is an old word signifying Iewels Ro. Hoveden parte poster suorum annal fo 449. b. Bearding aliâs Barding of wooll See Clack Bearers signifie all one with Maintainers anno 20. Edvar 3. cap. 5. Beconage Beconagium signifieth money paid for the maintenance of Becons Bewpleder pulchrè placitando is made of 2. french words beau 1. decorus formosus pulcher and pleder 1. disputare causam agere It signifieth in our common law a writ vpon the statute of Marlbridge or Marlborow made the 52. yeare of H. 3. ca. 11. whereby it is provided that neither in the circuit of Iustices nor in Counties Hundreds or Courts-baron any fines shall be taken of any man for faire pleading that is for not pleading fairely or aptly to the purpose Vpon which Statute this writ was ordained against those that violate the lawe herein See Fitz. nat br fol. 270. A. B. C. whose definition is to this effect The writ vpon the Statute of Marlebridge for not faire pleading lyeth where the Shyreeue or other Bailiffe in his court will take fine of the party plaintiffe or defendant for that he pleadeth not fairely c. Bedell Bedellus commeth of the French bedeau i. apparitor it signifieth with vs nothing else but a messenger or seruitour belonging to a Court as a Court-baron or Leet Kitchin fol. 46. where you may see his oath or to the Court of the Forest Manwood parte pri of his Forest lawes pag. 221. in these words A Bedell is an officer or seruant of the Forest that doth make all maner of garnishments of the Courtes of the Forest and also all maner of Proclamations as well within the Courts of the Forest as without and also doth execute all the processes of the Forest He is like to a Bailiffe errant of a Shyreeue in a countie c. Benefice Beneficium is generally taken for all ecclesiasticall liuings be they dignities or other as anno 13. R. 2. sat 2. ca. 2 where benefices are diuided into electiue and benefices of gift So is it vsed in the Canon lawe also Duarenus de beneficiis lib. 2. cap. 3. Beneficio primo ecclesiastico habendo is a writ directed from the King to the Chanceler to bestow the benefice that first shall fall in the kings gift aboue or vnder such a valew vpon this or that man Regist orig fol. 307. b. Benevolence Benevolentia is vsed both in the Chronicles and Statutes of this realme for a voluntarie gratuitie giuen by the subiects to the King Looke Stowes annals pag. 701. That it hath bene something aunciently accustomed it appeareth by him and by the Statute anno 1. Ric. 3. cap. 2. where it is called a newe imposition and in that respect reprehended by that tyrant in his predecessors whether iustly or not I cannot say nor mind to dispute But Stowe pag. 791. saith that the inuention grewe from Edward the fourths dayes You may find it also anno 11. H. 7. ca. 10. to haue bene yeelded to that worthy Prince in regard of his great expences in wars and otherwise This is also mentioned and excepted out of the pardon anno 1. Ed. 6. cap. 15. It is in other nations called subsidium charitativum giuen somtime to Lords of the fee by their tenents somtime to bishops by their Clergy Matthaeus de Afflictis de scis 136. Cassan de conseut Burg. pag. 134. 136. Baldus consitio 120. vol. 6. pag. 230. Of this Maenochius maketh mention lib. 2. centur 〈◊〉 ca. 178. 179. shewing when it is lawful for a Prelate charitativum subsidium à sibi subditis exigere quanta debeat esse eius summa setting downe eight iust causes of this exaction Besaile proavus is horowed of the French bisayeul i. le pere de man pere grand the father of my grandfather In the common law it signifieth a writ that lieth where the great grandfather was seised in his demesne as of fee of any lands or tenements in fee-simple the day that be dyed and after his death a strāger abateth or entreth the same day vpon him and keepeth out his heyre c. The forme and farder vse of this writ reade in Fitz. nat br fol. 221. D. E. F. c. Beastes of chace Ferae campestres be fiue of the Forest chace or parke that is the Bucke the Doe the Foxe the Martron and the Roe Manwood parte prim of his Forest lawes pag. 342. parte 2. cap. 4. num 2. Beastes of the forest ferae sylvestres are the Hart the Hind the Hare the Boare and the Wolfe Manwood parte 2. of his Forest lawes cap. 4. num 1. Beasts and Fowles of Waren are the Hare Conie Fesant and the Pertridge Manwood parte 2. cap. 4. num 3. Bestaile commeth of the French bestial i. pecus it seemeth with vs to signifie all kind of catell taken for the kings provision
otherwise suffereth death for his transgression Clerico addmittendo is a writ directed to the bishop for the admitting of a clerk to a benefice vpon a Ne admittas tryed founde for the party that procureth the writ Regist orig fo 31. 6. Clerico captoper statutū mercatorum c. is a writ for the deliuery of a clerk out of prison that is imprisoned vpon the breach of a statut merchant Register orig fo 147. Clerico conuicto commisso gaolae in defectu ordinarii deliberando c. is a writ for the deliuery of a clerk to his ordinary that formerly was conuicted of felony by reason his ordinary did not chalenge him according to the priuiledge of clerks Register orig fo 69. a. Clerico infra sacros ordines constituto non elegendo in officium is a writ directed to the bay lifs c. that haue thrust a bayliwick or bedelship vpō one in holy orders charging them to release him againe Register orig fo 187. b. Clerk clericus hath two significations one as it is the title of him that belongeth to the holy ministery of the church that is in these daies either minister or deacon of what other degree or dignity soeuer though according to former times not only sacerdotes diaconi but also subdiaconi cantores acolyti exorcistae ostiarii were within this accoumpt as they be at this daye where the canon law hath full power And in this signification a clerk is either relegious otherwise called regular or secular anno 4. H. 4. ca. 12. The other signification of this word noteth those that by their function or course of life practise their penne in any court or other wise as namely the clerk of the rolles of parliament clerks of the Chancery and such like whose peculiar offices I purpose to set downe in order according to that knowledge that I could procure of them Clerke of the parlament rolles clericus rotulorum Parlamenti is he that recordeth all things done in the high court of Parlament and engrosseth them fairely into parhement rolles for their better keeping to all posteritie Of these there be two one of the higher another of the lower or common house Cromptons Iurisd fol. 4. 8. Smith de rep Anglor pag. 38. See also Vowels booke touching the order of the Parlament Clerke of the crowne in the chācerie clericus Coronae in Cancellaria is an officer there that by himselfe or his deputie is continually to attend the Lord Chanceler or Lord Keeper for speciall matters of estate by commission or the like either immediatly from his maiestie or by order of his priuy councell as well ordinary as extraordinary viz. commissions of lieuetenancies of Iustices errant and of assises of oyer and terrainer of gaol deliuery of the peace and such like with their writs of association and dedimus potestatem for taking of oathes Also all generall pardons vpon graunts of them at the kings coronation or at a parlament where he sitteth in the higher house at the Parlament time the writs of parlament with the names of knights and burgesses which be to be returned into his office He hath also the making of all speciall pardons and writs of execution vpon bonds of statute of the Staple forfeited which was annexed to his office in the raigne of Queene Mary in consideration of his continuall and chargeable attendance both these before being common for euery coursitour and clerk of court to make Clerk of the Crowne clericus Coronae is a clerk or officer in the Kings bench whose function is to frame reade and record all indictments against traitours felons and other offenders there arraigned vpon any publique crime He is otherwise termed Clerke of the Crowne office And anno 2. H. 4. ca. 10. he is called clerk of the crowne of the kings bench Clerk of the extreates clericus extractorum is a clerk belonging to the exchequer who termely receiueth the extreats out of the Lord treasurers remembrancer his office and writeth them out to be levied for the king He also maketh ceduls of such summes extreated as are to be discharged Clerk of assise clericus assisae is he that writeth all things iudicially done by the Iustices of assise in their circuits Cromptons Iurisd fo 227. Clerke of the pele clericus pellis is a clerk belonging to the exchequer whose office is to enter euery tellers bille into a parchement rolle called pellis receptorum and also to make another rolle of paiments which is called pellis exituum where in he setteth downe by what warrent the monie was paid Clerk of the warrants clericus warrantorum is an officer belonging to the court of common plees which entreth all warrants of atturney for plantiffe and defendant and enrolleth all deedes of indentures of bargaine and sale which are acknowledged in the court or before any iudges out of the court And he doth extreate into the exchequer all issues fines and amercements which growe due to the king any way in that court and hath a standing fee of ten pound of the king for making the same extreats See Fitzh nat br fo 76. in prin Clerk of the petit bagge clericus parvae bagiae is an officer of the chawncerie of which sort there be three and the master of the Roles their cheife Their office is to record the returne of all inquisitions out of euerie shire all liveries granted in the courte of wardes all ouster les mains to make all patents of customers gawgers controllers and aulnegers all conge d' eslires for Bishops all liberateis vpon extents of statute staples the recouerie of Recognisances forfeited and all Elegits vpon them the summons of the nobilitie clergie and burgeses to the Parlament commissions directed to knights and other of euery shire for seassing of the subsidies Writs for the nominations of collectours for the fiftenthes and all traverses vpon any office bille or otherwise and to recieue the money due to the king for the same This officer is mentioned anno 33. H. 8. ca. 22. Clerk of the Kings great wardrobe clericus magnae garderobae regis is an officer of the Kings house that keepeth an account or Inventarie in writing of all things belonging to the kings wardrobe This officer is mentioned anno 1. Ed. 4. ca. 1. Clerk of the market clericus merketi is an officer of the kings house anno 1. Ed. 4. cap. 1. anno 13. R. 2. ca. 4. whose dutie is to take charge of the kings measures and to keepe the standards of them that is the examples of all the measures that ought to be through the land as of elns yards lagens as quarts pottels gallons c. of weights bushels and such like and to see that all measures in euerie place be answerable vnto the said standard Fleta li. 2. ca. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. of which office as also of our diuersitie of weights and measures you may there finde a treatise worth the reading Britton also in
holders of the countie for the choice of a new coroner to certifie into the chanceries both the election and the name of the partie elected and to giue him his oath See Westm 1. ca. 10. and Fitzh nat br fo 163. and the Register orig fo 177. Coroner coronator is an auncient officer of this land so called because he dealeth wholly for the king and crowne There be fower of them commonly in euery countie and they are chosen by the freeholders of the same vpon writ and not made by leters patents Crompt Iurisd fo 126. This officer though now he be some inferiour gentleman that hath some smattering in the lawe yet if we looke to the statute of Westm 1. ca. 10. we shall finde that he was wont and ought to be a sufficient man that is the most wise and discreete knight that best will and-may attend vpon such an office Yea there is a writ in the Register Nisi sit miles so 177. b. whereby it appeareth that it was fufficient cause to remooue a coroner chosen if he were not a knight and had not a hundred shillings rent of freehold And the Lord cheife Iustice of the kings bench is the soueraigne coroner of the whole realme in person i. wheresoeuer he remaineth libro assisarum fo 49. 5. coron Coke li. 4. casu de Wardens c. of the Sadlers fo 57. b. His office especially concerneth the plees of the crowne but if you will reade at large what aunciently belonged vnto him reade Bracton li. 3. tra 2. c. 5. de officio coronatorum circa homicidium and ca. 6. de officio coronatoris in the sauris inventis ca. 6. de officio coronatorum in raptu virginium and ca. 8. de officio coronatorum de pace plagis and Britton in his first chapter where he handleth it at large Fleta also in his first booke cap. 18. and Andrew Horns mirrour of Iustices li. 1. ca. del office del coroners but more aptly for the present times Stawnf pl. cor li. 1. ca. 51. Note there be certaine coroners speciall within diuers liberties as well as these ordinarie officers in euerie countie as the coroner of the verge which is a certaine compas about the kings court whome Crompt in his iurisd fo 102. calleth the coroner of the kings house of whose authoritie see S. Ed. Cokes reportes lib. 4. fo 46. a. b. And I know certen charters belonging to colledges and other corporations whereby they are licēsed to appoint their coroner within their owne precincts Farder of this office see also Fitzh nat br fo 76. A. B. S. Thomas Smith li. 2. ca. ca. 21. de repub Anglo and Lamb. eirenarcha li. 4. ca. 3. pa. 380. And the office of the coroner in Scotland what it is read M. Iohn Skene de verbo signifi verbo Iter. Corporation corporatio is that which the civile law calleth vniversitatem or collegium a bodie politique authorised by the kings charter to haue a common seale a head officer one or more and members able by their common consent to graunt or to receiue in law any thing within the compas of their charter euen as one man may doe by law all things that by lawe he is not forbidden and bindeth the successours as a single man bindeth his executour or heyre See Brokes his abridgment titulo Corporation and the newe Tearmes of lawe eodem Corpus cum causa is a writ issuying out of the Chauncerie to remoue both the bodie and the record touching the cause of any man lying in execution vpō a iudgement for debt into the Kings bench c. there to lye vntill he haue satisfied the iudgement Fitzh nat br fol. 25◠E. Corrector of the staple is an officer or clerke belonging to the staple that writeth and recordeth the bergains of Merchants there made anno 27. Ed. 3. stat 2. cap. 22. 23. The Romanes called them Mensarios Corruption of blood is an infection growing to the estate of a man attainted of felonie or treason and to his issue For as he leeseth all to the Prince or other lord of the fee accordingly as his case is so his issue cannot be heires to him or to any other auncester of whom they might haue claimed by him And farder if he were noble or a gentleman before he and his children are made vnnoble and vngentle in respect of the father Newe Tearmes of the lawe Corse present are words borowed from the French signifying a mortuarie anno 21. H. 8. ca. 6. The true French is corps praesentè i. the bodie presented or tendered The reason why the mortuarie is thus also tearmed seemeth to be for that where a mortuarie was wont to be due the bodie of the best beast was according to the law or custome offered or presented to the priest Corselet is a French word signifying a litle bodie in Latine corpusculum It is vsed with vs for an armor to couer the whole bodie or trunke of a man anno 4. 5. Ph. Mar. cap. 2. where with the pikemen commonly set in the front and flanks of the battaile are armed for the beter resistance of the enemies assaults and the surer guard of the gunners placed behind or within them being more sleightly armed for their speedier issuing in and out to discharge their peeces See Barrets discourse of Warre lib. 3. dialog 2. Cofenage cognatione is a writ that lyeth where the tresaile that is tritavus the father of the besaile or of the great grandfather is seysed in his demesn as of see at the day of his death of certaine lands or tenements and dyeth and then a straunger entreth and abateth For then shall his heyre haue this writ of cosenage the forme whereof see in Fitz. nat br fol. 221. Of this also reade Britton at large cap. 89. Cosening is an offence vnnamed whereby any thing is done guilefully in or out of contracts which cannot be fitly termed by any speciall name West parte 2. simbolaeogr titulo Indictments sect 68. It is called stellionaius in the ciuile lawe of stellio the beast which is lacertae genus virsutissimum as Cuiacius in his paratitles calleth it and quo nullum animal homini invidet fraudulentius Plinie li. 3. ca. 10. Cotage cotagium is a house without land belonging vnto it anno 4. Ed. pri statut primo And the inhabitant of such a house is called a cotager But by a later statute no man may builde a cotage but he must lay 4. acres of ground vnto it 31. Eli. ca. 7. Cote is a kind of resuse wolle clung or clotted together that it cannot be pulled asunder anno 13. R. 2. stat 1. ca. 9. It signifieth also as much as cotage in many places as also it did among the Saxons Verslegan in his Restitut of decayed intelligēce in antiquities Covenable rationabilis is a French word signifying fitte or convenient or suteable covenably endowed anno 4. H. 8. ca. 12. It is aunciently written
if they thinke good And the later course is taken most commonly where there is feare of strife and contention betweene the kindred and freinds of the party deceased about his goods For a will proued only in common forme may be called into question any time within 30. yeares after by common opinion before it worke prescription Procedendo is a writ whereby a plee or cause formerly called from a base court to the Chaūcerie Kings bench or commō plees by a writ of priuiledge or certiorare is released and sent downe againe to the same court to be proceded in there after it appeareth that the defendant hath no cause of priniledge or that the mater comprised in the bille be not well proned Brooke hoctitulo and Termes of lawe Cooke vol. 6. fol. 63. a. See anno 21. R. 2. cap. 11. in fine leters of procedendo graunted by the keeper of the priuie scale See in what diuersitie it is vsed in the table of the originall Register and also of the Iudiciall Proces Processus is the maner of proceeding in euery cause be it personall or reall ciuile or criminall even from the originall writ to the end Britton fol. 138. a. where in there is great diuersitie as you may see in the table of Fitzh br verbo Proces and Brookes Abridgement hoc titulo And whereas the wtitings of our common lawyers sometime call that the proces by which a man is called into the court and no more the reason thereof may be giuen because it is the beginning or the principall part thereof by which the rest of the busines is directed according to that saying of Aristotle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Diucrs kinds of proces vpon Inditements before Iustices of peace See in Cromptons Iustice of peace fol. 133. b. 134. 135. But for orders sake I referre you rather to M. Lamberd in his tractat of ptocesses adioyned to his Eirenarcha who acording to his subiect in hand diuideth criminall proces either into proces touching causes of treason or selonie and proces touching inferiour offēces the former is vsually a capias capias aliâs exigi facias The second is either vpon enditement or presentment or information that vpon enditement or presentment is all one and is either generall and that is a venire facias ' vpon which if the partie be returned sufficient then is sent out a Distringas infinite vntill he come if he be returned with a Nibil habet then ifsueth out a Capias Capias aliâs Capias pluries and lastly an Exigifacias The speciall proces is that which is especially appointed for the offēce by statute for the which he referreth his reader to the 8. Chapter of his 4. booke being very different Processium continuando is a writ for the continuance of a proces after the death of the cheife Iustice in the writ of oyer and terminer Register originall fol. 128. a. Prochein Amy Proximus amicus vel propinquior is word for word a neere freind It is vsed in our common lawe for him that is next of kinde to a childe in his nonage and is in that respect allowed by lawe to deale for him in the managing of his affaires as to be his Gardian if he hold of any in socage and in the redresse of any wrong done vnto him be it by his Gardian if he be ward and hold in Chiualrie or any others Statut. West pri cap. 48. 3. Ed. pri and Westm 2. cap. 15. anno 13. Ed. pri Profe aliâs Prove is vsed for an Enquest anno 28. Ed. 3. cap. 13. Proclamation Proclamatio signifieth a notice publikely giuen of any thing whereof the King thinketh good to advertise his subiects So it is vsed anno 7. Rich. 2. ca. 6. Proclamation of rebellion is a publike notice giuen by the officer that a man not appearing vpon a Sub poena nor an attachment in the Starre Chamber or Chauncerie shal be reputed a rebell except he render himselfe by a day assigned Cromptons Iurisd fol. 92. See Commission of rebellion Proclamation of a fine is a notice openly and solemnly giuen at all the Assises that shall be holden in the Countie within one yeare after the ingrossing of the fine and not at the foure generall quarter sessions And these proclamations be made vpon transcripts of the fine sent by the Iustices of the Common plees to the Iustices of Assise and the Iustices of peace West parte 2. symbol titulo Fines sect 132. where also you may see the forme of the proclamarion Proclamare est palā valde clamare vsed by Tullie Liuie and the Civilians Π. Quibus ad liberta proclamare non licet And Proclamator signifieth him qui litem intendit vel causam agit Cicero de oratore lib. pri Non enim causidicum nescio quem neque proclamatorem aut rabulam hoc sermone conquirimus c. I reade in Fitzh nat br fol. 85. C. that the kings proclamation is sufficient to stay a subiect from going out of the Realme See the force of proclamations anno 31. H. 8. cap. 8. see also Proclamations in diuers cases Newe booke of Enteries verbo Proclamation Procters of the clergie procuratores cleri are those which are chosen and appointed to appeare for cathedrall or other Collegiat churches as also for the common clergie of euery Dioces at the Parlament whose choice is in this sort First the king directeth his writ to the Archebishop of each province for the summoning of all Bishops Deanes Archdeacons cathedrall and collegiat churches and generally of all the clergie of his prouince after their best discretion and iudgement assigning them the time and place in the said writ Then the Archebishops proceede in their accustomed course One example may serue to shew both The Archebishop of Canterbury vpō his writ receiued directerh his leters to the Bishop of London as his Deane provincial 1. § statuimui de poenis verb. tanquam in glos first citing himselfe petemptorily and then willing him to cite in like maner all the Bishops Deanes Archedeacons cathedrall and collegiate churches and generally all the Clergie of his Prouince to the place and against the day prefixed in the writ But directeth withal that one Proctor sent for euery Cathedrall or Collegiat Church and two for the bodie of the inferiour Clergie of each Diocesse may suffice And by vertue of these leters authentically sealed the said Bishop of London directeth his like leters seuerally to the Bishop of euery Diocesse of the Prouince citing them in like sort and commaunding them not onely to appeare but also to admonish the said Deanes and Archdeacons personally to appeare and the Cathedral 〈…〉 and collegiat Churches as also the common Clergie of the Diocesse to send their Proctors to the place and at the day appointed and also willeth them to certifie the Archbishop the names of all and euery so monished by them in a shedule annexed to their leters certificatorie The Bishops proceed accordingly and the
brought in the masse to his Exchange for coyne Seignorie Dominium is borowed of the French seigneury i. ditio dominatus imperium principatus potentatus It signifieth peculiarly with vs a Maner or Lordship Seignorie de soke mans Kitchin fol. 80. Seignorie in grosse seemeth to be the title of him that is not Lord by meanes of any maner but immediatly in his owne person as Tenure in capite whereby one holdeth of the King as of his Crowne is seignorie in grosse because it is held of the king for the time being and not of the King as of any honour maner c. Kitchin fol. 206. See Seignior Seisin seisina is borowed of the French seisine i. possessio and so it signifieth in our common lawe and to seise is to take possession Primier seisin prima seisina is the first possession See Primier seisin of the French word seisir is made a Latine seisire vsed by the Canonists cap. Clericis § Nos igitur non semel de immunitate Ecclesiae num 6. as also the Ciuilians Guido Pap. singula 865. Seisire est etiam possessionem tradere Tiraquellus in Tractatu Le mort saisit le vif pag. 53. num 3. Seisin with our common Lawyers is two fold seisin in fact and seisin in lawe Perkins Dower 369. 370. Seisin in fact is when a corporall possession is taken seisin in lawe is when something is done which the lawe accompteth a seisin as an Inrolment Seisin in lawe is as much as a right to lands and tenements though the owner be by wrong disseised of them Perkins Tenent per le courtesie 457. 478. And it seemeth by Ingham that he who hath had an houres possession quietly taken hath seisin de droit de claime whereof no man may disscise him by his owne force or subtiltie but must bee driuen to his action § Bref denovel disseisin Sir Edward Cooke lib. 4. calleth it seisin in lawe or seisin actuall fol. 9. a. The Ciuilians call the one ciuilem possessionem the other naturalem Seisiua habenda quia Rex habuit annum diem vastum is a writ that lyeth for the deliuery of seisin to the Lord of his land or tenements that formerly was conuicted of felony after the King in the right of his prerogatiue hath had the yeare day and wast Rog. orig fol. 165. a. Selion selio is borowed of the French sellon i. terra elata inter duos sulcos in Latine Porca in english a Ridge or land It signifieth euen so with vs also and is of no certaine quantity but some time conteineth an acre sometime halfe an acre sometime more and sometime lesse West parte 2. symbol titulo Recouery sect 3. Therefore Crompton in his Iurisdictions fol 221. saith that a selion of land cannot be in demaund because it is a thing vncertaine Seneshall senescallus is a French word but borowed from Germany being as Tilius saith compounded of Schal i. servus aut officialis and Gesnid 1. familia we english it a Steward As the high Seneshall or Steward of England pl. cor fol. 152. High Seneshall or Steward and South seneshall or vndersteward Kitchin fol. 83 is vnderstood for a steward or vndersteward of Courts Seneshal de l'hostel de Roy Steward of the Kings houshold Cromptons Iurisdictions fol. 102. Senescallo Mareshallo quod non teneant placita de libero tenemento c. is a writ directed to the Steward or Marshall of England inhibiting them to take cognisance of any action in their court that concerneth either Freehold dept or couenant Register orig fol. 185. a. 191. b. Senie aliâs Sene sena is a leafe of a medicinable herbe that bringeth foorth stalkes of a cubite high purging phlegmaticke cholericke and also melancholicke humors without great violence The farder vse whereof you may reade in Gerrards Herbal lib. 3. cap. 8. This is mentioned among other drugs and spices to be garbled anno 1. Iacob cap. 19. Septuagesima is a sunday certaine and alwayes the third sabbath before Shrouesunday from the which vntill the Octaues after Easter the solemnizing of mariage is by the Canon lawes forbidden The reason whereof is giuen for that all this time vntill Easter is a time of mourning for the fall of Adam and for the miserie of man thereof insuing And Easter with the Octaues thereof is a time of Christs glorification and so of ours also in him for his and by him our conquest ouer death and sinne And that therefore all carnall affection ought during that space to be wholy mortified in vs See Quinquagesima see Aduent see Rogation weeke Sequatur sub suo periculo is a writ that lyeth where a summons ad warrantizandum is awarded and the Shyreeue returneth that he hath nothing whereby he may be summoned For then goeth out an Aliâs and Pluries And if he come not at the Pluries then shall go out this writ old nat br fol. 163. Sequestration sequestratio is a separating of a thing in controuersie from the possession of both those that contend for it And it is double voluntarie or necessarie Voluntarie is that which is vsed by the consent of each partie Necessarie is that which the Iudge of his authoritie doth whether the parties will or not It is vsed also for the act of the ordinarie disposing of office the goods and chatels of one deceased whose estate no man will meddle with Dyer fol. 232. num 5. fol. 256. num 8. fol. 160. nu 42. fol. 271. num 26. As also in the gathering of the fruites of a Benefice voide to the vse of the next incumbēt anno 28. H. 8. cap. 11. Fortescue cap. 50. and in diuers other cases Sequestro habendo is a writ iudiciall for the dissoluing of a sequestration made by the Bishop at the Kings commaundement of the fruites of a benefice thereby to compell the Parson to appeare at the suite of another for the Parson vpon his apparence may haue this writ for the release of the sequestration egist Iudicial fol. 36. a. Sergeant seruiens commeth of the French sergeant i. satelles accensus a man of the Guard a kind of souldier so called because he was saepè aecitus ad res necessarias in exercitu peragendas Calepin M. Skene de ver sign verb. Seriant hath these words Sergeant commeth from Sergent quae est vox composita de Serrer quod est includere gent quod pro gente populo vel plebe vsurpatur Itaque Seriandus dicitur qui iussu magistratus quemlibet de populo reum crimin is in carcerem coniicit seu includit This word Sergeant is diuersly vsed in our law and applyed to sundrie offices and callings First a Sergeant at lawe or of the coyfe is the highest degree taken in that profession as a Doctor is in the ciuill lawe And to these as men best learned and best experienced of all others is there one court seuered to plead in by themselues and that is the Court
de verborum signifi verb. waife saith that waife est pecus vel animal aberrans which wanders and wauerrs without a knowne master and being found by any man within his owne bounds must be by him proclaimed vpon diuers and sundry market daies at the parish church and within the shyreeuedome Otherwise the deteiner may be accused of theft And it is lawfull for the owner to challenge the beast within a yeare and day Whereby it appeareth that in Scotland that is called a weife which we heere call a stray or estray Weald of Kent is the wooddie part of the Countrie Camden Britannia pag. 247. M. Verstegan in his restitution of decayed intelligence saith that Wald Weald and Would differing in vowell signifie one thing to wit a Forest See the rest luera W. Wedding Nuptiae commeth of the German wed i. pignus and wedde in Scotland signifieth so much at this day Skene de verborum signifi verbo Vadium Weigh waga is a certaine waight of cheese or wooll conteining 256. pounds of avoyr de poyce See Clove Weights Pondera what they be it is wellknowne There be 2. sorts of them in vse with vs. The one called Troy weight which conteineth 12. ounces in the pound and no more by the which pearl pretious stones electuaries medicinal things gould siluer and bread be waied The other is called Auer de pois which conteineth 16. ounces in the pound By this all other things are waied that passe betweene man and man by weight sauing onely those aboue named why the one should be called Troy weight I haue not learned though I reade it termed libram vnciam Troianam as if it came from Troy But Georg. Agricola in his learned tractate de ponderibus mensuris pa. 339. termeth the pound of 12. ownces libram medicam and the other of 16. ownces libram ciuilem saying thus of them both Medica ciuilis libra numero non grauitate vnciarum differunt The second seemeth soe to be termed by reason of the more full weight for Avoir de pois in French isas much to say as to haue full weight But by these words Avoir de pois are some time signified such marchandies as are bought and sould by this kinde of weights the first statute of Yorke anno 9. Ed. 3. in prooem anno 27. Ed. 3. stat 2. ca. 10. ann 24 H. 8. ca. 13. Of weights in Scotland See Skene de verb signif verbo Serplathe All our weights and measures haue their first composition from the peny sterling which ought to weigh 32. wheat corns of a middle sort twenty of which pence make an ownce and twelue such ownces a pound or twenty shillings but 15. ownces make the Merchants pound Fleta li. 2. ca. 12. It is not vnlike that this merchants pound though an ounce lesse should be all one in signification with the pound of auoir de pois and the other pound called by Flata trone weight plainely appeareth to be all one with that which we now call trole weight And I finde not Troie weight mentioned by any other that euer I read vpon this subiect but onely our owne contry men See Tronage Weights of Awncell anno 14. Ed. 3. stat pri c. 12. See Auncell weight Were aliâs werre signifieth as much as Aestimatio capitis aut pretiuÌ„ hominis M. Lam. exp of SaxoÌ„ words verbo Aestimatio That is to say so much as one paid for killing of a man Whereby he gathereth that slaughters and such other great offences were more rarely committed in auncient times then now when as for the multitude of offenders death is most iustly inflicted for those crimes that then were redressed by pecuniary mulcts Of this see Roger Houeden parte poster suoruns annalium in Henrico 2. fo 344. Weregelt thef significat latronem quire dimi potest wera enim anglicè idem est in Saxonis lingua vel pretium vitae hominis appraetiatum Fleta lib. 1. ca. 47. West Saxon lage aliâs West sexenlage See Lawe Wharfe wharfa is a broad plaine place neare to a Creeke or hithe of the water to lay wares vpon that be brought to or from the water to be transported to any other place New booke of Entries fol. 3. col 3. Wharfinger is the keeper of a wharfe anno 7. Ed. 6. ca. 7. White hart siluer Candidi Cerui argentum is a tribute or mulct paid into the Eschequer out of the Forest of white hart which as M. Camden reporteth in his Britan. pag. 150. hath continued from Henry the thirds time and was imposed by him vpon Thomas De-la-linde for killing of a most beautifull hart which himselfe before had purposely spared in hunting Widow vidua seemeth to come of the French vide i. inanitus exinanitus or the verb vuider i. inaniare quasi priuata atque orba marito Macrobius lib. pri saturn ca. 15. draweth it from the Hetruscan verb Iduare i. diuidere Vnde vidua quasi valde idua i. valde diuisa aut vidua i. a viro diuisa The signification with vs is apparent But there is one kinde of widow called the widow of the King or the Kings widow vidua Regis that requireth exposition And shee is that widow which after her husbands death being the Kings tenent in capite is driuen to recouer her Dower by a writ De dote assignanda Of whom you may read Stawnf praerog cap. 4. The words of the statute of the prarog made anno 17. Ed. 2. be these Item assignabit viduis post mortem virorum suorum qui de co tenuerunt in capite dotem suam quae eas contingit c licet haeredes fuerint plenae aetatis sividuae voluerint Et viduae illae ante assignationens dotis suae praedictae fiue haeredes plenae aetatis fuerint siue infra aetatem iurabunt quòd se non maritabunt sine licentia Regis Tunc Rex capiet in manum suam nomine districtionis omnes terras tenementa quae de eo tenentur in dotem donec satisfecerint ad voluptatem suam ita quòd ipsa mulier nihil capiet de exitibus c. quia per huiusmodi districtiones huiusmodi mulieres seu viri corum sinem facient Regiad voluptatem suam Et illae voluntas tempore Regis Henrici patris Regis Edwardi aestimari consueuit ad valentiam praedictae dotis per vnum annum adplus nisi vlteriorem gratiam habuerint Mulieres quae de Rege tenent in capite aliquam haereditatem iurabunt similiter cuiuscunque fuerint aetatis quòd se non maritabunt sine licentia Regis Et sifecerint â—errae tenementa ipsarum eodent modo ca 〈…〉 tur in manum Deâ—ini Regis 〈…〉 usque satisfecerint ad voluntatem Regis Of this see likewise the great charter cap. 7. whereby it appeareth that other common Lords haue the same power ouer their widowes touching their consent in their mariage that the King hath Of this you