his assistants in causes of iustice betweene the king and his subiects touching causes appertaining to the Exchequer The Lord chiefe Baron at this day is the chiefe Iudge of the court and in matter of lawe information and plea answereth the barre and giueth order for iudgment thereuppon He alone in the terme time doth sit vpon Nisi prius that come out of the Kings Remembrancers office or out of the office of the clerke of of the please which cannot be dispatched in the mornings for want of time He taketh recognisances for the Kings debts for appearances and obseruing of orders He taketh the presentation of all the officers in court vnder himselfe and of the Mayor of London and seeth the Kings Remembrancer to giue them their oathes He taketh the declaration of certaine receiuers accompts of the lands of the late augmentation made before him by the Auditors of the shires He giueth the two parcel makers places by vertue of his office The second Baron in the absence of the Lord chiefe baron answereth the barre in matters aforesaid he also taketh recognisances for the kings debts apparences and obseruing of orders He giueth yearely the oath to the late Maior and escheatour of London for the true accompt of the profits of his office He taketh a declaration of certaine receyuers accompts He also examineth the letters and summes of such Shyreeues foraine accompts as also the accompts of Escheatours and Collectours of Subsidies and Fifteens as are brought vnto him by the auditors of the Court. The third Baron in the absēce of the other two answereth the barre in matters aforesaide he also taketh recognisances as aforesaide He giueth yerely the oath of the late Mayor and gawger of London for his true accōpting He also taketh a declaration of certaine receiuers accompts and examineth the leters and sūmes of such of the former accountants as are brought vnto him The fourth barons is alwaies a coursetour of the court and hath bene chosen of some one of the clerks in the remembrancers offices or of the clerke of the pipes office He at the daies of prefixion taketh oth of al high shyreeus and their vndershyreeues and of all escheatours baylifs and other accountāts for their true accounting He taketh the oath of al collectours controllers surueyours and serchers of the custome houses that they haue made true entrances in their bookes He apposeth all shyreeues vyon their sūmons of the pipe in open court He informeth the rest of the Barons of the course of the court in any mater that concerneth the kings prerogatiue He likewise as the other Barons taketh the declaration of certaine receiuers accompts and examineth the leters and summes of such of the former accountants as are brought vnto him These barons of the exchequer areauncient officers for I finde them named westm 2. ca. 11. anno 13. Ed. 1. and they be called barons because barons of the realme were wont to be employed in that office Fleta li. 2. ca. 24. S. Thomas Smith saith of them that their office is to looke to the accompts of the Prince and to that end they haue auditors vnder them as also to descide all causes appertaining to the Kings profits comming into the exchequer by any meanes This is in part also proued by the statut anno 20. Ed. 3. ca. 2. anno 27. eiusdem stat 2. ca. 18. anno 5. R. 2. stat 1. ca. 9. 12. anno 14. eiusd ca. 1◠And hereupon they be of late men learned in the common lawe of the realme wheras in auncient times they were others viz. maiores discretiores in regno siue de clero essent siue de curea Ockam in his lucubrations de fisci regij ratione Horn in his mirrour of Iustices saieth that barons were wont to be two and they Knights ca. De la place del Eschequer Then be there in this signification Barons of the Cinque portes anno 31. Ed. 3. stat 2. ca. 2. et anno 33. H 8. ca. 10. which are two of euery of the seuen towns Hastings Winchelsey Ry Rumney Hithe Douer Sandwiche that haue places in the lower house of Parlament Cromptons iurisd fo 28. Baron in the the third signification is vsed for the husband in relation to his wife which is so ordinary in all our lawe writers that wright in french as it were superfluous to confirme it by any one Baronet I reade this word anno 13. R. 2. stat 2. ca. 1. but I hould it falsely printed for Baneret or els to signifie all one with it Baronye baronia baronagium is the fee of a baron In which accompt are not only the fees of temporall Barons but of Bishops also who haue two respects one as they are spirituall men without possessions as was the tribe of Levy among the Israelites being susteined by the only first frutes and tenthes of the other tribes Iosue ca. 13. versue 14. The other respect they haue groweth from the bountie of our english Kings whereby they haue baronies at the least are thereby Barons or Lords of the Parlament This baronie as Bracton saith li. 2. ca. 34. is a right indiuisible and therefore if an inheritance be to be divided among coparceners though some capitall messuages may be divided yet si capitale messuagium sit caput Comitatus vel caput Baroniae he saith they may not be parcelled The reason is ne sic caput per plures particul as diuidatur plura iura comitatuum baroniarum deveniant ad nihilum per quod deficiat Regnum quod ex Comitatibus Baronys dicitur esse constitutum Barre barra commeth of the French barre or barriere i. repagalum obex vectis It is vsed in our common law for a peremptory exception against a demaūd or plaint and is by the author of the Termes of law defined to be a plee brought by the defendant in an action that destroieth the action of the plaintiffe for euer It is divided into a barre to common intent and a barre speciall Abarte to a common intendment is an ordinarie or generall barre that ordinarily disableth the declaration or plee of the plaintiffe a barre speciall is that which is more then ordinarie falleth out in the case in hand or question vpon some speciall circumstance of the fact Plowden casu Colthirst fo 26. a. b. For exāple an executor being sued for his testators debt pleadeth that he had no goods left in his hands at the day when the writ was purchased or taken out against him This is a good barre to common intendment or prima sacie But yet the case may so fall out that more goods might come to his hands sithence that time which if the plaintiffe can shew by way of replication then excep the haue a more especiall plee or barre to alleadge he is to be condemned in the action See also Plowden in the case aofre named fo 28. a. b. and Brooke titulo Barre nu
either Bench Barons of the Exchequer Iustices of peace c. And those that be meere recognisances are not sealed but inrolled And execution by force thereof is of all the recognisours goods and chatels except his draught beasts and implements of husbandrie and of the moitie of his lands West parte prim symb lib. 2. titulo Recognisances sect 149. And of these you may see there great diuersitie of presidents Note farder that a Recognizance though in the speciall signification it do but acknowledge a certaine debt and is executed vpon all the goods and halfe the lands of the recognisour yet by extention it is drawne also to the Bonds commonly called Statute Merchant and Statute of the Staple as appeareth by the Register original fol. 146. 151. 252. and by West vbi supra and others See Statute Merchant and Statute Staple Recognisance hath yet another signification as appeareth by these wordes in the statute West 1. c. 36. anno 3. Ed. 1. It is prouided also and agreed that if any man be attainted of disseisin done in the time of our King that now is with roberie of any maner of goods or moueables by recognisance of Assise of nouel disseisin the iudgement shall c. In which place it is vsed for the verdict of the twelue men empaneled vpon an Assise which twelue are also called recognitours of the Assise Litleton fol. 72. So also Bracton calleth them lib. 5. tractat 2. cap. 9. num 2. in these words In essonio verò reddendo exigentur omnes illi quos causa tetigerit sicut particeps Warantus alii vt supra Recognitores in Assisis Iuratores in Iuratis Inquisitores in Inquisitionibus c. And againe lib. 3. tract prim cap. 11. num 16. See the Statute anno 20. Ed. prim stat 4. See the newe book of Entries ver Recognisance Recognitione adnullanda per vim duritiem facta is a writ to the Iustices of the common Bench for the sending of a record touching a recognisance which the recognisour suggesteth to be acknowledged by force and hard dealing that if it so appeare it may be disanulled Register original fol. 183. a. b. Recognitours recognitores is a word vsed for the Iurie empaneled vpon an assise The reason why they be so called may be because they acknowledge a disseisin by their verdict See Bracton lib. 5. tract 2. cap. 9. nu 2. lib. 3. tract prim cap. 11. num 16. Record recordum commeth of the Latine recordari The word is both French and English and in both tongs signifieth an authenticall or vncontroulable testimonie in writing Britton cap. 27. and Lamb. Eirenarch lib. 1. cap. 13. In the Grand Custumarie of Normandie there are seuerall Chapters of diuers records expressing whose presence in each of the Courts is sufficient to make that which is enacted to be a record viz. the 102. chapter where you haue wordes to this effect The record of the Kings Court is a record of things done before the King All things done before the King so he haue one other witnesse This record may he and other make if he himselfe will not make it it may be made by three others And his person may not bee impeached or excepted against either in this or any other thing The next chapter viz. the 103. sheweth how many persons suffise to make a record in the Exchequer The next how many in an assise c. I find not that wee in our Courts especially the Kings Courts stand much vpon the number of recorders or witnesses for the strength of the testimonie which the record worketh but that we take it sufficient which is registred in each Court Glanvile lib. 8. cap. 8. Bracton lib. 3. tract 2. cap. 37. num 4. Britton in the Proeme of his booke saith that the Iustices of the Kings Bench haue a record the Coroner Vicount Iustices of the Exchequer Iustices of Goale deliuerie the Steward of England Iustices of Ireland Iustices of Chester Iustices assigned by the Kings leters patents in those causes they haue commission to take knowledge of All which as I take it must be vnderstood with that caueat of Brooke titulo Record num 20 22. that an act committed to writing in any of the Kings Courts during the terme wherein it is written is alterable and no record but that terme once ended and the said act duly enrolled it is a record and of that credit that admitteth no alteration or proofe to the contrarie Yet see Sir Edward Cookes Reports lib. 4. Rawlins case fol. 52. b. ann 12. Ed. 2. cap. 4. It is said that two Iustices of either Bench haue power to record Non suites Defaults in the countrey It appeareth by Bracton lib. 5. tract 2. c. 1. 11. that quatuor milites babent recordum being sent to view a partie essoined de malo lecti and lib. 5. tract 1. cap. 4. nu 2. that Seruiens Hundredi habet recordum in testimonio proborum honinum And in the Statute of Carleil made anno 15. Ed. 2. it is said that one Iustice of either Bench with an Abbot or a Prior or a Knight or a man of good same and credence hath a record in the view of one that is said by reason of sicknesse to be vnable to appeare personally for the passing of a fine And anno 13. H. 4. cap. 7. anno 2. H. 5. cap. 3. that two Iustices of peace with the Shyreeue or Vndershyreeue haue power to record what they find done by any in a ryot or route c. That which is before mentioned out of Britton touching the Shyreeue seemeth to be limited by Fitzh nat br fol 81. D. Who alloweth him a Record in such maters onely as he is commaunded to execute by the Kings writ in respect of his office And thence it commeth that Kitchin fol. 177. saith that the Escheatour and Shyreeue be not Iustices of record but officers of record In which words he signifieth that their testimony is authenticall onely in some certaine things that are expresly inioyned them by vertue of their Commission as ministers to the King in his higher Courts whereas Iustices of record haue in generality a record for all things within their cognisance done before them as Iudges though not expresly or particularly commaunded Fitzherbert in his Nat br fo 82. in principio something explaneth this point writing to this effect Euery act that the Shyreeue doth by vertue of his commission ought to be taken as mater of record no lesse then the Iustices of peace His reasons be two the former he cause his patent is of record the other because he is a conseruatour of the peace And then he addeth that the plees held before him in his County be not of record Yet is the county called a Court of record Westm 2. ca. 3. anno 13. Ed. 1. But it seemeth by Britton cap. 27. that it is onely in these causes whereof the Shyreeue houldeth plee by especiall
the French word I am driuen to thinke that our auncient Lawyers would signifie hereby a kind of hope or longing expectance because that those things that be in abeyance though for the present they be in no man yet they are in hope and expectation belonging to him that is next to enioy them For I find also in the French that vn bayard is avidus spectator a greedy beholder I cannot in mine owne opinion better compare this then to that which the Civilians call haereditatem iacentem For as Bracton saith lib. 1. cap. 12. nu 10. Haereditas iacens nullius est in bonis ante aditionem Sed fallit in hoc quia sustinet vicem personae defuncti vel quia speratur futura haereditas eius qui adibit So that as the Civilians say goods and lands do iacere whilest they want a possessor and yet not simply because they had lately one and may shortly haue another so the common Lawyers do say that things in like estate are in abeyance Reade farther of this in the new tearmes of lawe and in Plowdens reports casu VValsingham fol. 554. a. Abet Abettare may without absurditie be said to proceed frō the French bouter i. ponere apponere impellere propellere It signifieth in our common law as much as to encourage or set on The substantiue abetment abettum is vsed for an encouraging or setting on Stawnf pl. cor fol. 105. And also abettour for him that encourageth or setteth on Old nat br fol. 21. But both verbe and noune is alway vsed in the euill part Abishersing according to Rastall in his Abridgement titulo Exposition of law words is to be quit of amerciaments before whom soeuer of transgression The author of the new tearmes calleth it otherwise Mishersing and saith it is to be quit of amerciaments before whom soeuer of transgression proued I am of opinion that the word originally signifieth a forfeiture or an amerciament and that it is much transformed in the writing by misprision and ignorance of Clerkes thinking it very probable that it proceedeth from the Germane verbe Beschetzen which is as much as fisco addicere vel confiscare It seemeth by the former authors to be tearmed a freedome or libertie because he that hath this word in any charter or grant hath not onely the forfeitures and amerciaments of all others within his fee for transgressions but also is himself free from all such controule of any within that compasse Abiuration Abiuratio signifieth in our common law asworne banishment or an oath taken to forsake the realme for euer For as Stawnford pl. cord li. 2. cap. 40. saith out of Polydore Virgils eleuenth booke of Chronicles the deuotion toward the Church first in S. Edward a Saxon king and so consequently in al the rest vntil anno 22. H. 8. was so earnest that if a man hauing committed felonie could recouer a church or church yard before he were apprehended he might not be thence drawne to the vsuall trial of lawe but confessing his fault to the Iustices at their comming or to the Coroner before them or him giue his oath finally to forsake the realme Of this you may reade a touch anno 7. Hen. 7. cap. 7. But the forme and effect of this you may haue in the old abridgement of Statutes titulo Abiuration nu 3. taken out of the auncient Tractate intituled De officiis coronatorum as also in Cromptons Tractate of the office of the Coroner fol. 206. b. and in the new booke of entries verbo Abiuration and in Andrew Horus myrror of Iustices lib. 1. cap. del office del coroner This part of our lawe was in some sort practised by the Saxons as appeareth by the lawes of king Edward set out by M. Lamberd nu 10. but more directly by the Normans as is euident by the grand customarie cap. 24. where you haue these words in effect He that flyeth to a Church or holy place may stay there for eight dayes And at the ninth day he must be demaunded whether he will yeeld himselfe to secular iustice or hold him to the Church For if he will he may yeeld himselfe to the lay Court if he will cleaue to the Church he shall forsweare the countrie before the Knights and other people of credit which may witnesse the act if need require The forme of the oath is likewise there set downe with the rest of the proceeding in this matter very agreable with ours This mercie as well of the Saxōs as Normans deriued vnto vs something resembleth that of the Romaine Emperors toward such as fled to the Church lib. 1. Co. titulo 12. or to the images of themselues eodem titulo 25. And also that of Moses touching the cities of refuge Exod. cap. 21. vers 13. Numb cap. 35. vers 6. 11 12. Deut. 19. vers 2. Ios 20. vers 2. But as it was in our auncestors dayes larger by great oddes in this realme so had it lesse reason as it may appeare to all that will compare them Of all circumstances belonging to this abiuration you may farther reade the new tearmes of lawe Stawnford vbi supra and such others But this grew at the last vpon good reason to be but a perpetual confining of the offender to some Sanctuarie wherein vpon abiuration of his liberty and free habitations he would chuse to spend his life as appeareth anno 22. Hen. 8. cap. 14. And this benefite also by other statutes is at the last wholly taken away So that abiuration at this day hath place but in few cases and if it be inflicted vpon any it is not a confining to a Sanctuarie for there be no Sanctuaries remaining amongst vs but a sworne banishment out of the Kings dominions This the Civilians call exilium or deportationem lib. 28. Digest titulo 22. de interdictis relegatis deportatis Abridge Abbreniare cōmeth of the French abreger and in one generall language signifieth as much as to make shorter in words holding still the whole substance But in the common lawe it seemeth at the least for the most part to be more particularly vsed for making a declaration or count shorter by subtracting or seuering some of the substance therein comprised As for example a man is said to abridge his plaint in an Assise or a woman her demaund in an action of dower that hath put into the plee or demand any land not in the tenure of the tenant or defendant and finding that by his answer razeth those parcels out of the plee praying answer to the rest So that here abridger is not contrahere but rather subtrahere Termes of the lawe Broke titulo Abridgement and anno 21. Hen. 8. cap. 3. Of this the Civilians haue no vse by reason of certaine cautelous clauses they ordinarily haue at the end of euery position or article of their libell or declaration to this effect Et ponit coniunctim divisim de quolibet de tali tanta quantitate vel summa qualis
who at any time sithence the first day of this present parlament or at any time hereafter shall depart the Realme or begin to keepe his or her house or houses or otherwise to absent him or her selfe or take sanctuarie or suffer him or her selfe willingly to be arrested for any debt or other thing not growne or due for mony deliuered wares sould or any other iust or lawful cause or good consideration or purposes or hath or will suffer him or her selfe to be outlawed or yeld him or her selfe to prison or willingly or fraudulently hath or shall procure him or her selfe to be arrested or his or her goods money or chatels to be attached or sequestred or depart from his or her dwelling house or make or cause to be made any fraudulent graūt or conueyance of his her or their lands tenements goods or chatels to the intent or whereby his her or their creditours being subiects borne as aforesaide shall or may be defeated or delayed forthe recouery of their iust and true dept or being arrested for debt shall after his other arrest lye in prison fixe monethes or more vpon that arrest or any other arrest or detention in prison for debt and lye in prison sixe monethes vpon such arrest or detention shall be accompted and adiudged a bankrupt to all intents and purposes Banishment exilium abiuratio commeth of the French bannissement and hath a signification knowne to euery man But there be two kinds of banishments in England one voluntarie and vpō oath whereof you may reade Abiuration the other vpon cōpulsion for some offence of crime as if a lay-man succor him that hauing taken sanctuarie for an offence obstinately refuseth to abiure the realme he shall loose his life and member if a Clerke do so he shall be banished Stawnf pl. cor fol. 117. This punishment is also of our moderne Civilians called bannimētum which was aunciently tearmed deportatio if it were perpetuall or relegatio in insulam if for a time Vincentius de Franchis Petrus de Belluga in suo speculo fol. 125. num 4. Barbaries Oxyeantha is a thornie shrub knowne to most men to beare a bery or fruite of a sharpe taste These beries as also the leaues of the said tree be medicinable as Gerara in his herball sheweth lib. 3. cap. 21. You find them mentioned among drugs to be garbled anno 1. Iacob cap. 19. Bard aliâs Beard See Clack Bargaine and sale as it seemeth by West part 1. symb lib. 2. sect 436. is properly a contract made of maners lands tenements hereditaments and other things transferring the propertie thereof from the bargainer to the barganee But the author of the new termes of lawe addeth that it ought to be for money saying farder that this is a good contract for land c. and that fee-simple passeth thereby though it be not said in the deed To haue and to hold the land to him and to his heyres and though there be no liuerie and seisin made by the seller so it be by deed indented sealed and enrolled either in the Countie where the land lyeth or within one of the kings courts of Records at Westminster within sixe moneths after the date of the deed indented anno 27. H. 8. cap. 16. Barkarie Barkaria is a heath house New booke of Entries titulo Assise corp polit 2. Some call it a Tanne house Baron Baro is a French word and hath diuers significations here in England First it is taken for a degree of Nobilitie next vnto a Vicount Bracton lib. 1. cap. 8. num 4. where he saith they be called Barones quasi robur belli And in this signification it is borowed from other nations with whom Baroniae be as much as Prouinciae Petrus Belluga in speculo princip fol. 119. So Barones be such as haue the gouernment of Prouinces as their fee holden of the king some hauing greater some lesser authoritie within their territories as appeareth by Vincentius de Franchis in diuers of his desceisions and others Yet it may probably be thought that of old times here in England all they were called Barons that had such Seigniories as we now call court-barons as they be at this day called Seigneurs in France that haue any such manor or lordship Yea I haue heard by men very learned in our Antiquities that neere after the conquest all such came to the Parlament and sate as Nobles in the vpper house But when by experience it appeared that the Parlament was too much pestered with such multitudes it grew to a custome that none shold come but such as the king for their extraordinarie wisedome or qualitie thought good to call by writ which writ ranne hac vice tantùm After that againe men seeing this estate of Nobilitie to be but casuall and to depend meerly vpon the Princes pleasure they sought a more certain hold and obtained of the King leters patents of this dignitie to them and their heyres male And these were called Barons by leters patents or by creation whose posterity be now by inheritance and true descent of Nobilitie those Barons that be called Lords of the Parlament of which kind the king may create more at his pleasure It is thought neuerthelesse that there are yet Barons by writ as wel as Barons by leters patents and that they may be discerned by their titles because the Barons by writ are those that to the title of Lord haue their owne surnames annexed as Compton North Norice c. whereas the Barons by leters patents are named by their Baronies These Barons which were first by writ may now iustly also be called Barons by prescription for that they haue continued Barons in themselues and their auncestors time beyond the memorie of man The originall of Barons by writ Master Camden in his Britannia pag. 109. in meo referreth to Henry the third Barons by leters patents or creation as I haue heard among our Antiquaries were first created about the dayes of Henry the sixth the maner of whose creation reade in Master Stowes Annales pag. 1121. Of all these you may also reade Master Ferui glorie of Generositie pa. 125 126. And see M. Skene de ver signif verb. Baro. with Sir Thomas Smith lib. 1. de rep Anglor cap. 17. who saith that none in England is created Baron except he can dispend a thousand pound by yeare or a thousand markes at the least To these former Master Seager by office Norrey lib. 4. cap. 13. of Honour ciuill and militarie addeth athird kind of Baron calling them barons by tenure and those be the Bishops of the land all which by vertue of baronries annexed to their bishoprickes haue alwaies had place in the vpper house of Parlament and are tearmed by the name of Lords spirituall Baron in the next significatiō is an Officer as barons of the Exchequer be to the king of which the principall is called Lord chiefe Baron capitalis Baro and the three other for so many there be are
hath in time wrought other vses of this concord which in the beginning was but one as namely to secure the title that any man hath in his possession against all men to cut off intayles and with more certaintie to passe the interest or the title of any land or tenement though not controuerted to whome we thinke good either for yeares or in fee. In so much that the passing of a fine in most cases now is it but mera fictio iuris alluding to the vse for the which it was invented and supposing a doubt or controuersie where in truth none is and so not onely to worke a present prescription against the parties to the concord or fine and their heires but within fiue yeares against all others not expresly excepted if it be leuied vpon good consideration and without Couin as women couert persons vnder 21. yeares or prisoners or such as be out of the realme at the time when it was acknowledged Touching this mater see the statutes anno 1. Rich. 3. cap. 7 anno 4. H. 7. cap. 24. anno 32. H. 8. cap. 36. anno 31. Elizab. ca. 2. This fine hath in it fiue essentiall parts the originall writ taken out against the conizour the kings licence giuing the parties libertie to accord for the which he hath a fine called the Kings siluer being accompted a part of the Crownes reuenew Thirdly the concord it selfe which thus beginneth Et est concordia talis c. Fourthly the note of the fine which is an abstract of the original concord and beginneth in this maner Sc. Inter R. querentem S. E. vxorem eius deforciantes c. Fifthly the foot of the fine which beginneth thus Hac est finalis concordia facta in Curia domini Regis apud Westm à die Paschae in quindecim dies anno c. So as the foote of the fine includeth all containing the day yeare and place and before what Iustice the concord was made Coke vo 6. casu Teye fol. 38. 39. This fine is either single or double A single fine is that by which nothing is graunted or rendred backe againe by the Cognizeese to the Cognizours or any of them A double fine containeth a graunt and render backe againe either of some rent common or other thing out of the land or of the land it selfe to all or some of the Cognizours for some estate limiting thereby many times Remainders to straungers which be not named in the writ of couenant West vbi supra sect 21. Againe a fine is of the effect deuided into a fine executed and a fine executory A fine executed is such a fine as of his owne force giueth a present possession at the least in law vnto the Cognizee so that he needeth no writ of Habere facias seisinam for the execution of the same but may enter of which sort is a fine sur cognizance de droit come ceo que il ad de son done that is vpon acknowledgement that the thing mentioned in the concord be ius ipsius cognizati vt illa quae idem habet de dono Cognitoris West sect 51. K. and the reason of this seemeth to be because this fine passeth by way of release of that thing which the cognizee hath already at the least by supposition by vertue of a former gift of the cognizour Cokes reports li. 3. the case of fines fo 89. b. which is in very deed the surest fine of all Fines executorie be such as of their owne force doe not execute the possession in the Cognizeese as fines sur cognizance de droit tantùm fines sur done graunt release confirmation or render For if such fines be not leuied or such render made vnto them that be in possession at the time of the fines leuied the cognizees must needs siew writs of Habere facias seisinam according to their seuerall cases for the obtaining of their possessions except at the leuying of such executory fines the parties vnto whom the estate is by them limited be in possession of the lands passed thereby for in this case such fines doe inure by way of extinguishment of right not altering the estate or possession of the Cognizee but perchaunce bettring it West vbi supra sect 20. Touching the forme of these fines it is to be considered vpon what writ or action the concord is to be made and that is most commonly vpon a writ of couenant and then first there must passe a paire of indentures betweene the Cognizour and Cognizee whereby the Cognizour couenanteth with the cognizee to passe a fine vnto him of such or such things by a day set down And these indentures as they are first in this proceeding so are they saide to lead the fine vpon this couenant the writ of couenant is brought by the Cognizee against the cognizour who therevpon yeeldeth to passe the fine before the Iudge and so the acknowledgement being recorded the cognizout and his heires are presently concluded and all straungers not excepted after fiue yeares once passed If the writ wherevpon the fine is grounded be not a writ of couenaunt but of warrantia chartae or a writ of right or a writ of mesn or a writ of custome and seruices for of all these fines may also be founded West vbi supra sect 23. then this forme is obserued the writ is serued vpon the party that is to acknowledge the fine and then he appearing doth accordingly See Dier fo 179. nu 46. This word fine sometime signifieth a summe of money paide for an Income to lands or tenements let by lease sometime an amends pecuniarie punishment or recompence vpon an offence committed against the king and his lawes or a Lord of a maner In which case a man is said facere finem de transgressione cum Rege c. Regist Iud. fol. 25. a. and of the diuersity of these fines with other mater worth the learning see Cromptons Iustice of peace fol. 141. b. 143. 144. and Lamberds Eirenarcha libro 4. ca 16. pa. 555. But in all these diuersities of vses it hath but one signification and that is a finall conclusion or ende of differences betweene parties And in this last sence wherein it is vsed for the ending and remission of an offence Bracton hath it li. 2. ca. 15. nu 8. speaking of a common fine that the Countie payeth to the king for false iudgemēts or other trespasses which is to be assessed by the Iustices in Eyre before their departure by the oath of knights and other good men vpon such as ought to pay it with whome agreeth the statute anno 3. Ed. pri ca. 18. There is also a common fine in leetes See Kitchin fo 13. a. v. common fine See Fleta l. 1. ca. 48. Fines pro licentia concordandi anno 21. H. 8. c. 1. See Fine Fine force seemeth to come of the french adiectiue fin and the substantiue force i. vis The adiectiue fin signifieth sometime as much as
Regale beneficium clementis principis de consilio procerum populis indultum quo vitae hominū status integritati tam salubriter consulitur vt in iure quod quis in libero soli tenemento possidet retinendo duells casum declinare possint homines ambiguum c see the rest This Iury is not vsed onely in circuits of Iustices errant but also in other courts and maters of office as if the Escheatour make inquisition in any thing touching his office he doth it by a Iury or inquest if the Coroner inquire how a subiect found dead came to his end he vseth an inquest the Iustices of peace in ther quarter Sessions the Shyreeue in his county and Turne the baylife of a Hundred the Stewarde of a court Leete or court Baron if they inquire of any offence or descide any cause betweene party and party they doe it by the same maner So that where it is said that all things be triable by Parlament Battell or assise Assise in this place is taken for a Iury or Enquest empaneled vpō any cause in a court where this kind of triall is vsed and though it be commonly deemed that this custome of ending and desciding causes proceede from the Saxons and Brittons and was of fauour permitted vnto vs by the Conquerour yet I finde by the grand Customarie of Normandie cap 24. that this course was vsed likewise in that countrie For Assise is in that Chapter defined to be an assembley of wise men with the Bailife in a place certaine at a time assigned 40. daies before wherby Iustice may be done in causes heard in the court of this custome also and those Knights of Normandie Iohannes Faber maketh mention in the Rubrique of the title de militari testamento in Institut this Iury though it appertaine to most courts of the common law yet is it most notorious in the half yeare courts of the Iustices errants commonlie called the great assises and in the quarter Sessions and in them it is most ordinarily called a Iurie And that in ciuile causes wheras in other courts it is oftener tearmed an enquest and in the court Baron the Homage In the generall Assise there are vsually many Iuries bicause there be store of causes both ciuil and criminall commonly to be tried wherof one is called the Grand Iury and the rest petit Iuries whereof it seemeth there should be one for euery Hundred Lamb. Eirenar l. 4. cap. 3. pa. 384. The Grand Iurie consisteth ordinarily of 24. graue and substantiall gentlemen or some of them yeomen chosen indifferently out of the whole shyre by the Shyreeue to consider of all bils of Inditement preferred to the court which they doe either approoue by writing vpon them these words billa vera or disallowe by writing Ignoramus such as they doe approoue if they touch life and death are farder referred to another Iury to be considered of because the case is of such importance but others of lighter moment are vpon their allowance without more worke fined by the bench except the party travers the Inditement or chalenge it for insufficiencie or remooue the cause to a higher court by certiorarie in which 2. former cases it is referred to another Iurie and in the latter transmitted to the higher Lamb. Eire l. 4. c. 7. presently vpon the allowance of this bill by the Grand Enquest a man is said to be indighted Such as they dissalowe are deliuered to the benche by whome they are forthwith cancilled or torne The petit Iury consisteth of 12. men at the least are Empanelled as well vpon criminall as vpon ciuile causes those that passe vpon offences of life and death doe bring in their verdict either guiltie or not guiltie wherevpon the prisoner if he be found guiltie is said to be conuicted and so afterward receaueth his iudgment and condemnation or otherwise is acquited and sett Free of this reade Fortes cap 27. those that passe vpon ciuile causes reail are all or so many as can conueniently be had of the same hundred where the land or tenement in question doth lie and 4. at the least And they vpon due examination bring in their verdict either for the demaundant or Tenent of this see Fortesc cap. 25. 26. according vnto which iudgement passeth afterward in the court where the cause first began and the reason hereof is because these Iustices of Assise are in this case for the ease of the cuntry onely to take the verdict of the Iurie by the vertue of the writ called nisi prius and so returne it to the court where the cause is depending See Nisi prius Ioyne with this the chapter formerly cited out of the custumary of Normandie and that of King Etheldreds lawes mentioned by Maister Lamberd verbo Centuria in his explication of Saxon words and by these two words you shall perceiue that as well among these Normans as the Saxons the men of this Iuty were associats and Assistants to the Iudges of the court in a kind of equality where as now a daies they attend them in great humility and are as it were at their commaund for the seruice of the court the words set downe by M. Lamberd are these In singulis centuriis comitia sunto atque liberae condicionis viri duodeniaetate superiores vnà cum praeposito sacra tenentes iuranto se adeo virum aliquem innocentem haud condemnaturos sontemve absoluturos to this ioyne also the 69. chapter of the saide custumarie See Enquest See 12. men See Lamberds Eurenarch lib. 4. cap. 3. p. 384. Iuris vtrùm is a writ that lyeth for the incumbent whose predecessour hath alienated his lands or tenements the diuers vses of which writ see in Fitzh nat br fol. 48. Iurisdiction Iurisdictio is a dignity which a man hath by a power to doe Iustice in causes of complaint made before him And there be two kinds of Iurisdictions the one that a man hath by reason of his fee and by vertue thereof doth right in all plaints concerning his see The other is a Iurisdiction giuen by the prince to a baylife this diuision I haue in the Custumary of Normandy cap. 2. which is not vnapt for the practise of our common welth for by him whom they call a baylife we may vnderstand all that haue commission from the prince to giue iudgement in any cause The ciuilians diuide iurisdictionem generally vnderstand in imperium iurisdictionem and imperium in merum mixtum Of which you may reade many especiall tractats writen of them as a mater of great difficulty and importance Iustes commeth of the French Ioustes i. decursus and signifieth with vs contentions betweene Martiall men by speares on horsbacke anno 24. H. 8. cap. 13. Iustice Iusticiarius is a French word and signifieth him that is deputed by the king to do right by way of iudgement the reason why he is called Iustice and not Iudex is because in auncient time the
latine word for him was Iusticia and not Iusticiarius as appeareth by Glan lib. 2. cap. 6. Roger Houeden parte poster suorum annalium fo 413. a. and diuers other places which appellation we haue from the Normans as appeareth by the grand custumary cap. 3. and I doe the rather note it because men of this function should hereby consider that they are or ought to be not Iusti in their iudgements but in abstract ipsâ— iusticia how be it I hould it well if they performe their office in concreto Another reason why they are called Iusticiary with vs and not Iudices is bicause they haue their authority by deputation as Delegates to the king and not iure magistratus and therefore cannot depute others in their steed the Iustice of the Forest onely excepted who hath that liberty especially giuen him by the statute anno 32. H. 8. cap. 35. for the Chanceller Marshall Admirall and such like are not called Iusticiarii but Iudices of these Iustices you haue diuers sorts in England as you may perceaue heare following The maner of creating these Iustices with other appertenences reede in Fortescu cap. 51. Iustice of the Kings bench Iusticiarius de Banco regis is a Lord by his office and the cheife of the rest wherefore he is also called Capitalis Iusticiarius Angliae his office especially is to heare and determine all plees of the crowne that is such as concerne offences committed against the crowne dignitie and peace of the King as treasons felonies may hems and such like which you may fee in Bracton lib. 3. tractat 2. per totum and in Stawnf treatise intituled the plees of the crowne from the first chapter to the 51. of the first Booke But either it was from the beginning or by time it is come to passe that he with his assistans heareth all personall actions and reall also if they bee incident to any personall action depending before them See Cromptons Iuridict fol. 67. c. of this court Bracton lib. 3. cap. 7. nu 2. saith thus placita verò ciuilia in rem personam in Curia Domini Regis terminanda coram diuersis iusticiarus terminantur Habet enim plures curias in quibus diversae actiones terminantur illarum curiarum habet vnam propriam sicut aulam regiam iusticiarios capitales qui proprias causas Regis terminant aliorum omnium per querelam vel per priuilegium siue libertatam vt si sit aliquis qui implacitari non debeat nisi coram Domino rege This Iustice as it seemeth hath no patent vnder the broad seale For so Crompton saith vbi supra He is made onely by writ which is a short one to this effect Regina Iohanni Popham militi saluteÌ„ Sciatis quod consistuimus vos Iusticiarium nostrum capitalem ad placita coram nobis terminandum durante beneplacito nostro Teste c. And Bracton in the place nowe recited speaking of the common plees saith that sine warranto inrisdictionem non habet which I thinke is to be vnderstood of a commission vnder the great Seale This court was first called the kings bench because the King sate as Iudge in it in his proper Person and it was moueable with the court See anno 9. H. 3. cap. 11. more of the Iurisdiction of this court see in Crompton vbi supra See Kings bench The oath of the Iustices see in the statute anno 18. Ed. 3. stat 4. See Oathe Iustice of common plees Iusticiarius communium placitorum is also a Lord by his office and is called Dominus Iusticiarius communium placitorum and he with his assistants originally did heare and determine all causes at the common lawe that is all ciuil causes betweene common persons as well personall as reall for which cause it was called the court of common plees in opposition to the plees of the Crowne or the Kings plees which are speciall and appertaining to him onely Of this and the Iuridisdiction hereof see Cromptons Iurisdiction fo 91. This Court was alwaies setled in a place as appeareth by the statute anno 9. H. 3. cap. 11. The oath of this Iustice and his associats see anno 18. Ed. 3. stat 4. See Oath Iustice of the Forest Iusticiarius Forestae is also a Lord by his office and hath the hearing and determining of all offences within the Kings forest committed against Venison or Vert of these there bee two whereof the one hath Iurisdiction oueral the forests on this side Trent the other of all beyond the cheifest point of their Iurisdiction consisteth vpon the articles of the Kings Charter called Charta de Foresta made anno 9. H. 3. which was by the Barons hardly drawne from him to the mitigation of ouer cruell ordinances made by his predecessors Reade M. Camdens Britan. Pag. 214. See Protoforestarius The Court where this Iustice sitteth and determineth is called the Iustice seate of the Forest held euery three yeares once whereof you may reade your fill in M. Manwoodes first part of Forest lawes pag. 121. 154. pag. 76. He is sometimes called Iustice in Eyre of the forest See the reason in Iustice in Eyre This is the only Iustice that may appoint a deputy per statutum anno 32. H. 8. cap. 35. Iustices of Assise Iusticiarii ad capiendas Assisas are such as were wont by speciall commission to be sent as occasion was offered into this or that county to take Assises the ground of which polity was the ease of the subiects For whereas these actions passe alway by Iury so many men might not without great hinderance be brought to London and therefore Iustices for this purpose were by commission particularly authorised and sent downe to them And it may seeme that the Iustices of the common plees had no power to deale in this kinde of busines vntill the statute made anno 8. Rich. 2. cap. 2. for by that they are enhabled to take Assises and to deliuer Gaols And the Iustices of the kings Bench haue by that statute such power affirmed vnto them as they had one hundred yeares before that Time hath taught by experience that the beter sort of Lawyers being fittest both to iudge and plead may hardly be spared in terme time to ride into the country about such busines and therefore of later yeares it is come to passe that these commissions ad â—apiedas Assisas are driuen to these two times in the yeare out of terme when the Iustices and other may beat leasure for these controuersies also whereupon it is also fallen out that the maters wont to be heard by more generall Commissions of Iustices in Eyre are heard all at one time with these Assises which was not so of ould as appeareth by Bracton lib. 3. c. 7. nu 2. Habet etiam Iusticiarios itineraÌ„tes de comitatu in Comitatum quandoque ad omnia placita quandoque ad quaedam specialia sicut Assisas c. ad Gaolas
to be very tenent to that Lord of whom he immediately holdeth So that if there be lord aboue lord mesn and tenent the lord aboue is not very lord to the tenent nor the tenent very tenent to the lord aboue Lord in grosse Fitz. nat br fol. 3. is he that is lord hauing noe maner as the king in respect of his crown idem f. 5. F. See him also fol. 8. A. B. where I finde a case wherein a priuate man is lord in grosse viz. a man maketh a gift in tayle of all the land hee hath to hold of him and dyeth his heire hath but a Seignorie in grosse Lorimers anno 1. R. 3. cap. 12. is one of the companies in London tha makeht bits for bridles of horses and such like The name seemeth to be taken from the latine lorum and is else where writen Lorinors Lotherwit aliâs Leyerwit is a libertie or priueledge to take amends of him that defileth your bondwoman without licence Rastall exposition of words It is an amends for lying with abondwoman Saxon in his description of England cap. 11. Some thinke it should be rather writen Legerwit For Leger is the Saxon word for a bedde or Logherwit of the old word Logher being of the same signification See Bloodwit and Lyerwit Lusernes See Furre Lushoborow is a base coine vsed in the daies of King Ed. the 3. coined beyōd Seas to the likenes of English money and brought in to deceiue the King and his subiects To auoide the which it was made treason for any man wittingly to bring in any such an 25. Ed. 3. stat 4. cap. secundo M MAcegriefs aliâs Macegrefs be such as willingly buie and sell stolen slesh Britton cap. 29. fo 71. b. Cromptons Iustice of peace fo 193. a. Magna assisa eligenda is a writ directed to the Shyreeue to summon foure lawful knights before the Iustices of Assise there vpon their oathes to chuse 12. knights of the vicenage c. to passe vpon the great assise betweene A. plaintife and B. defendant c. Register originall fol. 8. a. Magna Charta called in English the great charter is a charter conteining a number of lawes ordained the ninth yeare of Henry the third and confirmed by Edward the first The reason why it was tearmed Magna charta was either for that it conteined the summe of all the writen lawes in England or else that there was another Charter called the Charter of the Forest established with it which in quantitie was the lesser of the two I reade in Holinshed that King Iohn to appease his Barons yelded to lawes or articles of gouernment much like to this great Charter but wee nowe haue noe auncienter writen lawe then this which was thought to be so beneficall to the sublect and a lawe of so great equitie in comparison of those which were formerly in vse that K. Henry the third was thought but hardly to yeld vnto it and that to haue the fifteenth peny of all the moueable goods both of the spiritualtie and temporaltie throughout his realme Holinshed in Henry the third And though this Charter consist not of aboue 37. chapters or lawes yet is it of such extent as all the lawe wee haue is thought in some sort to depend of it Polydorus and Holinshed vbi supra Mahim Mahemium commeth of the old French Mehaigne as M. Skene saith de verbo signif verbo Machanium and signifieth a corporal hurt whereby a man looseth the vse of any member that is or might bee any defence vnto him in batel The Canonists call it membrimatilationem as the eye the hand the foote the scalpe of the head his foretooth or as some say of any finger of his hand Glanuile lib. 14. ca. 7. See Bracton at large lib. 3. tracta 2. cap. 24. nu 3. and Britton cap. 25. and Stawnf pl. cor lib. pri ca. 41. and the newe exposition of law Termes and the Mirrour of Iustices cap. d'homicid The grand Custumarie of Normandie cap. 6. calleth it Mahaignium and defineth it to be enormem laesionem All agree that it is the losse of a member or the vse thereof And membrum as Cassan de consuetu Burgund pag. 168. defineth it out of Baldus est pars corporis habens destinatam operationem in corpore where you may reade more of this point But if you will see it largely discussed look Vgolinus de irregularitatibus ca. 4. § 3. 4. 5. also read M. Skene vbi supra Mainour aliâs Manour aliâs Meinoure seemeth to come of the French Manier i. manu tractare attrectare or els of Ameuer i. abducere It signifieth in our common lawe the thing that a theefe taketh away or stealeth as to be taken with the mainor pl. cor fol. 179. is to be taken with the thing stolen about him and againe fol. 194. It was presented that a theefe was deliuered to the Vicount together with the Mainor thirdly fol. 186. If a man be indited that he feloniously stole the goods of another where in truth they bee his owne goods and the goods bee brought into the court as the manour and it be demaunded of him what hee saith to the goods and he disclaime them though he be quitted of the felonie he shall loose the goods and againe fol. 149. if the defendant were taken with the manour and the manour bee caried to the court they in auncient times would arraine him vpon the manour without any appeale or inditement I find this word vsed in the old nat br fol. 110. in this sort where a man maketh a thing by mainour or leuying or estopping in such case he shall haue Assise where it signifieth handie labour and is but an abbreviation of Mainovrey Mainovre see Minouerye Mainprise Manucaptio is compounded of two French words Main i. manus prins i. captus which is a participle of the verbe prendre i. capere excipere captare It signifieth in our common lawe the taking or receiuing a man into friendly custody that otherwise is or might bee committed to the mercie of the prison vpon securitie giuen for his forth comming at a day assigned as to let one to mainprise old nat br fol. 42. is to commit him to them that vndertake his apparence at the time appointed And they that do thus vndertake for any are called Mainpernouns because they do receiue him into their hands pl. cor fol. 178. Of this sort is the word Mainpernable which signifieth him that hath committed such an offence as by law he may be thus bayled For in many cases a man is not mainpernable whereof see Broke titulo Mainprise per totum and Fitz. nat br fol. 249. seqq M. Manwood in the first part of his Forest lawes pag. 167. maketh a great difference betweene Bayle and Mainprise For he that is mainprised quoth he is alwayes said to be at large and to goe at his owne libertie out of ward after the day is set to mainprise vntill the
releeue them Stawnf vbi supra See of this the new booke of Entries verb Sanctuary and Fleta lib. 1. cap. 29. And how by degrees they haue beene taken away you may read partly in him and partly in the statutes a. 26. H. 8. ca. 13. anno 28. eiusdem ca. 7. anno 32. eiusd ca. 12. anno 33. eiusdem cap. 15. anno pri Ed. 6. cap. 12. ann 2. eiusdem cap. 2. cap. 33. anno 5. eiusdem cap. 10. See Abiuration Salarie salarium is a recompence or consideration made to any man for his paines or industry bestowed vpon another mans busines So called as Pliny saith qui tam necessarium quam sal homini The word you haue anno 23. Ed. 3. ca pri Salmon pipe anno 25. H. 8. cap. 7. is an engine to catch Salmons and such like fish Sandall anno 2. Rich. 2. cap. 1. is a merchandize brought into England And it seemeth to be a kinde of wood brought out of India For Sandal in French so signifieth and in latine it is called Santalum Sarcling time or time of sarcling Seemeth to be all one with hey seele Or the time when the country man weedeth his corne And it proceedeth from the latine sarculare to rake or weed Or from the French Sarcler which hath all one signification Sarpler Sarplera lanae is a quantitie of woll This in Scotland is called Serplathe and conteineth fourescore stone for the Lords in the counsell in anno 1527. decreed foure serpliathes of packed wolle to containe 16. score stone of woll by the trafique of Merchants now vsed The Merchants vse to fraught for their goods to FlauÌ„ders by the Sack to Fraunce Spaine and England by the Tunne and to Dansken and the Easter seas by the SerpliaÌ„the Skene de verbo significatione verbo Serpliathe with vs in England a loade of wolle as I haue beene informed consisteth of 80. todde each todde consisting of two stone and each stone of 14. pound And that a Sack of wolle is in common accoumpt equall with a load and a Sarpler otherwise called a pocket is halfe a Sack Further that a packe of wolle is a horse loade which consisteth of 17. stone two pounds Fleta lib. 2. cap. 12. saith that all our English measures are compounded of the peny sterling which weigheth 32. wheate cornes of the middle sort and that 2. of those pence make an ounce and 12. ounces a pound in weight or 20. shillings in number and that 8. pound of wheat maketh a ialon or a galon as we now call it and eight galons a bushell and 8. bushels a common quarter Also that 15. ounces of the quantitie aforesaid doe make a merchants pounde And that 12. such pound and a halfe make a stone and that 14. stone make a waigh and that two waighes or 28. stone make a sack of wolle which ought to waigh a quarter of wheate and that 12. sacks make a last So that a waigh and a sarpler seemeth to be all one but that the sarpler is the case and the weigh respecteth the quantitie of the wolle it selfe And that a loade and a sacke is all one Saunkfin is a pharse vsed by Britton cap. 119. for the determination or finall end of the lineall race or discent of a kindred It seemeth to come from the French Sang. i. sanguis and Fine i. finitus Sauer de default is word for word to excuse a default This is properly when a man hauing made default in court commeth afterward and alleadgeth good cause why he did it as imprisonment at the same time or such like Newe booke of Entries verbo Sauer de default Saulfe conduict Salvus conductus is a security giuen by the Prince vnder the broad seale to a straunger for his quiet comming in and passing out of the Realme touching which you may see the statuts anno 15. H. 6. cap. 3. anno 18. eiusdem ca. 18. anno 28. H. 8. cap. pri The forme of this see in the Register originall fol. 25. Stawnford was a man very learned in the common lawes of the land wherein he wrote 2. bookes one termed the plees of the Crowne the other the Princes prerogatiue He florished in the daies of Ed. the sixth and of Queene Mary being in Queene Maries daies a Iudge and knighted Scandalum Magnatum is the especiall name of a wrong done to any high personage of the land as Prelates Dukes Earles Barons and other Nobles and also of the Chanceler treasurer clerk of the priuy seale steward of the kings house Iustice of the one bench or of the other other great officers of the realm by false news or horrible false messages whereby debates and discords betwixt them and the commons or any scandall to their persons might arise anno 2. R. 2. cap. 5. Scauage otherwise called Shewage is a kind of tolle or custome exacted by Maiors Shyreeue and Baylifs of Cities and Borough townes of Merchants for wares shewed to be soulde within their precincts which is forbidden by the statute anno 19. H. 7. cap. 8. It commeth of the Saxon word Sceawe to behold or view or to shewe whence is the word Sceaw-stowe a theater or shew place a beholding place M. Verstegan in his restitution of decayed intelligences litera S. Scire facias is a writ Iudiciall most commonly to call a man to shew cause vnto the Court whence it is sent why execution of a Iudgement passed should not be made This writ is not graunted before a yeare and a day be passed after the Iudgement giuen ould nat br fol. 151. Scire facias vpon a fine lieth after a yeare and a day from the fine levied Otherwise it is all one with the writ hababere facias seisinam West part 2. simb titulo fines sect 137. See an 25. Edwardi 3. Sta. 5. cap. 2. v. anno 39. Eliz. cap. 7. The Register originall and Iudiciall also in the table sheweth many other diuersities of this writ which reade See also the newe booke of Entries verb. Scire facias Scyra Camd. Britan. pag. 103. 544. See Shyre Scot seemeth to come of the French eseot i. symbolum Rastall saith it is a certaine custome or common tallage made to the vse of the Shyreeue or his Baylifes Saxon in his description of England cap. 11. saith thus Scot a gadering to worke of Bailes what he meaneth God knoweth I thinke the place is corruptly printed Scot saith M. Camden out of Mathewe of Westm illud dicitur quod ex diuersisrebus in vnum aceruum aggregatur In the lawes of William the Conquerour set forth by M. Lamberd fol. 125. you haue these words Et omnis Francigena qui tempore Edwardi propinqui nostri fuit in Anglia particeps consuetudinum Anglorum quod dicunt ane hlote aue scote persolâ—antur secundum legem Anglorum Scot and Lot anno 33. H. 8. ca. 19. signifieth a custumary contribution laid vpon all subiects after their hability Roger Houeden writeth
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
to appeare there except their apparence be especially required vpon some extraordinary cause anno 25. H. 3. cap. 10. and Britton cap. 29. It seemeth to be called the Shyreeues Turn of the French word Tour. i. ambitus circuitus vicissitudo and is of Britton called Tour cap. 61. sub fine capitis as if we would say The Shyreeue his course for as Britton noteth in the said 29. chapter that which before the Shyreeue is called the Shyreeues Turne is called in the court of Fraunchises and Hundreds the view of Frank-pledge wherein inquirie is especially made of such as be not in any dozin with whome Fleta agreeth And by Fleta it appeareth that this Turn was the Shyreeues course to keepe his courtin euery Hundred lib. 2. cap. 52. in princip So that as the inferiour courts had their times to take knowledge of those and other causes belonging to their cognisance So the Shyreeue had his course or turne to doe the like at these two seuerall seasons That if there were any defects in them it might be redressed in these and Gods peace and the Kings so much the more carefully obserued This as Lamberd saith was of old called also the Shyreeues moote lib. 4. cap. 4. In this court as Britton saith vbisupra the Shyreeue causeth tobe found out 12. of the most sage loyall and sufficient men of all the Hundred for he kept his turne twice every yeare in each Hundred Magna charta cap. 35. Britton vbi supra whome he charged vpon their oathes to present the truth touching the articles ministred vnto them and set downe by Britton in the same chapter This done he put all other to their oathes according to their dozins and villages truly to present vnto the former twelue all things concerning such articles as by them they should be asked of But fithence the Hundred courts are all called to the county by the statute anno 14. Ed. 3. cap. 3. Statut. pri these Turnes be likewise kept in one cheife place of euery shire and not seuerally in euery Hundred as before they were Of this you may reade more in Britton or in Cromptons Iurisdiction fol. 230. and in the Mirrour of Iustices lib. pri cap. de Turnes Turney Torneamentum commeth of the French Tournoy i. Decursorium It signifieth a martiall exercise of Knights or Souldiers fighting one with another in disport and is thus defined ca◠felicit Extra de Torneamentis Torneamenta dicuntur Nundinae vel feriae in quibus milites ex condicto convenire ad oftentationem virium suarum audaciae temerè congredi solent This word is vsed in the statute anno 24. Henric. octau capit 13. and as I haue heard it signifieth with vs in England those combats that are made with arming swords on horsebacke And I thinke the reason of the name to proceede from the French Tourner i. vertere because it consisteth much in agilitie both of horse and man Turno vececomitum is a writ that lyeth for those that are called to the Shyreeues turne out of their owne Hundred Register orig fol. 174. Tuain nithes gest hospes duarum noctium Roger Houeden parte poster suorum annalium fol. 345. b. who if he did harme to any his hoste was not aunswerable for it but himselfe See Thrid nithes hawan man Twelue men Duodecim homines legales is a number of twelue persons or vp wards to the number of 24. by whose discretion all tryals passe both in ciuill and criminall causes through all courts of the common law in this Realme First for ciuile causes when proofe is made of the mater in question as the parties and their councell thinke good on both sides the point of the fact that they are to giue their verdict of is deliuered likewise vnto them which we call the issue and then are they put in minde of their oath formerly taken to doe right betweene party and party and so sent out of the court seuerally by themselues to consider vpon the evidence of both sides vntill they be agreed which done they returne to the court againe and deliuer their verdict by the mouth of the foreman And according to this verdict Iudgement afterward passeth either condemnatorie for the plantife or absolutory for the Defendant These 12. be called 12. milites Glanuilo lib. 2. cap. 14. 15. and so be they in Bracton diuers times but that word is altered In causes criminall there be two sorts of Enquests one called the graund Enquest and the other the Enquest of life and death The graund Enquest is so called either because it consisteth commonly of a greater number then 12. as of 24. 18. or 16. at the least or els because all causes criminall or penall first passe through them whereas the other Enquest is especially appointed for one or few maters touching life and death committed to their considerations Those of the grand Enquest are also called by Bracton 12. milites lib. 3. tracta 2. cap. pri nu 2. because they were wont to be Knights as it see meth and not inferiours except so many knights could not be found Idem eodem num 1. in fine And their function is to receiue all presentments made vnto them of any offence and accordingly to giue their generall opinion of the presentment by writing either these words Balla vera vpon the bille of presentment which is an Inditement of the party presented or els this word Ignoramus which is an absoluing of him Now as criminall causes be of two sortes either capitall touching life and member or finable so is there a double course of these Inditements For in causes onely finable the party indited must either trauers the Inditement by denying it and so it is referred to a petit Iury whereby he is either conuicted or discharged of the crime or els he confessing it the court setteth his fine vpon his head wirhout more worke But in maters of life and death the party indited is commaunded to hold vp his hād āswer guilty or not guilty if guilty he standeth conuicted by his owne confession if not guilty he is farder referred to the Enquest of life and death which consider vpon the proofe brought against the prisoner and accordingly bring in their verdict Guilty or not Guilty So is he iudged to dye or deliuered by the court Of this read more in Iuditement Assise Iury See the statute anno 35. H. 8. cap. 6. 37. ciusdem cap 22. anno 2. Ed. 6 cap. 32. an 5. El. ca. 25. V VAcation vacatio hath an especiall signification in this kingdome being vsed for all that time respectiuely which passeth betweene terme and terme at London And when such times begunne and ended in our anncesters daies see Roger Hovedens annals parte posteriori fo 343. a. where you shall find that this intermission was called pax Dei ecclesiae Vaccarie aliâs vacharie vaccaria aliâs vacheria semeth to be a house to keepe kine in Fleta