of common-plees where the common lawe of England is most strictly obserued These are made by the Kings mandat or writ directed vnto them commaunding them vpon a great penaltie to take vpon them that degree by a day certaine therein assigned Dyer fol. 72. num 1. see Counte And of these one is the Kings Sergeant being commonly chosen by the King out of the rest in respect of his great learning to pleade for him in all his causes as namely in causes of treason pl. cor lib. 3. cap. prim And of these there may be more if it so please the King This is called in other Kingdomes Aduocatus Regius Cassan de consuet Burgund pag. 850. With what solemnitie these Sergeants be created reade Fortescue cap. 50. This word Sergeant seemeth to be vsed in Brition for an Officer belonging to the Countie who in his first chapter speaking of Appeales made before the Corones hath these words in effect And then let the Coroner cause his appeale to be entred and the names of his sureties And afterward let commaundement be giuen to the Sergeant of the countrie where the felonie was committed that he haue the bodie of the persons appealed at the next Countie And it is probable that this officer was all one with him whom Bracton in his fifth booke cap. 4. num 2. calleth Seruientem Hundredi of whome he hath these words Post probationem defaltae faciet seruiens Hundreds incontinenti summonitionem vel affidet partibus diem si praesentes sint ad proximum Comitatum c. This is like to be the same Officer which in auncient time was called the Bayliffe of the Hundred who as is declared in Baylife had the like authoritie in his Hundred that the shyreeue had in the Countie though inferiour to him and to be controlled by him as appeareth by diuers auncient presidents set downe by Kitchin in his tractat of Returns in Court Hundred Court Baron c. I read also in Bracton lib. 3. tractat 2. ca. 28. Of the Kings Sergeant who is like to be also an officer in the County in these words speaking of a woman ranished and what shee ought to doe for the persuite of the Rauisher sic ire debet ad praepositum Hundredi ad seruientem Domini Regis ad coronatores ad vice-comitē ad primū comitatū faciat appellū suum And againe eod li c 32. in these words si sine secta cognouerit se inde esse latronem coram vicecomite vel coronatore vel seruiente Domini Regis c. And againe lib. 5. tractat 3. cap. 4. nu 8. in these words Quid si seruiens Domini Rogis dederit partibus diem ad Comitatum c. And by Fleta it seemeth that this terme was generall to the Shyreeue Coroner and Bayliffes of Counties who in his sixth booke cap 3. § 1. hath these worde Cum quis igitur senserit dominum suum vel curiam suam sibi de recto defecisse tunc ostenso hoc vicecomiti statim praecipiat balliuo Hundredi vel itineranti vel alteri seruienti Regis quòd assumptis sibi liberis legalibus hominibus de vicineto illo ad curiam illius domini si quem habuerit accedat c. And to helpe this probability I finde that the steward of a maner is termed seruiens manerii Coke Vol 4. Copyhould cases fo 21. a. Then is there a Sergeant at armes seruiens ad arma whose office is to attend the person of the King anno 7. H. 7. ca. 3. to arrest traitours or men of worth or reckoning that doe or are like to contemne messengers of ordinary condition for other causes and to attend the Lord high Steward of England sitting in Iudgement vpon any Traytour and such like pl cor lib. 3. cap. pri Of these by the statute anno 13. R. 2. cap. 6. there may not be aboue thirtie in the Realme This sort is called del espee In the custumary of Nor. ca. 5. which read There be also some two of these Sergeants of the Parlament one for the vpper another for the lower house whose office seemeth to serue for the keeping of the doores and the execution of such commaundements especially touching the apprehension of any offender as either house shall thinke good to inioyne them See Cromptons Iurisdictions fol. nono See also Vowels aliâs Hookers booke of the order of the Parl. There is one of these that belongeth to the Chauncery who is also called a Sergeant of the Mace as the rest may be because they cary Maces by there office He of the Chauncery attendeth the Lord Chaunceler or Keeper in that court for the meanes to call all men into that court is either by this officer or by sub poena West pa. 2. sym tit Chauncery Sect. 17. Then be there sergeants that be the chiefe officers in their seuerall functions within the kings houshould which be chiefe in their places of which sort you may read many named in the statute anno 33. H. 8. ca. 12. There is also a more base kinde of sergeant of the Mace whereof there is a troupe in the City of London and other townes corporate that serue the Maior or other head officer both for mesniall attendance and mater of Iustice Kitchin fol. 143. And these are called Seruientes ad clauā New book of Entries ver scire facias in Mainperners f. 538. c. 3. Sergeantie Seriantia commeth of the French Sergeant i. satelles fignifieth in our cōmō law a seruice due to the King frō his tenēt holding by such seruice For this seruice cannot be due to any L. from his Tenēt but to the King onely And this is either grand or petit as you shall find at large set downe in Chivalrie Of this also you may read Bra l. 2. c. 16. c. 37. n. 5. 4. Brit. c. 66. n. 1. 2. See Seruice M. Skene de ver signifi calleth this Sergeanterie defining and diuiding it as we doe in England Servientibus are certaine writs touching seruants and their Masters violating the statutes made against their abuses which see in the Regist orig fol. 189. 190. 191. Service seruitium though it haue a generall signification of dutie toward them vnto whome we owe the performance of any corporall labour or function yet more especially in our common lawe it is vsed for that seruice which the tenent by reason of his see oweth vnto his Lord. And so doth it signifie among the Feudists also For Hotoman thus defineth it Seruitium est munus obsequii clientelaris verbo Servitium De verbis feudal or rather declareth it so to be defined lib. feud 2. titulo 51. § 8. It is sometime called seruage as anno i. R. 2. cap. 6. This seruice is either militarie and noble commonly called Knights seruice or clownishe base commonly called socage of both which reade Chiualry as also socage and Bracton lib. 2. cap. 16.
Kings house anno 25. Ed. 3. statute 5. ca. 21. Stillyard Guilda Theutonicorum anno 22. H. 8. ca. 8. anno 32. eiusdem ca. 14. is a place in London where the fraternity of the Easterling Merchants otherwise the Merchants of Hawnse and Almaine anno pri Ed. 6. cap. 13. Are wont to haue their aboade see Geld. It is so called of a broad place or courte wherein steele was much sould vpon the which that house is now founded Nathan Chitraens See Hawnse Stone of woll Petra lanae see weights See Sarpler It ought to weigh fourteene pounds yet in some places by custome it is more See Cromptons Iustice of peace fol. 83. b. Straife alias Stray See Estrae Straites anno 18. H. 6. ca. 16. Streme workes is a kinde of worke in the Stannaries for saith M. Camden titulo Cornwall pag. 119. Horum Stannariorum siue metallicorum operum duo sunt genera Alterum Lode-works alterum streme-works vocant Hoc in locis inferioribus est cùm Fossis agendis stanni venas sectantur fluuiorum alueos subinde deflectunt illud in locis aeditioribus cùm in montibus puteos quos Shafts vocant in magnam altitudinem defodiunt cuniculos agunt These you may read mentioned anno 27. H. 8. ca. 23. Stirks Strip See Estreapement Stuard alias steward senescallus seemeth to be compounded of Steede and ward and is a word of many applications yet alway signifieth an officer of cheife accoumpte within the place of his sway The greatest of these is the Lord high Steward of England whose power if those antiquities be true which I haue read is next to the kings and of that heighth that it might in some sort match the Ephori amongst the Lacedemonians The custome of our commonwealth hath vppon great consideration and policie brought it to passe that this high Officer is not appointed for any long time but onely for the dispatch of some especiall businesse at the arraignment of some Noble man in the case of treason or such like which once ended his commission expireth Of the high Steward of Englands Court you may reade Cromptons Iurisdiction fol. 82. I haue reade in an auncient manuscript of what credit I know not that this officer was of so great power in auncient times that if any one had sought iustice in the Kings court and not found it he might vpon complaint thereof made vnto him take those petitions and reseruing them to the next Parlament cause them there to bee propounded and not onely so but also in the presence of the King openly to rebuke the Chaunceler or any other Iudge or officer whom he found defectiue in yeelding iustice And if in case the Iudge or officer so reprehended did alledge that his defect grew from the difficultie of the case insomuch as he durst not aduenture vpon it then the case being shewed and so found the Lord steward together with the Constable of England there in the presence of the King and Parlament might elect 25. persons or more or fewer according to their discretion and the case or cases in question some Earles some Barons some Knights some Citizens and Burgesses which vpon deliberation should set downe what they thought iust and equal and their decree being read and allowed by Parlament did stand as a law for euer fardermore if the Chaunceler or other Iudge or officer could not well approue that the delay of iustice complained of grew from iust difficultie by reason that the case in question was formerly determined by lawe or statute then might the steward on the Kings behalfe admonish him of his negligence and will him to be more carefull and studious Or if there appeared malice or corruption then the King and Parlament was wont to remoue him and assigne another of better hope to the place Lastly if the king had about him any such euill Counceller as aduised him to things vniust or vnanswerable to his Maiestie as tending either to the disherifon of the Crowne publike hurt or destruction of the subiect The office of the Steward was taking to him the Constable and other great men with some of the Commons and giuing notice to the King of their intention to send to that Counseler and will him to desist from misleading the king yea if need so required to charge him to stay no longer about him but to depart from the Court which if he neglected to performe then they might send to the King and will him to remoue him and if the king refused then they might take him as a publike enemie to the King and Realme seise on his goods and possessions and commit his body to safe custody vntill the next Parlament there to be Iudged by the whole kingdome examples are brought of Godwin Earle of Kent in the time of King Edward next before the Conquerour of Hubert Burgh Earle of the same County in the reigne of Henry the third and of Peter Gaueston in Edward the seconds daies But experience as I said hath found this officer more daungerous then profitable and therefore hath time taught though not wholly to suppresse him yet to limite him to particular occasion and to restraine his power Then is there the Steward of the Kings most honourable houshould anno 24. H. 8. cap. 13. whose name is changed to the name of great Master anno 32. eiusdem cap. 39 But this statute was repealed by anno prim Mar. 2. Parlam cap. 4 and the office of the Lord Steward of the Kings houshold reuiued where you may at large reade diuers things touching his office As also in Fitzh nat br fol. 241. B. Of this Officers auncient power reade Fleta lib. 2. cap. 3. There is also a Steward of the Marshalsea pl. cor fol. 52. anno 33. H. 8. cap. 12. To be short this word is of so great diuersitie that there is not a corporation of any accompt or house of any honour almost through the realme but it hath an officer toward it of this name A steward of a maner or of a houshold what he is or ought to be Fleta fully describeth lib. 2. cap. 71. 72. Straunger commeth of the French estranger i. alienare It signifieth in our Language generally a man borne out of the land or vnknowne but in the lawe it hath an especiall signification for him that is not priuie or a party to an act as a Straunger to a iudgement oldna br fol. 128. is he to whome a iudgement doth not belong And in this signification it is directly contrarie to partie or priuie See Priuie Submarshall submarescallus is an officer in the Marshal sea that is deputie to the chiefe Marshall of the Kings house commonly called the Knight Marshall and hath the custody of the prisoners there Cromptons Iurisdict fol. 104. He is otherwise called Vnder-marshall Subpoena is a writ that lyeth to call a man into the Chauncerie vpon such case onely as the common lawe faileth in and hath not prouided
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
Scutagium aut servitium regale licet ad vnum obulum vel seriantiam illud poterit dici feudum militare This free Soccage is also called common Socage anno 37. H. 8. cap. 20. Soccage in base tenure or villanum Soccagium is diuided againe in villanum Soccagium purum villenagium Villanum Soccagium est illud de quo fit certum seruitium idque ratione sui tenemēti non personae suae Purum villenagium est illud in quo praestatur seruitium incertum indeterminatum vbi sciri non poterit vespere quale seruitium fieri debet mane viz. vbi quis facere tenetur quicquid ei praeceptum fuerit Bracton lib. 2. cap. 8. num 3. The old nat br fol. 94. maketh three parts of this diuision viz. Soccage of free tenure Soccage of auncient tenure and soccage of base tenure soccage of free tenure is as the booke saith where a man holdeth by free seruice of 12. pence by yeare for all maner of seruices or by other seruices yearely Soccage of auncient tenure is of land of auncient Demesn where no writ originall shall be siewed but the writ of Right that is called secundum consuetudinem manerii Soccage of base tenure is of those that hould in Soccage and may haue none other writ but the Monstraverunt and such Sockmen hould not by certaine Seruice And for that are they not free Sockmen Then againe Soccage is diuided into soccage in cheife and common soccage Soccage in cheife or in capite is that which holdeth of the King as of his Crowne Praerog fol. 41. Common Soccage is that which holdeth of any other capitall Lord or of the King by reason of some honour or maner Ibidem Burgage is also a kinde of Soccage See Burgage Sockmans Sockmanni are such tenents as hould their lands and tenements by Soccage tenure And accordingly as you haue 3. kinds of Soccage soe be there 3. sorts of sockmans as sockmans of frank tenure Kitchin fol. 81. sockmans of anncient Demesn ould nat br fol. 11. and Sockmans of base tenure Kitchin vbi supra But the tenents in auncient Demesn seeme most properly to be called Sockmans Fitzh na br f. 14. B. Brit. c. 66. n. 2. Soke anno 32. H. 8. cap. 15. cap. 29. Of this Fleta saith thus Soke significat libertatem curiae tenentium quam socam appellamus lib. 1. cap. 47. § Soke See Roger Houeden parte poster suorum annalium fol. 345. b. and See Soc. Soken Soca see Soc. and Hamsoken Soken is latined Soca Register originall fol. 1. a. Sokereue seemeth to be the Lords rent gatherer in the Soke or Soken Fleta lib. 2. cap. 55. in principio Sole tenent Solus tenens is he or shee which holdeth onely in his or her owne right without any other ioyned For example if a man and his wife hould land for their liues the remainder to their son here the man dying the Lord shall not haue Heriot because he dieth not sole tenent Kitchin fol. 134. Solicitour Solicitator commeth of the French Soliciteur It signifieth in our commō law a man imploied to folow suites depending in law for the beter remembrance and more case of Atturnies who commonly are so full of clients and busines that they cannot so often attend the seriants and counsellers as the case may require Solet Debet See Debet solet Solidata terrae see Farding deale of land Sollace anno 43. Elizabeth cap. 10. Sommons aliâs summons summonitio commeth of the French semondre i. vocare It signifieth in our common law as much as vocatio in ius or citatio among the Ciuilians And thence is our word somner which in French is semonneur i. vocator monitor The Custumary of Normandie for our sommons hath semonse ca. 61. summons of the Exchequer anno 3. Ed. pri ca. 19. anno 10. eiusdem cap. 9. How summons is diuided and what circumstances it hath to be obserued See Fleta lib. 6. cap. 6. 7. Solutione feodi militis Parlamenti and solutione feodi Burgen Parlamenti be writs whereby Knights of the Parlament may recouer their allowance if it be denyed anno 35. H. 8. ca. 11. Sontage Stow. pag. 284. is a taske of fourty shillings laid vpon euery Knights fee. Sorting Kerseies 3. Iacobi ca 16. Sothale is a kinde of intertainment made by Bayliffes to those of their Hundreds for their gaine Which sometime is called Filctale Of this Bracton lib. 3. tracta 2. cap. pri hath these words De Balliuis quifaciunt ceruisias suas quas quandoque vocant sothale quandoque Filctale vt pecunias extorque ant ab eis qui sequntur Hundreda sua Baliuas sitas c. I thinke this should rather be written Scotale See Scotale Southvicont Subvicecomes is the vnder Shyreeue Cromptone Iurisdict fol 5. Sowne is a verb neuter properly belonging to the Exchequer as a word of their art signifiing so much as to be leuiable or possible to be gathered or collected For example estreats that sowne not are such as the Shyreeue by his industry cannot get and estreats that sowne are such as he can gather anno 4. H. 5. ca. 2. Speaker of the Parlament is an officer in that high Court that is as it were the common mouth of the rest and as that honourable assembly consisteth of two houses one called the higher or vpper house consisting of the King the nobility and Kings councell especially appointed for the same the other termed the lower or commonhouse containing the Knights of the Shires the citizens barons of the cinque ports and the burgeses of borough townes so be there also two speakers one termed the Lord speaker of the higher house who is most commonly the Lord Chaunceler of England or Lord Keeper of the great seale the other is called the speaker of the lower house And the duties of these two you haue perticularly described in M. Vowels aliâs Hookers booke intituled The order and vsage of keeping the Parlament Speciall mater in euidence See Generall issue And Brooke titulo Generall issue and speciall euidence Spiritualties of a Bishop spiritualia Episcopi be those profits which he receiueth as he is a Bishop and not as he is a Baron of the Parlament Stawnf pl. cor fol. 132. The particulars of these may be the duties of his Visitation his benefite growing from ordering and instituting Priests prestation money that subsidium charitatiuum which vppon reasonable cause he may require of his Clergie Iohannes Gregorius de Beneficiis cap. 6. num 9. and the Benefite of his Iurisdiction Ioachimus Stephanus de Iurisd lib. 4. cap. 14. num 14. for these reckoneth exactionem Cathedratici quartam Decimarum mortuariorum oblationum pensitationem subsidium charitatiuum celebrationem synodi collationem viatici vel commeatus cùm Episcopus Romam proficiscitur ius hospitii Litaniam Processionem Spikenard spica nardi vel nardus is a medicinall herbe whereof you may for your farder instruction
water comming out of them by a passage or flud-gate called the penstocke and falling vpon the said wheeles This word is mentioned in the statute anno 27. El. cap. 19. Bayle Ballium plevina manucaptio commeth of the French bailler i. attribuere tradere tribuere It is vsed in our common lawe properly for the freeing or setting at liberty of one arrested or imprisoned vpon action either civill or criminall vnder suretie taken for his apparence at a day and place certainely assigned Bracton lib. 3. tract 2. cap. 8. num 8. 9. The reason why it is called Bayle is because by this meanes the party restrained is deliuered into the hands of those that bind themselues for his forth-comming There is both common and speciall baile Cōmon baile is in actions of small preiudice or flight proofe being called common because any sureties in that case are taken whereas vpon causes of greater weight or apparent specialtie speciall baile or suretie must bee taken as subsidie men at the least and they according to the value Master Manwood in his first part of Forest lawes pag. 167 maketh a great difference betweene bayle and mainprise in these words and note that there is a great diuersitie betweene bayle and mainprise For he that is mainprised is alwaies said to be at large and to go at his own libertie out of ward after that he is let to mainprise vntill the day of his appearance by reason of the said common summons or otherwise But otherwise it is where a man is let to bayle by foure or two men by the Lord chiefe Iustice in eyre of the Forest vntill a certaine day For there he is alwaies accompted by the lawe to be in their ward and custodie for the time And they may if they wil keepe him in ward or in prison at that time or otherwise at their will So that he which is so bailed shall not be said by the lawe to be at large or at his owne libertie See Lamberds eirenarcha lib. 3. cap. 2. pag. 330. Bayle is also a certaine limit within the forest accordingly as the Forest is diuided into the charges of seuerall Foresters Crompton in the oath of the bow-bearer fol. 201. See Maynprise Baylife ballivus commeth of the French bailif i. diaecetes nomarcha praefectus Prouinciae and as the name so the office it selfe in auncient time was very aunswerable to that of Fraunce and Normandie for as in France there be sixteene Parlaments Lupanus de Magistratibus Francorum lib. 2. cap. Parlamentum which be high courts whence lyeth no appeale within the preeincts of those seuerall parts of that kingdome that belong to each Parlament there be seueral prouinces vnto which within themselues iustice is ministred by certaine officers called bayliffes so in England we see many seuerall counties or shires within the which iustice hath bene ministred to the inhabitants of each countie by the officer whome we now call Shyreeue or Vicount one name descending frō the Saxons the other from the Normans And though I cannot expressely proue that this Shyreeue was euer called a bailiffe yet is it probable that that was one of his names likewise because the countie is called many times balliva that is a Bayliwicke as namely in the returne of a writ with non est inuentus he writeth thus A. S. infra scriptus non est inventus in balliva mea post receptionem huius brevis Kitchin returna brevium fol. 258. and againe in Bracton lib. 3. tract 2. cap. 33. num 3. and anno 5. Eliz cap. 23. and anno 14. Ed. 3. stat 1. cap. 6. And I thinke the word bailife vsed cap. 28. of Magna charta compriseth as well Shyreeues as bailiffes of hundreds as also anno 14. Ed. 3. stat 1. cap. 9. But as the realme is diuided into Counties so euery Countie is againe diuided into hundreds within the which it is manifest that in auncient times the kings subiects had iustice ministred vnto them by the seuerall officers of euery hundred which were called bailiffes as those officers were and are in Fraunce and Normandie being chiefe officers of iustice within euery Prouince Lupanus de Magistratibus Francorum lib. 2. cap. Balivi and the grand custumary of Normandie cap. 1. And that this is true among many others I bring Bracton for my witnes li. 3. tract 2. cap. 34. n. 5. where it appeareth that bailiffes of hundreds might hold plee of appeale and approuers But fithence that time these hundred courts certain franchises excepted are by the statute anno 14. Ed. 3. stat 1. cap. 9. swalowed into the Countie courts as you may reade in countie and hundred And the Bailiffes name office is growne into such contempt at the least these bailiffes of hundreds that they are now but bare messengers and mandataries within their liberties to serue writs and such like base offices their office consisting in 3. points onely which see in Cromptons Iustice of peace fol. 49. a. Yet is the name still in good esteeme some other way For the chiefe Magistrates in diuers townes corporate be called Bailiffes as in Ipsewitch Yarmouth Colchester and such like And againe there be certaine to whom the kings castels be committed which are called Bailifs as the Bailiffe of Dover castell These ordinary bayliffes are of two sorts baylifs errant and baylifs of franchises Baylifes errant ballivi it inerantes be those which the Shyreeue maketh and appointeth to goe hither thither in the countie to serue writs to summon the countie sessions assises and such like Baylifs of franchises ballivi franchesiarum aut libertatum be those that are appointed by euerie lord within his libertie to doe such offices within his precincts as the baylife errant doth at large in the countie Of these read S. Thomas Smith de repub Anglo li. 2. ca. 16. There be also baylifes of the forest Manwood parte 1. pa. 113. There be likewise baylifes of husbandrie belonging to priuate men of great substance who seeme to be so called bycause they dispose of the vnder servants every man to his labour and taske check them for misdoing their buisenes gather the profits of their lord and master and deliuer an accompt for the same at the yeares end or otherwise as it shall be called for The word baylife or balivus is by Rebuffus deriued from Baal i. dominus quia ballivi dominantur suis subditis quasi eorum magistri domini Rebuf in constitut regias de senten executionis art 7. glos 1. The office or dutie of a bayliffe of a maner or household which in aunciēt time seemeth to haue beene all one Fleta well describeth li. 2. ca. 72. 73. This word is also vsed in the canon lawe ca. dilect◠de sentent excom in sexto ca. pri de poenis in clement wher the glossographer saith it is a French word signifiing as much as praepositus balia or balivatus is vsed among our later interpreters of
also by diuers places in Bracton who saith that knights must be in Iuries which turne Freeholders doe serue Knights of the Garter Equites Garterii are an order of knights created by Edward the third after he had obtained many notable victories king Iohn of Frannce and king Iames of Scotland being both his prisoners together and Henry of Castile the bastard expulsed out of his Realme and Don Petro being restored vnto it by the Prince of Wales and Duke of Aquitane called the blacke Prince who for furnishing of this honorable Order made a choice out of his owne realme and all Christendome of the best and most excellent renowned Knights in vertues and honour bestowing this dignitie vpon them and giuing them a blew Garter decked with gold pearle and precious stones and a buckle of gold to weare daily on the left legge onely a kirtle gowne cloake chaperon a coller other stately and magnificall apparell both of stuffe and fashion exquisite and heroicall to weare at high feastes as to so high and princely an order was meete Of which Order he and his successours kings of England were ordained to be the Soueraignes and the rest fellowes and brethren to the number of 26. Smith de Republ. Angl. libro primo cap. 20. I haue seene an auncient monument whereby I am taught that this Honourable companie is a Colledge or a Corporation hauing a common Seale belonging vnto it and consisting of a Soueraigne Gardian which is the King of England that alwaies gouernes this order by himselfe or his Deputie of 25. Companions called Knights of the Garter of 14. secular Chanons that be Priests or must be within one yeare after their admission 13. Vicars also Priests and 26. poore Knights that haue no other sustenance or meanes of liuing but the allowance of this house which is giuen them in respect of their daily praier to the Honour of God and according to the course of those times of Saint George There be also certaine officers belonging to this order as namely the Prelate of the Garter which office is inherent to the Bish of Winchester for the time being the Chaunceler of the Garter the Register who is alwaies Deane of Windesour The principall King at Armes called Garter whose chiefe function is to manage and marshall their Solemnities at their yearely feasts and Installations Lastly the Vsher of the Garter which as I haue heard belongeth to an Vsher of the Princes chamber called Blacke rod. There are also certaine ordinances or Constitutions belonging vnto this Society with certaine forfeitures and sometime penances for the Breakers of them which constitutions concerne either the solemnities of making these Knights or their duties after their Creation or the Priuiledges belōging to so high an order but are too large for the nature of this poore Vocabularie The site of this Colledge is the Castle of Windesoure with the Chapel of Saint George erected by Edward the third and the Chapter house in the said Castell Howbeit the yearly Solemnity or prosession may be and is by the Soueraignes direction performed at the Court wheresoeuer it lyeth vpō Saint Georges day M. Camden saith that this order receiued great ornament from Edward the 4 See Fearns glory of Generosity pag. 120. See Garter Hospinian in his booke de origine progressu Monachatus maketh mention of this honourable order terming it by ignorance of our tongue ordinem Carteriorum equitum and Charteriorum equitum which you may reade cap. 307. as also Bernardus Girardus in his historie libr. 15. ca. 185. Knights of the Bath milites balnei vel de balneo are an order of Knights made within the Lists of the Bath girded with a sword in the ceremonie of his Creation Ferns glorie of generosity pag. 105. These are spoken of anno 8. Ed. 4. cap. 2. But I had an ould monument lent me by a freind whereby it appeareth that these Knights were soe called of a Bath into the which after they had bine shauen and trimmed by a Barber they entred and thence the night before they were Knighted being well bathed were taken againe by two Esquiers commanded to attend them dried with fine linnen cloathes and so apparelled and ledde through many solemne Ceremonies viz. Confessing their sinnes watching and praying all night in a church or chappell with many other to the order of Knighthood the next day So that by the same reason these seemed to be termed Knights of the Bathe by which Knights made out of the feild in these daies are called knights of the Carpet because in receiuing their order they commonly kneele vpon a Carpet Knights of the order of Saint Iohn of Ierusalem milites Sancti Iohannis Heirosolumitani were otherwise called the Knights of the Rhodes being an order of Knighthood that had beginning about the yeare of the Lord. 1120. Honorius then Pope of Rome Cassanaeus de gloria mundi parte 9. Considerarione 4. M. Fern. in his glorie of Generosity pag. 127. they had their primarie foundation and cheife aboad first in Hierusalem and thē in Rhodes wheremany of thē liued vnder their Principall called the M. of Rhodes vntill they were expelled thence by the Turke anno 1523. sithence which time their cheife seate is at Malta where they haue done great exploits against the Infidels but especially in the yeare 1595. These though they had their beginning especialest abode first at Ierusalem and next in Rhodes yet they encreased both in number and Reuenues liuing after the order of Friers vnderthe Rule of Saint Augustine and were dispersed into France Spaine Alvern Campany Englād and Ireland Of these mention is made in the stat anno 25. H. 8. ca. 2. anno 26. eiusdem cap. secundo and it appeareth that they in England had one generall prior that had the gouernment of the whole order within England Scotland Reg. orig fol. 20. b. But toward the ende of Henrie the eights daies they in England and Ireland being found ouer much to adhere to the B. of Rome against the King were suppressed and their Lands and goods referred by Parlament to the Kings disposition anno 32. H. 8. cap. 24. The Occasion and the propagation of this order more especially described you may reade in the Treatise intituled the Booke of Honour and Armes lib. 5. cap. 18. written by M. Rich. Ihones Knights of the Rhodes anno 32. H. 8 ca. 24. See Knights of the order of Saint Iohn Knights of the Temple otherwise called Templers Templaplarii was an order of Knighthood created by Gelasius the Pope about the yeare of our Lord. 1117. and so called because they dwelt in a part of the buildings belonging to the Temple These in the beginning dwelling not far from the Sepulchre of the Lord entertained Cristian straungers and Pilgrims charitably and in their armour ledde them through the Holy Land to view such things as there were to be seene without feare of Infidels adioyning This Order continuing and increasing by the
sub aliorum testimonio faciet de his rebus This high Officer hath by vertue of his office at this day the nomination of the Escheatours yeerely throughout England and giueth the places of all customers controllers and searchers in all the ports of the Realme He sitteth in the chequer chamber and with the rest of the court ordereth things to the Kings best benefite He with the Barons may by statute stall depts of three hundred pounds and vnder And by commission from his maiestie he with others ioyned with him letteth leases for liues or yeares of the lands that came to the Crowne by the dissolution of Abbeys He by his office giueth warrant to certaine men to haue their wine without impost He taketh declaration of all the money payed into the Receipt of the Exchequer and of all Receiuers accompts Then is there a Treasurer of the kings houshold who is also of the priuie Councell and in the absence of the Steward of the Kings houshold hath power with the Controller and the Steward of the Marshalsea without commission to heare and determine treasons misprisions of treasons murder homicide and bloudshed committed within the Kings pallace Stawnf pl. cor lib. 3. cap. 5. In the statute anno 28. Rich. 2. cap. 18. anno 11. H. 7. cap. 16. mention is made of the Treasurer of Calis In Westm 2. cap. 8. of the Treasurer of the Exchequer anno 27. Ed. 3. stat 2. cap. 18. ann 35. Eliz. cap. 4. Of the Treasurer of the Nauie or Treasurer of the warres or garrisons of the Nauie anno 39. El. cap. 7. Treasurer of the Kings chamber anno 26. H. 8. cap. 3. anno 33 eiusdem cap. 39. Treasurer of the warres anno 7. H. 7. cap. prim anno 3. H. 8. cap. 5. Treasurer of the Chauncerie West parte 2. symbol titulo Fines sect 152. Treasurer of the Kings Wardrobe anno 15. Ed. 3. stat prim cap. 3. anno 25. eiusdem stat 5. cap. 21. whose office you haue well set foorth in Fleta lib. 2. cap. 14. Treasurer of the Countie for poore souldiers anno 35. Eliz. cap. 4. And most corporations through the kingdome haue an officer of this name that receiueth their rents and disburseth their common expences Treate commeth of the French traire i. emulgere and signifieth in the common lawe as much as taken out or withdrawne As a Iurour was chalenged for that hee might not dispend 40. pounds and for that cause he was treate by the Statute old na br fol. 159. that is remoued or discharged Breade of treate anno 51. H. 3. Statute of breade c. what it signifieth I cannot learne Trespas Transgressio is a French word signifiing as much as Mors obitus excessiss The reason whereof I take to be because in interpretation it is a passage from one place or estate to another for in Britton cap. 29. I find trespassants for passengers In our common law and language it is vsed for any transgression of the lawe vnder treason felonie or misprision of treason or of felonie as may be gathered out of Stawnf pl. cor fol. 38. where he saith that for a Lord of the Parlament to depart from the Parlament without the kings licence is neither treason nor felonie but trespasse And againe fol. 31. saying that where it was wont before the statute made anno prim Ed. 2. called Statutum de frangentibus prisonam that the breach of prison was felonie if it were the Kings prison it is sithence but trespasse except the prisoner were committed for felonie But it is most commonly vsed for that wrong or dammage which is done by a priuate man to the King as in his Forest pl. cor lib. 2. cap. 18. or to another priuate man And in this signification it is of two sortes trespasse generall otherwise termed trespasse vi armis and trespasse especiall otherwise called trespasse vpon the case And this seemeth to be without force Termes of the Lawe Action vpon the case as appeareth by Kitchin fol. 176. The former I take to be called generall because it riseth from that generall ground in lawe that whatsoeuer is done by any priuate mans humour vi armis is an offence The later I call especiall because Kitchin calleth the other generall and another reason may be this because it springeth from a particular case or fact not conteined vnder any other generall head And the action lying for this trespasse is otherwise called an action vpon the case as may be gathered out of diuers places vnder the title Trespasse in Brookes his Abridgement How to distinguish the forme of these writs or actions See Fitz. nat br fol. 86. I. 87. H. I. In an action of trespasse this is perpetuall that the plaintiffe sieweth for dammages or the valew of the hurt cone vnto him by the Defendant It seemeth an hard thing to distinguish these two kinds of trespasses so as to be able to say when it is a trespasse vi armis and when vpon the case as may well appeare to him that shall peruse this title in Brooke But this is to be left to the experiēce of graue and skilfull pleaders I find moreouer in Kitchin fol. 188 that there is a trespasse locall and trespasse transitorie trespasse locall is that which is so annexed to a place certaine as if the Defendant ioyne issue vpon the place and trauers the place onely by saying Absque hoc that he did the trespasse in the place mentioned in the declaration and averre it it is enough to defeate the action Trespasse transitorie is that which cannot be defeated by the defendants trauers of the place saying without that I cōmitted the trespasse in the place declared because the place is not materiall Examples of both you haue set downe by Kitchin in the place aboue named to this effect trauers by Absque hoc of trespasse in batterie or goods brought in is transitorie and not locall as it is of trees cut or herbes And therefore in trespasse transitorie the place shall not make issue neither is it trauersable no more then is a trespasse vpon a case of an Assumption Bracton in his fourth booke cap. 34. num 6. diuideth transgressionē in maiorem minorem which place reade See also great diuersitie of trespasses in the new booke of Entries verbo Trespasse Triall triatio is vsed in our common lawe for the examination of all causes ciuill or criminall according to the lawes of our Realme Of this word Stawn pl. cor lib. 2. cap. 26. writeth to this effect There was a statute made prim secund Philip. Mar. cap. 10. to this purpose And be it furder enacted by the authoritie aforesaid that all trials hereafter to be had awarded or made for any treason shal be had and vsed according to the due order and course of the common lawes of this Realme and not otherwise c. By this word triall saith Stawnf in that place some vnderstand
about the Kings court that boundeth the iurisdiction of the Lord Steward of the Kings houshold and of the the Coroner of the Kings house and that seemeth to haue bene 12. miles compasse anno 13. R. 2. Stat. prim cap. 3. Fitz. nat br fol. 241. B. and Britton fol. 68 b. 69. a. and Fleta lib. 2. cap. 2. and Sir Edward Cookes Reports li. 4. fol. 47. a. For this see the Statute anno 33. H. 8. cap. 12. toward the end But Fleta saith that this compasse about the Court is called virgata a virga quam Marishallus portat vt signū suae potestatis lib. 2. cap. 4. § prim Verge hath also another signification and is vsed for a sticke or rodde whereby one is admitted tenent and holding it in his hand sweareth fealtie vnto the Lord of a maner who for that cause is called Tenent by the verge old nat br fol. 17. Vergers virgatores be such as cary white wands before the Iustices of either banke c. Fleta lib. 2. cap. 38. otherwise called Porters of the verge Very Lord and very Tenent verus Dominus verus Tenens are they that be immediate Lord Tenent one to the other Brooke titulo Hariot fol. 23. In the old nat br and in the writ Replegiare de averits fol. 42. I find these words And know ye that in taking of leases six things are necessarie that is to say very Lord and very tenent Seruice behind the day of the taking seisin of the seruices and within his Fee And know ye that a man is not very tenent vntill he haue atturned to the Lord by some seruices So that by Brooke the very Lord and the very Tenent must be immediate and by this booke there must be an acknowledgement See an 19. H. 7. cap. 15. See Tenent Vert viride is made of the French verd i. viridis and signifieth with vs in the lawes of the Forest euery thing that doth growe and beare greene leafe within the Forest that may couer and hide a Deere Manwood in the second part of his Forest lawes fol. 6. a. and fol. 33. b. with whom also Crompton agreeth fol. 170. of his Iurisd And vert as the same author saith eodem fol. 34. is diuided into Ouer vert and Neather vert Ouer vert is that which the Lawyers call Hault bois and Neather vert is that which they cal South bois And of this you may reade him in his second part of Forest lawes cap. 6. per totum Where you shall find that he diuideth vert into generall and speciall Generall is as it is aboue defined vert speciall is euery tree and bush within the Forest to feed the Deere withall as Peare trees Crabtrees Hauthornes Blackbush and such like And the reason of this name is because the offence of destroying of such vert is more highly punished then of any other according to the quantity thereof eod ca. 6. nu 2. fol. 35. a. Vervise otherwise called Plonkets anno 1. R. 3. cap. 8. a kind of clothe Vesses anno 1. R. 3. cap. 8. anno 14. 15. H. 8. cap. 11. otherwise called Set clothes Vesture vestitura is a French word signifying a garment but in the vse of our common lawe turned metaphorically to betoken a possession or an admittance to a possession So it is taken Westm 2. c. 25. anno 13. Ed. prim And in this signification is it borowed from the Feudists with whom Investitura signifieth a deliuerie of possession by a speare or staffe and vestitura possession it selfe Hotoman in verbis feudal verbo Investitura Vesture of an acre of land an 4. Ed. prim stat prim is the profit of it anno 13. Edvard 1. cap. 25. Vice-treasurer of the Exchequer 1. Iacob 26. See Vnder-treasurer of England See Treasurer of the Exchequer View of frank pledge visus Franci plegii is the office which the Shyrecue in his Countie court or the Bayliffe in his Hundred performeth in looking to the Kings peace and seeing that euery free man be in some pledge This is called of Bracton li. 2. ca. 5. nu 7. in fine Res quasi sacra quia solam personam Regis respicit quòd introductus sit pro pace communi vtilitate codem ca. 16. nu 8. in fine See frank pledge and Leete and Decennier See the new booke of Entries verb view of frank pledge Veiours visores commeth of the French Veoyr i. cernere intueri despicere prospicere videre and signifieth in our common lawe those that are sent by the court to take view of any place in question for the beter descision of the right old nat br fol. 112. So doth Bracton vse it lib. 5. tract 3. cap. 8. per totum It signifieth also those that are sent to view such as essoine themselues de malo lecti whether they be in truth so sicke as they cannot appeare or whether they counterfeit Bracton lib. 5. tracta 2. cap. 10. cap. 14. per totum Lastly it is vsed for those that are sent or appointed to view an offence as a man murdered or a Virgin rauished See View Vicario deliberando occasione cuinsdam Recognitionis c. is a writ that lyeth for a spirituall person imprisoned vpon forfeiture of a Recognisance without the Kings writ Reg. orig fol. 147. See statuto mercatorio contra personam ecclesiasticam Vicis venellis mundandis is a writ that lyeth for a Maior and Bayliffes of a towne c. For the cleane keeping of their streets Register orig fol. 267. b. View visus commeth of the French veue i. visus aspectus conspectus prospectus and signifieth with vs the act of viewers For as the author of the Termes of lawe saith when any action reall is brought and the Tenent knoweth not well what land it is that the Demandant asketh then he may pray the view that is to say that he may see the land which is claimed of this Britton speaketh cap. 45. This point of proceeding we haue receiued from the Normans as it appeareth by the Grand custumarie cap. 66. where you shall reade to this effect It is to be knowne that there bee diuers sorts of viewes one of a fee another of a man in sicknes another of an offence as of a man slaine or of a Virgin deflowred all which he describeth in that place and againe cap. 80. 96. which are worth the reading this view at this day is vsed in an Assise of rent seruice rent charge or rent seck Fitzh nat br fol. 178. D. and in a writ de Curiā claudenda Idem fol. 128. B. In a writ of Nusance Idem fol. 183. L. N. O. In a writ Quoiure Idem fol. 128. L. In the writ de rationalibus diuisis Idem fol. 129. D. And in the writ de secta ad moliendinum Idēf 123. B. See the new booke of Entries verbo View and see Fleta how this view is made lib. 4. ca. 6. See Veiours Vicechamberlaine called
of the same country to say the truth vpon the sayd issue taken And if the Enquest come not at the day of this writ returned then shall goe a habeas corpora and after a distresse vntill they come old nat br fol. 157. See how diuersly this writ is vsed in the table of the Register Iudiciall There is also a writ of this name that is originall as appeareth in the Register orig fol. 200. b. which M. Lamberd in his processes annexed to his Eirenarcha saith to be the common proces vpon any presentment not being felony nor especially appointed for the fault presented by statute Whereof he setteth downe an example in the same place See also the new booke of Entries verbo Enquest fol. 253. columna 1. 2. 3. Venire facias tot matronas See Ventre inspiciendo See Lamb. Eirenarcha li. 4. ca. 14. pa. 532. Venew vicinetum is taken for a neighbour or neare place As for example twelue of the Assise ought to be of the same Venew where the Demaund is made old nat br fol. 115. and in the statute anno 4. H. 4. ca. 26. anno 25. H. 8. ca. 6. I finde these words And also shall returne in euery such panell vpon the venire facias sixe sufficient Hundreders at the least if there be so many within the Hundred where the Venew lyeth Ventre inspiciendo is a writ for the search of a woman that faith shee is with childe and thereby withhouldeth land from him that is the next heire at the common law Register originall fol. 227. a. Verdour viridarius commeth of the French verdior i. Saltuarius vel custos nemoris he is as M. Manwood parte pri of his forest lawes pag. 332. defineth him a Iudiciall officer of the Kings forest chosen by the King in the full county of the same shire within the forest where he doth dwell and is sworne to maintaine and keepe the Assises of the forest and also to view receiue and inrolle the Attachments and presentments of all maner of trespasses of the forest of vert and venison And the same authour vpon the first artitle of Canutus charter in the beginning of the same part saith that these in the Saxons times were called Pagened being foure in number and they chiefe men of the forest as then they were Their fee was in Canutus time each of them euery yeare of the Kings allowance two horses one of them with a saddle another of them without a saddle one sword fiue Iauelins one speare one shield and ten pounds in money These foure as appeareth by the said charter nu 11. had regalem potestatem and might proceede to a threefold iudgement And if any man offered them or any of them violence if he were a free man he should loose his freedome and all that he had if a villein he should loose his right hand All the officers of the forest were to be corrected and punished by them ibidem nu 10. The verdour is made by the Kings writ Cromptons Iurisd fol 165. the forme of which writ you haue in Fitzh nat br fol. 164. which is directed to the Shyreeue for the choice of him in a full County by the assent of the said County Yet if a verdour bee sodainely sicke or dead at the time of the Iustice seate a new may be chosen without a writ Manwood parie prim pag. 72. the office is as Crompton saith loco allegato properly to looke to the vert and to see that it be wel maintained Also when any forfeiture is taken in the Forest before the Foristers or other ministers the price thereof shall be deliuered to the verdour who is to answer for it before the Iustices in Eyre And if he die his heire is chargeable therewith Crompton ibidem The forme of his oath at his admittance you may see in Manwoods first part of his Forest lawes pag. 51. who there calleth him verderour aliâs verdictor You shall truly serue our Soueraigne Lord the King in the office of a verderor of the Forest W. you shall to the vttermost of your power and knowledge do for the profit of the King so farre as it doth apperteine vnto you to do You shall preserue and maintaine the auncient rights and franchises of his Crowne you shall not conceale from his Maiestie any rights or priuiledges nor any offence either in vert or venison or any other thing You shall not withdraw nor abridge any defaults but shal endeuour your selfe to manifest and redresse the same and if you cannot doe that of your selfe you shall giue knowledge thereof vnto the King or vnto his Iustice of the Forest You shall deale indifferently with all the Kings liege people you shall execute the lawes of the Forest and do equall right and iustice as well vnto the poore as vnto the rich in that appertaineth vnto your office you shall not oppresse any person by colour thereof for any reward fauour or malice All these things you shall to the vttermost of your power obserue and keepe Their office is farder expressed eodem pag. 93. which is to sit in the court of attachment to see the attachments of the Forest to receiue the same of the Foresters and Woodwards that do present them and then to enter these Attachments into their rolles Verdict veredictum is the answer of a Iurie or Enquest made vpon any cause ciuill or criminall committed by the court to their consideration or triall And this verdict is two-fold either generall or especiall Stawnf pl. cor lib. 3. cap. 9. A general verdict is that which is giuen or brought into the Court in like generall termes to the generall issue as in an action of disseisin the Desendant pleadeth No wrong no disseisin Then the issue is this in generall whether the fact in question be a wrong or not And this committed to the Iurie they vpon consideration of their euidence come in and say either for the plaintiffe that it is a wrong and disseisin or for the Defendant that it is no wrong no disseisin And againe the prisoner at the barre pleading Not guiltie the Enquest in like generall termes bring in their verdict either for the King Cuilty or for the prisoner Not guilty A speciall verdict is that whereby they say at large that such a thing and such they find to be done by the Defendant or Tenent so declaring the course of the fact as in their opinions it is proued and for the qualitie of the fact they pray the discretion of the Court. And this speciall verdict if it containe any ample declaration of the cause from the beginning to the end is also called a verdict at large Whereof reade diuers examples in Stawnf pl. cor lib. 3. cap. 9. and one or two in Litleton fol. 78. 79. See the new booke of Entries verb. Verdict Verge virgata may seeme to come from the French verger i. viridarium hortus It is vsed here in England for the compasse