of summs under forty shillings Crompton fol. 231. agreeth with him It is called a Justicies because it is a commission to the Sheriff ad Justiciandam aliquem to doe a man right and requireth no return of any certificate of what he hath done Bracton lib. 4. tract 6. cap. 13. num 2. maketh mention of a Justicies to the Sheriff of London in a case of Dower See the new book of Entries Justicies Justification Justificatio is an upholding or shewing a good reason in Court why he did such a thing as he is called to answer as to Justifie in a cause of Replevin Broke titulo Replevin KE KEeper of the great Seal Custos Magni Sigilli is a Lord by his Office and called Lord-Keeper of the great Seal of England c. and is of the Kings privy Councel under whose hands pass all Charters Commissions and Grants of the King strengthened by the great or broad Seal Without the which Seal all such Instruments by Law are of no force for the King is in interpretation and intendment of Law a Corporation and therefore passeth nothing firmly but under the said Seal This Lord Keeper by the Statute anno 5 Eliz. cap. 18. hath the same and the like place authority preheminence Jurisdiction execution of Laws and all other Customes Commodities and advantages as hath the Lord Chancellor of England for the time being Keeper of the privy Seal Custos privati Sigilli is a Lord by his Office under whose hands pass all Charters signed by the Prince before they come to the broad or great Seal of England He is also of the Kings privy Councell He seemeth to be called Clerk of the privy Seal anno 12 Rich. 2. cap. 11. But of late daies I have known none to bear this Office by reason the Prince thinketh good rather to keep his Seal in his own hands and by private trust to commit it to his principal Secretary or some such one of his Councel as he thinketh fit for that function Keeper of the Touch anno 2 H. 6. cap. 14. seemeth to be that Officer in the Kings Mint which at this day is termed the Master of the Assay See Mint Keeper of the Forest Custos Forestae is also called Chief Warden of the Forest Manwood parte prim of his Forest laws pag. 156. c. and hath the principal government of all things belonging thereunto as also the check of all Officers belonging to the Forest And the Lord Chief Justice in Eyr of the Forest when it pleaseth him to keep his Justice Seat doth forty daies before send out his general Summons to him for the warning of all under Officers to appear before him at a day assigned in the Summons This see in Manwood ubi supra KI King Rex is thought by M. Camden in his Britan. pag. 105. to be contracted of the Saxon word Cyninge signifying him that hath the highest power and absolute rule over our whole Land and thereupon the King is in intendment of Law cleared of those defects that Common persons be subject unto For he is alwaies supposed to be of full age though he be in years never so young Cromptons Jurisdictions fol. 134. Kitchin fol. 1. He is taken as not subject unto death but is a Corporation in himself that liveth ever Crompton ibidem Thirdly he is above the Law by his absolute power Bracton lib. 1. cap. 8. Kitchin fol. 1. And though for the better and equal course in making Laws he do admit the three Estates that is Lords Spiritual Lords Temporal and the Commons unto Counsel yet this in divers learned mens opinions is not of constraint but of his own benignity or by reason of his promise made upon oath at the time of his Coronation For otherwise were he a Subject after a sort and subordinate which may not be thought without breach of duty and loyalty For then must we deny him to be above the Law and to have no power of dispersing with any positive law or of granting especial Privileges and Charters unto any which is his only and clear right as Sir Thomas Smith well expresseth lib. 1. cap. 3. de Repub. Anglica and Bracton lib. 2. cap. 16. num 3. and Britton ca. 39. For he pardoneth life and limme to Offendors against his Crown and Dignity except such as he bindeth himself by Oath not to forgive Stawnf pl. Cor. l. 2. ca. 35. And Habet omnia jura in manu sua Bracton l. 2. c. 24. nu 1. And though at his Coronation he take an Oath not to alter the laws of the Land yet this Oath notwithstanding he may alter or suspend any particular Law that seemeth hurtfull to the publique Estate Blackwood in Apologia Regum cap. 11. See Oath of the King Thus much in short because I have heard some to be of opinion That the Laws be above the King But the Kings Oath of old you may see in Bracton lib. 3. cap. 9. nu 2. for the which look in Oath of the King The Kings Oath in English you may see in the old Abridgement of Statutes titulo Sacram. Regis Fourthly the Kings only Testimony of any thing done in his presence is of as high nature and credit as any Record Whence it commeth that in all Writs or Precepts sent out for the dispatch of Justice he useth none other Witness but himself alwaies using these words under it Teste me ipso Lastly he hath in the right of his Crown many Prerogatives above any common person be he never so potent or honorable whereof you may read you fill in Stawnfords Tractate upon the Statute thereof made anno 17 Ed. 2. though that contain not all by a great number What the Kings power is read in Bracton lib. 2. cap. 24. nu pri 2. King of Heralds Rex Haraldorum is an Officer at Armes that hath the preeminence of this Society See Herald This officer of the Romans was called Pater Patratus Kings Bench Bancus Regius is the Court or Judgement Seat where the King of England was wont to sit in his own person and therefore was it moveable with the Court or Kings houshold And called Curia Domini Regis or Aula Râ—gia as Master Gwin reporteth in the Preface to his Readings and that in that and the Exchequer which were the only Courts of the King untill Henry the Thirds dayes were handled all matters of Justice as well Civil as Criminal whereas the Court of Common Plees might not be so by the Statute anno 9 H. 3. cap. 11. or rather by Master Gwins opinion was presently upon the grant of the great Charter severally erected This Court of the Kings bench was wont in ancient times to be especially exercised in all Criminal matters and Plees of the Crown leaving the handling of private contracts to the County Court Glanvil lib. 1. cap. 2 3 4 lib. 10. cap. 18. Smith de Repub. Anglicana lib. 2. cap. 11. and hath President of it the Lord
prayeth in ayd of him and also to avoid a prejudice growing toward his own right except it be prevented For example when a tenent for term of life by courtesie tenent in tail after possibility of issue extinct for term of years at will by Elegit or tenent by Statute-merchant being impleaded touching his estate may petere auxtlium that is pray in ayd of him in the reversion that is desire or intreat the Court that he may be called in by writ to allege what he thinketh good for the maintenance both of his right and his own Terms of the Law Fitzherbet mentioneth both prier in ayde and prier ayde de patron c. auxilium petere à patrono Nat. Brev. fo 50. d. And the new book of Entries Verbo Ayde de parcener auxilium de parcionaria fo 411 Columna 4. This the later practitioners in the Civil Law call authoris laudationem vel nominationem Emericus in practition titulo 48. This ayde prier is also used sometime in the Kings behoof that there be no proceeding against him untill the Kings Councell be called and heard to say what they think good for the avoyding of the Kings prejudice or losse touching the cause in hand For example if the kings tenent holding in chief be demanded a rent of a common person he may pray in ayd of the king Also a City or Borough that hath a fee ferm of the king any thing being demanded against them which belongeth thereunto may pray in ayd of the king c. Terms of the law Of this thing you may read the Statute de bigamis a. 4. Ed. 1. ca. 1. 2. 3. an 14. Ed. 3. stat 1. ca. 14. The Civill law in sutes begun between two alloweth a third to come in pro interesse and he that commeth in for his interest commeth either assistendo or opponendo c. The former is like to this ayde prier the other to that which our common Lawiers cal Receite Look Receito Aile avo commeth of the French aieul i. avus signifieth a writ that lieth where the grandfather or great grandfather called of our common lawyers besacle but in true French bisaicul was seised in his demaines as of fee of any land or tenement in fee simple the day that he died and a stranger abateth or entreth the same day and disâ—possesseth the heir Fitz. nat br fo 222. AL Alderman aldermannus is borrowed from the Saxon Ealderman signifying as much as Senator in Latine Lamb. in his explication of Saxon words verbo senator See Roger Hoveden par poster suorum annal fo 346. b. Aler sans jour is verbatim to goe without day the meaning whereof is to be finally dismissed the Court because there is no day of farther appearance assigned Kitchin fol. 140. Ale-taster is an officer appointed in every Court leet and sworn to look to the assise and the goodnesse of bread and ale or beer within the precincts of that Lordship Kitchin f. 46. where you may see the form of his oath Alias v. Capias alias Alien alienare commeth of the French aliener and signifieth as much as to transferre the property of any thing unto another man To alien in mortmain is to make over lands or tenements to a Religious company or other body politique Stawnf praerog fo 40. Look Mortmain To alien in fee is to sel the fee simple of any land or tenement or of any incorpore all right West 2. ca. 25. an 13 Ed. 1. Alien alias alion allenigena commeth of the Latine alienus and signifieth one born in a strange Country It is ordinarily taken for the contrary to Denizen or a natural subject that is one born in a strange country and never here infranchised Brook Denizen 4. c. And in this case a man born out of the land so it be within the limits of the kings obedience beyond the Seas or of English parents out of the Kings obedience so the parents at the time of the birth be of the kings obedience is no alien in account but a subject to the King Statute 2. a. 25. Edw. 3. c. unico commonly called the Statute de natis ultra mare Also if one born out of the Kings allegiance come and dwell in England his children if he beget any here be not aliens but denizens Terms of the Law See Denizen Allaye Allaia is used for the temper mixture of silver and gold an 9. H. 5. Stat. 2. c. 4. Stat. 1. ejusdem anni cap. 11. The reason of which allay is with a baser metal to augment the weight of the silver or gold so much as may counter vail the Princes charge in the coining Antonius Faber de nummariorum debitorum solutionibus cap. 1. Allocatione facienda is a writ directed to the Lord Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer upon a complaint of some accountant commanding them to allow the accountant such summes as he hath by vertue of his office lawfully and reasonably expended Regist orig fol. 206. b. Alluminor seemeth to be made of the French allumer i. accendere incendere inflammare it is used for one that by his trade coloureth or painteth upon paper or parchment And the reason is because he giveth grace light and ornament by his colours to the letters or other figures coloured You shall find the word an 1. R. 3. ca. 9. Almaine rivets be a certain light kind of armor for the body of a man with sleevs of male or plates of iron for the defence of his arms The former of which words seemeth to shew the country where it was first invented the other whether it may come from the French verb revestir i. superinduere to put on upon another garment I leave to farther consideration Almner eleemosynarius is an officer of the Kings house whose function is fragmenta diligenter colligere ea distribuerre singulis diebut egenis agrotos leprosos incarceratos pauperesque viduas et alios egenos vagosque in patria commorantes charitative visitare item equos relictos robas pecuniam et alia ad elecmosynam largita recipere fideliter distribuere Debet etiam regem super eleemosyne largitione crebris summonitionibus stimulare praecipne diebus Sanstorum rogare ne robas suas quae magni sunt pretii histrionibus blanditoribus adulatoribus accusatoribus vel ministrallis sed ad eleemosynae suae incrementum jubeat largiri Fleta lib. 2. cap. 22. Almoine eleemosyna See Frank almoyne Almond amygdalum is well known to every mans sight it is the kernel of a nut or stone which the tree in Latine called amygdalus doth bear within a husk in manner of a walnut of whose nature and diversities you may read Gerards Herball lib. 3. cap. 87. This is noted among Merchandize that are to be garbled anno 1. Jaco cap. 19. Alnegeor aliâs aulnegeor ulniger vel ulnator commeth from the French aulne an elle or elwand and signifieth an Officer of the Kings who by
lawyers signifying him to whose use any other man is infeoffed in any Lands or Tenements See the new book of entries verbo uses and in Replevin fol. 508. colum 3. verbo Trespas fol. 606. fol. 123. a. b. colum 3. num 7. CH Chafe wax is an Officer in Chauncery that fitteth the wax for the sealing of the Writs such other instruments as are there made to be sent out This Officer is borrowed from the French For there calefactores cerae sunt qui regiis literis in Cancellaria ceram imprimunt Corasius Chase chacea commeth of the French chasser i. sectari belluas apros cervos It signifieth two things in the Common Law First as much as actus in the Civil law that is a driving of cattel to or from any place as to chase a distress to a fortlet Old nat br fol. 45. Secondly it is used for a receit for Deer and wild beasts of a middle nature between a Forest and a Park being commonly lesse than a Forest and not endued with so many liberties as the Courts of attachment Swain mote and Justice seat and yet of a larger compas and stored with greater diversity both of keepers and wild beasts or game than a park And Crompton in his book of Jurisdictions fol. 148. saith that a Forest cannot be in the hands of a subject but it forth with loseth the name and becommeth a chase and yet fol. 197. he saith that a subject may be lord and owner of a Forest which though it seem a contrariety yet be both his sayings in some sort true For the King may give or alienate a Forest to a subject yet so as when it is once in the subject it leeseth the true property of a Forest because that the Courts called the Justice seat the Swain more and Attachment forthwith do vanish none being able to make a Lord chief Justice in Eyr of the Forest but the King as M. Manwood well sheweth parte 2. of his Forest Lawes cap. 3. 4. And yet it may be granted in so large a manner that there may be Attachment and Swainmote and a Court equivalent to a Justice seat as appeareth by him in the same chapter num 3. So that a Chase differeth from a Forest in this because it may be in the hands of a subject which a Forest in his proper true nature cannot and from a Park in that that it is not inclosed hath not onely a larger compasse and more store of game but of Keepers also and Overseers See Forest Chaleâ—ge calumnia cometh of the French chalenger i. sibâ— asserere is used in the Common law for an exception taken either against persons or things persons as in assise to the Jurors or any one or more of them or in a case of felony by the prisoner at the barre Smith de reâ— Angl. lib. 2. cap. 12. Briton cap. 52. Bracton lib. 2. tract 2. cap. 22. Against things as a declaration Old nat br fol. 76. Chalenge made to the Jurors is either made to the array or to the polles Chalenge to the array is when the whole number is excepted against as partially empaneled chalenge to or by the polle when some one or more are excepted against as not different Terms of the Law Chalenge to the Jurours is also divided into Chalenge principal and Chalenge per cause i. upon cause or reason Challenge principal otherwise by Stawnf pl. cor fol. 157. 158. called peremptorie is that which the Law alloweth without cause alleged or farther examination Lamberd Eirena lib. 4. cap. 14. as a prisoner at the barr arraigned upon felonie may peremptorily chalenge to the number of 20. one after another of the Jurie empaneled upon him alleging no cause but his own dislike and they shall be still put off and new taken in their places But in case of high treason no challenge peremptorie is allowed anno 33 H. 8. cap. 23. Fortescue saith that a prisoner in this case may challenge 35 men c. 27. but that law was abridged by anno 25 H. 8. cap. 3. I cannot here omit to note some difference that in mine opinion I observe between Chalenge principal and Chalenge peremptorie finding peremptorie to be used only in matters criminal and barely without cause alledged more than the prisoners own phantasie Stawnf pl. cor fol. 124. but principal in civil actions for the most part and with naming of some such cause of exception as being found true the law alloweth without farther scanning For example if either party say that one of the Jurors is the son brother cousin or tenent to the other or espoused his daughter this is exception good and strong enough if it be true without farther examination of the parties credit And how far this Chalenge upon children reacheth you have a notable example in Plowden casu Vernon against Manners fol. 425. Also in the plee of the death of a man and in every action real as also every action personal where the debt or dammages amount to 40 marks it is a good Chalenge to any man that he cannot dispend 40 shillings by the year of Free-hold anno 11 H. 7. cap. 21. and Terms of the Law verbo Chalenge The ground of this Chalenge you may see farther in Fleta lib. 4. cap. 8. Chalenge upon reason or cause is when the party doth allege some such exception against one or more of the Jurors as is not forthwith sufficient upon acknowledgement of the truth thereof but rather arbitrable and considerable by the rest of the Jurors as for example if the son of the Juror have married or espoused the daughter of the adverse party Terms of the Law ubi supra This Chalenge per cause seemed to be tearmed by Kitchin chalenge for favour fol. â—2 or rather Chalenge for favour is said there to be one species of Chalenge per cause where you may read what chalenges be commonly accounted principal and what not See the new book of Enteries verbo Chalenge and the Old nat br fol. 158. 159. That this word Chalenge is long sithence latined by the word calumnia appeareth by Bracton lib. 3. tract 2. cap. 18. lib. 4. tract 3. cap. 6. lib. 5. cap. 6. But I doubt Priscian will never forgive him that first strook this blow at him Of Chalenge you may farther read Fleta lib. 1. cap. 32. § Ad quem diem seq Chamberdekins are Irish beggers an 1 H. 5. c. 8. Chamberer is used for a Chamber-maid an 33 H. 8. cap. 21. Chamberlain camerarius vel camberlingus cometh of the French chambellan i. cubicularius vel praefectus cubiculi It is diversly used in our Cbronicles Laws and Statutes as Lord great Chamberlain of England Lord Chamberlain of the Kings house the Kings Chamberlain anno 13 Ed. 1. cap. 41. anno 17 R. 2. cap. 6. to whose office it especially appertaineth to look to the Kings chambers and wardrope and to govern the under ministers
disavow or forsake whatsoever right he hath unto them See the Statute anno 10. Edward 1. cap. unico Forstall is to be quit of amerciaments and cattels arrested within your land and the amerciaments thereof comming New terms of law Forstalling forstallatio is partly French for estaller is in that tongue as much as merces exponere expedice explicare or to shew wares in a Market or Fair. It signifieth in our Common law the buying or bargaining for any victuals or wates comming to be sold toward any Fair or Market or from beyond the Seas toward any City Port Haven Creek or road of this Realm and before the same be there anno 51. H. 3. stat 6. West parte 2. Symbol titulo indictments sect 64. Forstaller in Cromptonâ— Jurisdiction fol. 153. is used for stopping of a Deer broker out of the Forest from returning home again or laying between him and the Forest in the way that he is to return See Regratours and Engrossers See Cromptons Justice of peace fol. 69. a. The Author of the new terms of Law defineth it thus Forstalling Forstallamentum is the buying of Corn Cattell or other Merchandise by the way as it cometh toward the Fair or Market to be sold to the intent to sell the same again at a more high and deer price Fleta saith thus of it significat obtrusionem viae vel impedimentum transitus fugae averiorum lib. 1. cap. 47. Fortescue was a learned Lawyer and Lord Chanceller in Henry the 6. daies who writ a book in the commendation of our Common Laws Fortlet forte letum cometh neer the French fortlet i. valenticulus forticulus and signifieth in our Common law a place of some strength Old nat br fol. 45. This in other Countries is written fortalitium and signifieth castrum Scraderus select practabil quaest sect 12. num 7 8. Fother is a weight of twenty hundred which is a wain or cart load Speight in his Annot upon Chawcer Fourche Afforciare seemeth to come of the French Fourchir i. tiâ—ubare lingua and signifieth in our Common law a putting off prolonging or delay of an action and it appeareth no unpleasant Metaphor for as by stammering we draw out our speech not delivering that wee have to say in ordinary time so by fourching wee prolong a sute that might be ended in a shorter space To fourch by essoin Westm 1. cap. 24. anno 3. Edw. pri where you have words to this effect Coparceners Jointenants and Tenents in common may not fourch by essoin to essoin severally but have only one essoin as one sole tenent may have And anno 6. Edw. 1. ca. 10. You have it used in like sort Foutgeld is a word compounded of these two German words fous i. pes and gyldan i. solvere and it signifieth an amercement for not cutting out the balls of great dogs feet in the Forest See Expeditate And to be quit of footgeld is a privilege to keep dogs within the Forest unlawed without punishment or controlement Cromptons Jurisd fol. 197 Manwood parte pri of his Forest Laws pag. 86. Fowles of warren See Warren Founder is he that melteth metal and maketh any thing of it by casting it into a mould c. anno 17. Rich. 2. cap. 1. derived of the verb fundere to powre FR Franthise libertas franchesia cometh of the French franchise so signifying it is taken with us for a privilege or an exemption from ordinary jurisdiction and sometime an immunity from tribute It is either personall or reall Crompt Jurisd fol. 141. that is belonging to a person immediately or else by means of this or that place or Court of immunity whereof he is either chief or a member In what particularly things franchises commonly consist See Britian cap. 19. Franchise royall anno 15. R. 2. ca. 4. et anno 2. H. 5. cap. 7. in fine seemeth to be that where the Kings writs run not as Chester and Durham they are called Seignories royal anno 28. H. 6. cap. 4. The author of the new Terms of law saith that franches royal is where the King granteth to one and his heirs that they shall be quit of tolle or such like See franchise in the new book of Entries See Bracton lib. 2. cap. 5. See Sac. Frank almoin libera Eleemozyna in french frank Ausmone signifieth in our Common law a tenure or title of lands Britton cap. 66. num 5. saith thus of it Frank almoyne is lands or tenements bestowed upon God that is given to such people as bestow themselves in the service of God for pure and perpetual almes whence the Feoffours or givers cannot demand any terrestiall service so long as the lands c. remain in the hands of the Feoffees With this agreeth the grand Costumary of Normandie cap. 32. Of this you may read Bracton at large lib. 2. cap. 5. 10. See Fitzh nat br fol 211. See the new book of Entries verbo Frank almoin But Britton maketh another kind of this land c. which is given in almes but not free almes because the tenents in this are tyed in certain services to the Feoffour Britton ubi supra Frank bank francus bancus in true french franc bank signifieth word for word a free bench or seat and among our Law-writers it seemeth to be used for Copyhold lands that the wife being espoused a virgin hath after the decease of her husband for her dower Kitchin fol 102. Bracton lib. 4. tract 6. cap. 13. nu 2. hath these words Consuetudo est in partibus illis quod uxores maritorum defunctorum habeant francum bancum suum de terris sockmaxnorum et tenent nomine dotis Fitz. calleth it a custome whereby in certain Cities the wife shall have her husbands whole lands c. for her dower Nat. br fol. 150. P. See Plowden casu Newis fol. 411. Frank chase Libera chasea is a liberty of feee chase whereby all men having ground within that compasse are prohibited to cut down wood or discover c. without the view of the Forester though it be his own Demesn Cromptons Jurisdictions fol. 187. Frank fee feudum francum seis liberum is by Broke tit Demesn num 32. thus expressed That which is in the hand of the King or Lord of any Mannor being antient demesn of the Crown viz. the Demesns is called frank fee and that which is in the hands of the tenents is ancient demeasn only see the Register orign fol. 12. a. Whereby it seemeth that that is frank fee which a man holdeth at the Common law to himself and his heirs and not by such service as is required in antient demesn according to the custome of the mannor And again I find in the same book fol. 14. b. a note to this effect that the lands which were in the hands of King Edward the Saint at the making of the book called Doomesday is antient demesn and that all the rest in the Realm is called frank
peril toward the sea side as Porchmouth c. Of these you shall read anno 18. Edward 3. stat 2. ca. 7. anno 25. ejusd stat 5. ca. 8. Hoghenhine is he that commeth guestwise to an house and lieth there the third night After which time he is accounted of his family in whose house he lieth and if he offend the kings peace his host must be answerable for him Bracton lib. 3. tract 2. ca. 10. In the Laws of king Edward set forth by Master Lambert he is called Agenhine where you may read more of this matter Hithe hitha is a petty haven to land wares out of vessels or boats New book of Entries fol. 3. colum 3. HO Hogshead is a measure of wine or oyle containing the fourth part of a tun that is 63 gallons an 1. R. 3. ca. 13. Holstings see Hustings Homage Homagium is a French word signifying Fidem clientularem For in the original grants of land and tenements by way of fee the Lord did not only tye his tenents or feed men to certain services but also took a submission with Promise and oath to be true and loyal to him as their Lord and Benefactor This submission was and is called homage the form whereof you have in the second Statute anno 17. Edw. 2 in these words when a free man shall doe homage to his Lord of whom he holdeth in chief he shall hold his hands together between the hands of his Lord and shall say thus I become your man from this day forth for life for member and for worldly honour and shall owe you my faith for the land I hold of you saving the faith that I do owe unto our Soveraign Lord the King and to mine other Lords And in this manner the Lord of the fee for which homage is due taketh homage of every tenent as he cometh to the land or fee. Glanvile lib. 9. cap. 1. except they be women who perform not homage but by their husbands yet see Fitzherbert that saith the contrary in his nat br fol. 157. F. Read Glanvile more at large in the said first Chapter with the second third and fourth The reason of this M. Skene giveth de verbo significatione verbo Homagium viz. because Homage especially concerneth service in warre He saith also that consecrated Bishops do no homage but only fidelity the reason may bee all one And yet I find in the Register orig fol. 296. a. that a woman taking livery of lands holden by Knights service must doe homage but not being jointly infeossed for then she doth only fealtie And see Glanvile in the end of the first chapter of his ninth book touching Bishops consecrated whom he denieth to perform homage to the King for their Baronie but only fealty Fulbeck reconcileth this fol. 2C a. in these words By our law a religious man may doe homage but may not say to his Lord Ego devenio home vester because he hath professed himself to be only Gods man but he may say I do unto you homage and to you shall be faithfull and loyall See of this Britten cap. 68. Homage is eithes new with the fee or ancestrel that is where a man and his Ancestors time out of mind have held their lands by homage to their Lord whereby the Lord is tied to warrant the land unto his tenent Newterms of the Law This homage is used in other Countries as well as ours and was wont to be called Hominium See Hotom de verbis feudalibus verbo Homo Skene divideth it into liegium non liegium de verb. signif v. Homage for the which see Leige and Hotoman disputatione de feudis tertia Homage is sometime used for the jury in the Court Baron Smith de Repub Anglo lib. 2. cap. 27. the reason is because it consisteth most commonly of such as owe homage unto the Lord of the fee. And these of the Feudists are called pares curiae sive curiis sive domus sic dicuntur enim convassalli sive compares qui ab eodem patrono feudum receperunt vel qui in eodem territorio feudum habeut Hotoman Of this Homage you may read in the nine and twentieth chapter of the grand Custumary of Normandy where you shall understand of other sorts of homage used by them and strange unto us Whereunto join Hotoman disputat de feudis in divers places and namely Columna 860. c. hiis verbis Deinceps de nota lâ—ommii feudal tiae subjectionis videamus Omnium quidem video esse commune ut dexter as tanquam in soedei ibus jungerent plerumqne etiam ut dexteris aversis osculum praebereut interdum ut ambas manus junctas patrono contrectandas praeberent supplicum et deditiorum nomine qui velatas manus porrigebant And pag. 861. hiis verbis Multis Galliae atque etiam Angliae moribus constisutum est Quod ex Anglico Littletoneo intelleximus ut hominium servili et suppliciveneratione ac planè tanquam à dedititiis praestetur Nam vasallus discinctus nudo capite ad pedes sedentis patroni pro ectus ambas manus junctas porrigit quas dum Dominus suis manibus amplectitur haec verba pronunciat Here veâ—io in tuum hominium et sidem et homo tuus fio ore et manibus tibique juro ac spondeo sidelem me tibi fâ—lis um eorum fendorum nomine quae tuo beneficio accepi c. Whereunto you may adde him colum 819. g. 822. s et 857. b et d. et f. of homage in Scotland read M. Skene de verb. signtf verbo Homaegium To whom you may also joyn a plentiful discourse in speculo Durandt commonly called speculator among the Civilians tit De feudis Homagio respectuando is a writ to the escheator commanding him to deliver seisin of lands to the heir that is at full age notwithstanding his homage not done which ought to be performed before the heir have livery of his lands except there fall out some reasonable cause to hinder it Fitzher nat br fol. 269. Homine eligendo ad custodiendam peciam figilli pro mercatoribus aediti is a writ directed to a Corporation for the choice of a new man to keep the one part of the Seal appointed for Statutes Merchant when the order is dead according to the Statute of Acton Burnel Regist original fol. 178. a. Homine replegiando is a writ for the bayl of a man out of prison which in what cases it lieth and what not see Fitz. natura brev fo 66. See also the Register origin fo 77. See the new book of Entries verto Homine replegiando Homine capto in Withernamium is a writ to take him that hath taken any bondman or woman and led him or her out of the County so that he or she cannot be replevied according to Law Reg. orig fo 79. a. See Withernam Fomicide homicidium is the slaying of a man and it is divided into voluntary and
signifieth in our Common law even the same as the repeal of a Statute Rastal titulo Repeal Brook useth Repellance in this signification titulo Rapellance Repleader Replacitare is to plead again that which was once pleaded before Rastal titulo Repleader See the new Book of Entries verbo Repleader Replegiare See Replevie See Second deliverance Replevie Plevina is the bringing of the writ called Replegiari facias by him that hath his Cattell or other Goods distreined by another for any cause and putting in surety to the Shyreeve that upon the delivery of the thing distreined he will persue the action against him that distreined Terms of Law See Replegiare It is used also for the bayling of a man pl. cor f. 72 73 74. West pri cap. 11. cap. 15. anno 3 Ed. 1. Replegiare de averiis is a writ brought by one whose Cattell be distreined or put in pound upon any cause by another upon surety given to the Shyreeve to persue the action in law anno 7 H. 8. cap. 4. Fitz. nat br fol. 68. See the Register original of divers sorts of this writ called Replegiare in the Table verbo codem See also the Register judicial fol. 58. 70. See also the new book of Entries verbo Replevin See Dyer fol. 173. un 14. Replevish replegiare is to let one to mainprise upon surety Anno 3 Edw. 1. cap. 11. Replication replicatio is an exception of the second degree made by the Plaintiff upon the first answer of the Defendant West parte 2. symbol titulo Chancery sect 55. West 2. anno 13 Ed. pri cap. 36. This is borrowed from the Civilians De replicationibus li. 4. Institutio titulo 14. Report reportus is in our Common law a relation or repetition of a Case debated or argued which is sometime made to the Court upon reference from the Court to the Reporter sometime to the world voluntarily as Ploydens reports and such like Reposition of the Forest was an act whereby certain Forest grounds being made purlieu upon view were by a second view laid to the Forest again Manwood parte pri pag. 178. Reprisells reprisalia are all one in the Common and Civil law Reprisalia est potestas pignorandi contra quemlibet de terra debitoris data creditori pro injuriis et damiis acceptis Vocabucarius utriusque juris This among the ancient Romanes was called Clarigatio of the verb Clarigo i. res clarè repeto It is called in the Statute anno 27 Ed. 3. stat 2. cap. 17. Law of Marque of the German word March i. terminus limes And the reason may be because one destitute of Justice in another territory redresseth himself by the goods belonging to men of that territorie taken within his own bounds Requests Supplicum libelli Curia Requistionum is a Court of the same nature with the Chauncery redressing by equity the wrongs that poor men do suffer at their hand whose might they are not able to withstand either in Law or otherwise It took beginning as some men think by commission from King Henry the 8. before which time the Masters of Requests had no warrant of ordinary Iurisdiction but travailed between the Prince and Petitioners by direction from the mouth of the King Guins Preface to his readings But see Court of Requests Resceyt Receptio seemeth to be an admission of a third person to plead his right in a cause for merly commenced between other two See the new book of Entries verbo Resceit V. Aide prier The Civilians call this admissionem tertii pro suo interesse Of this you have one example in the terms of Law viz. if Tenant for term of life or Tenant for term of years bring an action he in the reversion commeth in and prayeth to be received to defend the land and to plead with the Demandant Many more you may have in Brook titulo Resceit fol. 205. See Perkins Dower 448. Receit is also applyed to an admittance of plee though the controversie be between two only Brook estoppel in many places Resceyt of homage is a relative to doing homage for as the Tenant who oweth homage doth it at his admission to the land so the Lord receiveth it Kitchin fol. 148. See Homage Rescous Rescussus cometh of the French Rescourre se Rescourre du danger i. asserere se ab injuria It signifieth in our common Law a resistance against a lawful authority as for example if a Bayliff or other Officer upon a Writ do arrest a man and another upon a Writ do arrest a man and another one or more by violence do take him away or procure his escape this act is called a Rescus Cassanaeus in his book de consuctud Burg. hath the same word coupled with resistentia fol. 294. whereby it appeareth that other nations doe use this word in the same signification that we doe or the very like It is also used for a Writ which lyeth for this act called in our Lawyers Latine Breve de rescussu whereof you may see both the form and use in Fitz. nat bre fol. 101. and the Register original fol. 125. See the new book of Entries vâ—rbo rescous This rescous in some cases is treason and in some felony Crompton Justice fol. 54. b. Reseiser reseisire is a taking again of lands into the Kings hands whereof a general livery or â—â—ster le main was formerly missused by any person or persons and not according to form and order of law Of this see Stawnf praeroga 26. where it is handled at large See resumption Resiance resiantia seemeth to come of the French rasseoir see Rasseoir is residere and signifieth a mans aboad or continuance in a place Old nat br fol. 85. whence also commeth the participle resiant that is continually dwelling or abiding in a place Kitchin fol. 33. It is all one in truth with Residence but that custom of speech tyeth that only to persons ecclesiastical Reservation signifieth that rent or service which the granter in any grant tyeth the grantee to perform unto him or them or the Lord Paramont Perkins reservations per cotum Residence residentia cometh of the Latin residere and is peculiarly used both in the Canon and common Law for the continuance or aboad of a Parson or Vicar upon his benefice The default whereof except the party be qualified and dispensed with is the losse of ten pounds for every month anno 28 Henr. 8. cap. 13. Resignation resignittiò is used particularly for the giving up of a Benefice into the hands of the Ordinary otherwise called of the Canonists renunciatio And though it signifie all one in nature with the word Surrender yet it is by use more restreined to the yeelding up of a spiritual living into the hands of the Ordinary and Surrender to the giving up of temporal Lands into the hands of the Lord. And a resignation may now be made into the hands of the King as well as of the Diocesan because he
THE INTERPRETER OR BOOK CONTAINING The signification of WORDS Wherein is set forth the true meaning of all or the most part of such words and terms as are mentioned in the Law-Writers or Statutes of this victorious and renowned Kingdom requiring any Exposition or Interpretation A Work not only profitable but necessary for such as desire throughly to be instructed in the knowledge of our Laws Statutes or other Antiquities Collected by JOHN COWELL Doctor sometime the Kings Majesties Professor of the Civil Law in the University of Cambridge In Legum obscuritate captio LONDON Printed by F. Leach and are to be sold by Hen. Twyford Tho. Dring and Io. Place 1658. To his Reverend Father in GOD his especial good Lord THE LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBVRY Primate and Metropolitan of England and one of his MAJESTIES most Honourable Privie Councel AFter long deliberation I hardly induced my self to crave your gracious protection towards this simple work valuing it at so low a price as I think it hardly worth the respect of any grave man much lesse the favourable aspect of so honourable a personage Yet the remembrance of those your Fatherly provocations whereby at my coming to your Grace from the University you first put me upon these studies at the last by a kind of necessity inforced me to this attempt because I could not see how well to avoid it but by adventuring the hatefull note of unthankfulness For I cannot without dissimulation but confesse my self perswaded that this poor Pamphlet may prove profitable to the young Students of both Laws to whose advancement that way I have of late addicted mine endeavours else were I more than mad to offer it to the world and to offer it without mention of him that by occasioning of this good more or less deserveth the prime thanks were to prove my self unworthy of so grave advice And therefore howsoever I account this too much boldness in respect of the subject yet could I be exceedingly glad it might please your Grace to ascribe mine intention to the integrity of my duty For he that meaneth truly well and cannot perform much must needs rejoyce at the good acceptance of that little which he performeth All I crave for this at your Graces hands is patience and pardon for this enterprise with the continuance of those your many favours that hitherto to my great comfort I have enjoyed And so my long observation of your judicious disposition having taught me what small delight you take in affected complements and verbal commendation without more words In all true humblenesse I beseech the Almighty long to continue your Grace in health and prosperity to his glory and the good of his Church Your Graces at all Commandement JO. COWELL To the Readers GENTLE Readers I here offer my self to your censures with no other desire than by you to be admonished of my faults For though I doe professe the amplifying of their works that have gone before me in this kind and have both gathered at home and brought from abroad some ornaments for their better imbellishing of our English Laws yet am I neither so vain as to deny my imperfections nor so passionate as to be offended at your charitable reformations Nay my true end is the advancement of knowledge and therefore have published this poor work not only to impart the good thereof to those young ones that want it but also to draw from the learned the supply of my defects and so by degrees if not my self to finish this model yet at least by the heat of emulation to incense some skilfuller Architect thereunto Yea I shall think my pains sufficiently recompensed if they may be found but worthy to stir up one learned man to amend mine errors The Civilians of other Nations have by their mutual industries raised this kind of work in their profession to an unexpected excellency I have seen many of them that have bestowed very profitable and commendable pains therein And Lastly one Calvinus a Doctor at Heidelberge like a laborious Bee hath gathered from all the former the best juyce of their flowers and made up a hive full of delectable honie And by this example would I gladly incite the learned in our Common Laws and Antiquities of England yet to lend their advice to the gaining of some comfortable lights and prospects towards the beautifying of this antient Palace that hitherto hath been accounted howsoever substantial yet but dark and melancholy Whosoever will charge these my travels with many oversights he shall need no solemn pains to prove them for I will easily confesse them And upon my view taken of this Book sithence the Impression I dare assure them that shall observe most faults therein that I by gleaning after him will gather as many omitted by him as he shall shew committed by me But I learned long sithence out of famous Tully That as no mans errors ought to be followed because he saith some things well so that which a man saith well is not to be rejected because he hath some errors No man no Book is void of imperfections And therefore reprehend who will in Gods name that is with sweetnesse and without reproach So shall he reap hearty thanks at my hands and by true imitation of the most indicious that ever wrote more soundly help on this point of learning to perfection in a few months than I by tossing and tumbling my books at home could possibly have done in many years Experience hath taught me this in my Institutes lately set forth by publishing whereof I have gained the judicious observations of diverse learned Gentlemen upon them which by keeping them private I could never have procured By which means I hope one day to commend them to you again in a more exact purity and so leave them to future times for such acceptance as it shall please God to give them I have is some Towardnesse a Tract De Regulis Juris wherein my intent is by collating the cases of both Laws to shew that they both be raised of one foundation and differ more in language and terms than in substance and therefore were they reduced to one method as they easily might to be attained in a manner with all one pains But my time imparted to these studies being but stoln from mine employments of greater necessity I cannot make the hast I desire or perhaps that the discourse may deserve Wherefore untill my leisure may serve to perform that I intreat you lovingly to accept this One thing I have done in this Book whereof because it may seem strange to some I think to yeeld my reason and that is the inserting not only of words belonging to the art of the Law but of any other also that I thought obscure of what sort soever as Fish Cloath Stices Druggs Furrs and such like For in this I follow the example of our Civilians that have thought it their part to expound any thing they could meet with in
classis as appeareth by Tully in Verrem 7. but his Authority was not continual as the Admirals in these day but only in time of War Neither do I find any such Officer belonging to the Emperors in our Code And M. Gwin in the Preface to his reading is of opinion that this Office in England was not created untill the daies of Edward the third His reason is probable Britton that wrote in Edw. the firsts time and in the beginning of his Book taking upon him to name all the Courts of Justice maketh no mention of this Court or Magistrate And again Richard the second finding the Admiral to extend his Jurisdictions over far ordained by Statute made the 10 year of his Reign that the limits of the Admirals jurisdiction should be restrained to the power he had in his Grandfather Edward the thirds daies whereby the said Master Gwin conjectureth that he did nought else but reduce him to his original But contrarily to this it appeareth by antient Records the Copies wherof I have seen that not only in the daies of Edward the first but also of King John all causes of Merchants and Mariners and things happening within the Flood-mark were ever tryed before the Lord Admiral Ad jura Regis is a Writ for the Kings Clark against him that seeketh to eject him to the prejudice of the Kings Title in the right of his Crown Of this you may see divers forms upon divers Cases Register orig fo 61. a. Admittendo clerico is a Writ granted to him that hath recovered his right of presentation against the Bishop in the Common-bank the form whereof read in Fitzh nat br fol. 38. and the Register orig fol. 33. a. Admittendo in socium is a Writ for the association of certain Persons to Justices of Assises formerly appointed Register orig fol 206. a. Ad quod damnum is a Writ that lyeth to the Escheater to inquire what hurt it will be to the King or other Person to grant a Fair or Market or a Mortmain for any Lands intended to be given in Fee-simple to any House of Religion or other body politick For in that Case the Land so given is said to fall into a dead hand that is Such an estate and condition that the chief Lords do leese all hope of Heriots service of Court and escheats upon any traiterous or felonious Offence committed by the Tenant For a body politick dieth not neither can perform personal service or commit Treason or Felony as a single Person may And therefore it is reasonable that before any such Grant be made it should be known what prejudice it is like to work to the Granter Of this read more in Fitzh nat brev folio 221. and look Mortmain Ad terminum qui praeteriit is a Writ of Entry that lyeth in case where a man having leased Lands or Tenements for term of life or years and after the term expired is held from them by the Tenent or other Stranger that occupieth the same and deforceth the Leasour Which Writ belongeth to the Leasour and his Heir also Fitzh nat br fol. 201. Advent adventus is a certain space of time comprising a Month or thereabouts next before the Feast of Christs Nativity Wherein it seemeth that our Ancestors reposed a kind of Reverence for the neerness of that solemn Feast so that all contentions in Law were then remitted for a season Whereupon there was a Statute ordained Westm 1. cap. 48. anno 3. Ed. 1. that notwithstanding the said usual solemnity and time of rest it might be lawfull in respect Justice and Charity which ought at all times to be regarded to take Assises of novel disseisin mort d'auncester and darrein presentment in the time of Advent Septuagesima and Lent This is also one of the times from the beginning whereof unto the end of the Octaves of the Epiphany the solemnizing of Mariages were forbidden by reason of a certain spiritual joy that the Church and so consequently every Member thereof for that time doth or ought to conceive in the remembrance of her Spouse Christ Jesus and so abandon all affections of the flesh See Rogation week and Septuagesima Advocatione decimarum is a Writ that lyeth for the claim of the fourth part or upward of the Tithes that belong to any Church Register orig fol. 29. b. Advow aliâs avowe advocare commeth of the French advoüer aliâs avoüer and signifieth as much as to justifie or maintain an Act formerly done For example one taketh a distress for rent or other thing and he that is distreined sueth a Replevin Now he that took the Distress or to whose use the Distress was taken by another justifying or maintaining the Act is said to avow Terms of the Law Hereof commeth advowant Old nat br fol. 43. and advowrie eodem folio Bracton useth the Latine word in the same signification as advocatio disseifinae li. 4. cap. 26. And I find in Cassanaeus de consuet Burg. pag. 1210. advohare in the same signification and pag. 1213. the Substantive desavohamentum for a disavowing or refusal to avow Advowzen advocatio signifieth in our Common-law a right to present a benefice as much as jus patronatus in the Canon-law The reason why it is so termed proceedeth from this Because they that originally obtained the right of presenting to any Church were Maintainers and Upholders or great Benefactors to that Church either by building or increasing it and are thereupon termed sometime Patroni sometime Advocati cap. 4. cap. 23. de jure Patronatus in Decretal And advowzen being a bastardly French word is used for the right of presenting as appeareth by the Statute of Westm the second anno 13 Edw. 1. ca. 5. Advowzen is of twosorts advowzen in grosse that is sole or principal not adhering or belonging to any Manor as parcel of the right thereof advowzen dependant which dependeth upon a Manor as appertinent unto it termed of Kitchin an incident that may be separated from the Subject Of this M. John Skene de verbo sig hath these words dicitur advocatio Ecclesiae vel quia Patronus alicujus Ecclesiae ratione sui juris advocat se ad eandem Ecclesiam asserit se in eadem habere jus Patronatus eamque esse sui quasi clientis loco vel potiùs cùm aliquis nempe patronus advocat alium jure suo ad Ecclesiam vacantem cumque loco alterius veluti defuncti praesentat quasi exhibet See Advowè next following Advowè alias avowè advocatus is used for him that hath right to present to a benefice Anno 25 Ed. 3. stat 5. ca. unico There have you also Advowe paramount which is as much as the highest Patron and is spoken of the King Advocatus est ad quem pertinet jus advocationis alicujus Ecclesiae ut ad Ecclesiam nomine proprio non alieno possit praesentare Fleta l. 5. ca. 14. § 1. Fitzh in his nat br fol. 39. useth it in
or fire Britton ca. 7. where you may see what it differeth from Miladventure See Misadventure Average averagium by M. Skenes opinion verbo arage de verborum significatione commeth of the word averia i. a beast and so consequently signifieth service which the Tenent oweth to the Lord by horse or carriage of horse I have heard others probably derive it from the French euvrage or euvre i. opus It seemeth with us to have two divers significations For the first Rastall titulo Exposition of words maketh mention of the Kings averages which I take to be the Kings cariages by horse or cart Then anno 32. H. 8. ca. 14. and anno 1. Jacobi ca. 32. it is used for a certain contribution that Merchants and others doe every man proportionably make toward their losses who have their goods cast into the sea for the safegard of the ship or of the goods and lives of them in the ship in time of a tempest And this contribution seemeth to be so called because it is proportioned after the rate of every mans average or goods caried Averiis captis in withernam is a writ for the taking of cattel to his use that hath his cattel taken unlawfully by another and driven out of the County where they were taken that hey cannot be replevied Register origin fol. 82. a. b. Averment verificatto commeth of the French averer i. testari as averer quelque meschancete i. extrahere scelus aliquod in lucem ex occultis tenebris It signifieth according to the Author of the terms of Law an offer of the Defendant to make good or to justifie an exception pleaded in abatement or barre of the Plaintiffs act But me thinketh it should rather signifie the act than the offer or justifying the exception by divers places where I find it used For example an 34. Ed. 1. stat 2. And the demandant will offer to aver by the assise or jury where to offer to aver and to aver must needs differ and again in the same statute and the demandant will offer to averr by the country c. thirdly in the English nat br fo 57. These errors shall be tried by averment c. Aver pennie quasi Average pennie is money contributed toward the Kings averages Rastal exposition of words See Average Augmentation augmentatio was the name of a Court erected the seven and twentieth year of Henry the 8. as appeareth by the 27. chapter of that years parliament And the end thereof was that the King might be justly dealt with touching the profit of such religious houses and their lands as were given unto him by act of Parliament the same year not printed For the dissolving of which court there was authority given to Queen Mary by the Parliament held the first year of her reign ses 2. cap. 10. which she afterward put in execution by her letters patents The name of the Court grew from this that the revenues of the Crown were augmented so much by the suppression of the said houses as the King reserved unto the Crown and neither gave nor sold away to others Aulne of Renesh wine a. 1. Ed. 6. cap. 13. alias Awme of Renish wine 1. Jaco ca. p 33. is a vessel that containeth forty gallons Aulnogeour See Alneger Ave is the name of a writ for the which see Ayle Awncell weight as I have been informed is a kind of weight with scoles hanging or hooks fastened at each end of a staff which a man lifteth up upon his fore-finger or hand and so discerneth the equality or difference between the weight and the thing weighed In which because there may and was wont to be great deceit it was forbidden anno 25 Edw. 3. stat 5. ca. 9. anno 34 ejusdem cap. 5. and the even ballance only commanded yet a man of good credit once certified mee that it is stil used in Leaden Hall at London among Butchers c. In the derivation of this word I dare not be over confident But it may probably be thought to be called awnsell weight quasi hand sale weight because it was and is performed by the hand as the other is by the beam And if I should draw i◠from the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. cubitus the part of the arm from the elbow to the fingers ends I might challenge a good warrant of this from the Romans who thence derived their ancile i. the luckie shield that was said to be sent from heaven in a tempest to Numa Pompilius together with a voice that the citie of Rome should be the mightiest of all others so long as that shield remained in it Auncient demeasne antiquum dominicum is called more at large auncient demeasne of the King or of the Crown Fitz. nat br fol. 14. d. It commeth of two French words auncieu i. veter vetus veteranus antiquus and of demain alias domain i. publicum vectigal It signifieth in our Common law a certain tenure whereby all the mannors belonging to the Crown in the dayes of Saint Edward the Saxon King or of William the Conquerour did hold The number and names of which mannors as all other belonging to common persons he caused to be written into a book after a survey made of them now remaining in the Exchequer and called Domes-day book And those which by that book do appear to have belonged to the Crown at that time and are contained under the title Terraregis be called auncient demeasn Kitchin fol. 98. and M. Gwin in the Preface to his readings Of these Tenents there were two sorts one that held their land frankly by Charter and another that held by copie of Court-roll or by verge at the will of the Lord according to the custome of the mannor Fitz. nat br fol. 14. d. of which opinion also Britton is ca. 66. nu 8. The benefit of this tenure consisteth in these poines first the Tenents of a mannor holding freely by Charter in this sort cannot be impleaded out of the same mannor and if they be they may abate the writ by pleading their tenure before or after answer made Secondly they be free of tolle for all things concerning their sustenance and husbandry Thirdly they may not be impanelled upon any enquest Terms of the Law But more at large by Fitz. nat br f. 14. d. whom read also fo 128. a. c. And as it appeareth by him codem fol. 3. b c these Tenents held by the service of prowing the Kings land by plashing his hedges or by such like toward the maintenance of the Kings houshold in which regard they had such Liberties given them wherein to avoid disturbance they may have writs to such as take the duties of Tolle in any market or fair as likewise for immunitie of portage passage and such like Fitzh natura brev fol. 228. a b c d. by which Authour also it appeareth That no lands be to be accounted Antient Demeasne but such as are holden in Socage fol. 13.
Coursetour of the court and hath been chosen of some one of he clerks in the remembrancers offices or of the clerk of the Pipes office He at the days of prefixion taketh oath of all high Sheriffs and their under Sheriffs and of all Escheatours Bayliffs and other accountants for their true accounting He taketh the oath of all Collectours Controllers Surveyours and searchers of the Custom houses that they have made true entrances in their books He apposeth all Sheriffs upon their Summons of the Pipe in open Court He informeth the rest of the Barons of the course of the Court in any matter that concerneth the Kings Prerogrative He likewise as the other Barons taketh the declaration of certain receivers accounts and examineth the letters and sums of such of the former accountants as are brought unto him These Barons of the exchequer are antient officers for I find them named West 2. c. 11. an 13 Ed. 1. they be called Barons because Barons of the realm were wont to be employed in that office Fleta li. 2. c. 24. S. Tho. Smith saith of them that their office is to look to the accounts of the Prince and to that end they have Auditors under them as also to decide all causes appertaning to the Kings profits coming into the Exchequer by any means This is in part also proved by the Stat. an 20. Ed. 3. ca. 2. anno 27 ejusd stat 2. ca. 18. anno 5. R. 2. stat 1. ca. 9. 12. et anno 14. ejusd ca. 11. And hereupon they be of late men learned in the Common Law of the Realm whereas in autient times they were others viz. majores et discretiores in regno sive de clero essent sive de curia Ockam in his lucubrations de fisci regii ratione Horn. in his mirrour of Justices saith that Barons were wont to be two and they Knights cap. De la place del Eschequer Then be there in this signification Barons of the Cinque Ports anno 31 Ed. 3. stat 2. cap. 2. an 33 H. 8. cap. 10. which are two of every of the seven towns Hastings Winchelsey Rye Rumney Hithe Dover and Sandwich that have places in the lower-house of Parliament Cromptons jurisd fol. 28. Baron in the third signification is used for the husband in relation to his wife which is so ordinary in all our law-writers that write in French as it were superfluous to confirm it by any one Baronet I read this word anno 13 R. 2. stat 2. cap. 1. But I hold it falsly printed for Baneret or else to signifie all one with it Baronye baronia baronagium is the fee of a Baron In which account are not onely the fees of Temporal Barons but of Bishops also who have two respects One â—s they are Spiritual men without possessions as was the Tribe of Levie among the Israelites being susteined by the onely First fruits and Tenths of the other Tribes Josh cap. 13. vers 14. The other respect they have groweth from the bounty of our English Kings whereby they have Baronies at the least and are thereby Barons or Lords of the Parâ—iament This Baronie as Bracton saith lib. 2. cap. 34. is a right indivisible and therefore if an inheritance be to be divided among Co-parteners Though some capital messuages may be divided yet si capitale messuagium sit caput Comitatus vel caput Baroniae he faith they may not be parcelled The reason is ne sic caput per pluâ—es particulas dividatur plura jura comitatuum baroniarium deveniant ad nihilum per quod deficiat Regnum quod ex Comitatibus Baroniis dicitur esse constitutuÌ„ Barre Barra commeth of the French barre or barriere i. repagulum obex vectis It is used in our Common law for a peremptory exception against a Demand or plaint and is by the Author of the terms of Law defined to be a Plee brought by the Defendant in an Action that destroyeth the Action of the Plaintiff for ever It is divided into a Barre to common intent and a Barre scecial A Barre to a common intendment is an ordinary or general Barre that ordinarily disableth the Declaration or Plee of the Plaintiff A Barre special is that which is more than ordinary and falleth out in the case in hand or question upon some special circumstance of the fact Plowden casu Colthirst fol. 26. a.b. For example 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 facie But yet the case may so fall out that more goods might come to his hands sithence that time which if the Plaintiff can shew by way of replication then except he have a more especial plee or barre to allege he is to be condemned in the action See also Plowden in the case aforenamed fol. 28. a. b. and Broke tâ—â—ulâ— Barre num 101. and Kitchin fol. 215. Barre also in the same signification is divided into barre material and barre at large Kitchin fol. 68. A barre material as it seemeth may otherwise be called a barre special as when one in the stop of the Plaintiffes Action pleadeth some particular matter as a descent from him that was the undoubted owner a Feoffment made by the Ancester of the Plaintiff or such like A bar at large is when the Tenent or Defendant by way of exception doth not traverse the Plaintiffs title by pleading not guilty nor confe ie and avoid it but onely maketh to himself a title in his barre As if in an Assise of novel disseisin the Tenent plead a Feoffment of a stranger unto him and gives but a colour onely to the Plaintiff Of this there is an apt example to be found 5 H. 7. fol. 29. Barre is also in regard of the effect divided into barre perpetual and barre pro tempore Perpetual is that which overthroweth the action for ever Barre pro tempore is that which is good for the present and may fail hereafter look an example or two in Broke titu Barre nu 23. where he saith that to plead plenè administravit is good until it may appear that more goods come to the Executors hands afterward which also holdeth for an heir that in an action of his Ancesters debt pleadeth rien per discent This word is also used for a material bar as the place where Sergeants or Councellers stand to plead causes in Court or Prisoners to answer to their Indictment Of which our Common lawyers that be licensed to plead in other Countries called licentiati are termed Baristers anno 24 H. 8. cap. 24. Barrator barectator cometh from the French Barat i. astutia and is neer the French it self in signification For barateur in that tongue betokeneth a deceiver and a barator in our Common law is a common wrangler that setteth men at ods and is
Jurisd fol. 105. Controller of Calis anno 21 Rich. 2. cap. 18. Controller of the Mint anno 2 H. 6. cap. 12. Controller of the Hamper Contrarotulator Hamperii which is an officer in the Chancerie attending on the Lord Chancellor or Keeper daily in the Term time and dayes appointed for sealing His office is to take all things sealed from the Clerk of the Hanaper inclosed in bags of Lether as is mentioned in the laid Clerks office and opening the bags to note the just number and especial effect of all things so received and to enter the same into a special book with all the duties appertaining to his Majestie and other officers for the same and so chargeth the Clerk of the Hanaper with the same Controller of the Pipe contrarotulator Pipae who is an officer of the Exchequer that writeth out summons twice every year to the Sheriffs to levie the ferms and debts of the Pipe and also keepeth a contrarolment of the Pipe Controller of the Pell is also an officer of the Exchequer of which sort there be two vtz the two Chamberlains Clerks that do or should keep a controlment of the Pell of receipts and goings out And in one word this officer was originally one that took notes of any other officers accounts or receipts to the intent to discover him if he dealt amisse and was ordained for the Princes better security howsoever the name sithence may be in somethings otherwise applyed To the proof whereof you may take these few words out of Fleta lib. 1. cap. 18. in prim Qui cùm fuerint ad hoc vocati Electi speaking of the Coroners attachiari praecipiant appella qui capitula coronae in comitatu praesentent contra quos vicecomes loci habeat contrarotulum tam de appellis inquisitionibus quà m aliis officium illudtangentibus c. Which contrarollum is nothing else but a parallel of the same quality and contents with the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or original This also appeareth by anno 12 Ed. 3. cap. 3. And this signification it seemeth to have also in France For there the King hath his Receivers of Tailes in every Province Controllers qui ad majorem fidem susceptoribus accedunt describuâ—tque in tabulis quae colliguntur Gregorii syntag lib. 3. cap. 6. num 6. Conventione is a Writ that lyeth for the breach of any covenant in writing Register orig fol. 185. Old nat br fol. 101. Fitzh calleth a Writ of Covenant nat br fol. 145. who divideth covenants into personal and real making a sufficient discourse of them both as also how this Wtit lyeth for both Convict convictus is he that is found guilty of an offence by the verdict of the Jurie Stawnf pl. cor fol. 186. Jet Master Crompton out of Judge Dyers Commentaries 275 saith that conviction is either when a man is out-lawed oâ— appeareth and confesseth or else is found guilty by the Inquest Crompt Just of Peace fol. 9. a. Conviction and attainder are often confound ed lib. 4. fol. 46. a. b. See Attaint Coparceners participes be otherwise called Parceners and in Common Law are such as have equal portion in the Inheritance of their Ancestour and as Litleton in the beginning of his third Book saith Parceners be either bâ— Law or by custome Parceners by Law are the issue Female which no heir Male being come in equality to the Lands of their Ancestours Bract. lib. 2. cap. 30. Parceners by custom are those that by Custome of the Countrey challenge equal part in such Lands as in Kent by the Custome called Gavel Kind This is called Adaequatio among the Feudists Hot. in verbis feuda verbo Adaequatio And among the Civilians it is termed familiae erciscundae judicium quod inter cohaeredes ideo redditur ut haereditas dividatur quod alterum alteri dare facere oportâ—bit praestetur Hotoman Of these two you may see Litleton at large in the first and second Chapters of his third Book and Britton cap. 27. intituled De heritage divisable The Crown of England is not subject to Coparcinory anno 25 H. 8. cap. 22. Copie copia cometh from the French copia i. le double de quelque escripture latinè descriptio graecè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and signifieth in our common language the example of an original writing as the copie of a Charter the copie of a Court-roll Copia libelli deliberanda is a Writ that lyeth in case where a man cannot get the copie of a Libel at the hands of the Judge Ecclesiastical Reg. orig fol. 51. Copie-hold tenura per copiam rotuli curiae is a tenure for the which the Tenent hath nothing to shew but the copie of the Rolls made by the Steward of his Lords Court For the Steward as he inrolleth and maketh remembrances of all other things done in the Lords Court so he doth also of such Tenents as be admitted in the Court to any parcel of Land or Tenement belonging to the Mannor and the transcript of this is called the Court-roll the copie whereof the Tenent taketh from him and keepeth as his only Evidence Coke lib. 4. fol. 25. b. This Tenure is called a Base-tenure because it holdeth at the will of the Lord. Kitchin fol. 80. cap. Copy-holds Fitzh nat br fol. 12. B. C. who there saith that it was wont to be called Tenure in villenage and that this Copie-hold is but a new name Yet it is not simply at the will of the Lord but according to the custome of the Manor So that if a Cople-holder break not the custome of the Manor and thereby forfeit his Tenure he seemeth not so much to stand at the Lords courtesie for his right that he may be displaced hand over head at his pleasure These customes of Manor be infinite varying in one point or other almost in every several Manor First some Copy-hold is fineable and some certain that which is fineable the Lord rateth at what fine or income he pleaseth when the Tenent is admitted unto it that which is certain is a kind of inheritance and called in many places Custumarie because the Tenent dying and the hold being void the next of the blood paying the custumarie fine as two shillings for an Acre or such like may not be denyed his admission Secondly some Copy-holders have by custome the wood growing upon their own land which by Law they could not have Kitchin ubi supra Thirdly Copy-holders some be such as hold by the verge in ancient Demesn and although they hold by Copy yet are they in account a kind of Free-holder For if such a one commit Felonie the King hath annum diem vastum as in case of Freehold Some other hold by common Tenure called meer Copy-hold and they committing Felony their land escheateth to the Lord of the Manor forthwith Kitchin fol. 81. chap. Tenents per verge in ancient Demesn What ancient Demesn is see in the right place See Tenent by Copie
his right hand upon a book and shall say thus Hear you my Lord R. that I. P. shall be to you both faithful and true and shall owe my fealty to you for the Land that I hold of you at the Terms assigned So help me God and all his Saints When a Villain shall do fealty unto his Lord he shall hold his right hand over the book and shall say thus Hear you my Lord A. that I. B. from this day forth unto you shall be true and faithful and shall owe you fealty for the Land that I hold of you in Vilienage and shall be justified by you in body and goods So help me God and all his Saints See the Regist. orig fol. 302. a. Fee Feodum aliàs Feudum cometh of the French fief i. praedium beneficiarum vel res cliextelaris and is used in our Common law for all those lands which we hold by perpetual right as Hotoman well noteth verb. Feodum de verbis feudalibus Our ancient Lawyers either not observing whence the word grew or at least not sufficiently expressing their knowledge what it signified among them from whom they took it Feudum whence the word Fief or Fee cometh signifieth in the German language beneficium cujus nomine opera quaedam gratiae testificandae causa debentur Hot. disput cap. 1. And by this name go all Lands and Tenements that are held by any acknowledgement of any superiority to a higher Lord. They that write of this subject do divide all Lands and Tenements wherein a man hath a perpetual estate to him and his Heirs c. into Allodium Feudum Allodium is defined to be every mans own land c. which he possesseth meerly in his own right without acknowledgement of any service or payment of any rent unto any other and this is a property in the highest degree and of some it is called Allaudium ab à privativa particula laudum vel laudatio ut sit praedium cujus nullus author est nifi deus Est enim laudare vel Novio teste nominare Quod Budaeus docuit ad Modestinum 1. Herennius 63. π. de haere institut Prataeus verbo Allaudium Hotoman in verb. feud Feudum is that which we hold by the benefit of another and in the name whereof we owe service or pay rent or both to a superior Lord. And all our land here in England the Crown-land which is in the Kings own hands in the right of his Crown excepted is in the nature of Feudum or Fee for though many a man hath land by descent from the Ancestors and many another hath dearly bought land for his money yet is the land of such nature that it cannot come to any either by descent or purchase but with the burthen that was laid upon him who had novel Fee or first of all received it as a benefit from his Lord to him and to all such to whom it might descend or any way be conveyed from him So that if we will reckon with our Host as the proverb is there is no man here that hath directum dominium i. the very property or demain in any Land but the Prince in the right of his Crown Cambd. Britan. pag. 93. for though he that hath Fee hath jus perpetuum utile domixium yet he oweth a duty for it and therefore is it not simply his own Which thing I take those words that we use for the expressing of our deepest rights in any Lands or Tenements to import for he that can say most for his estate saith thus I am seised of this or that land or tenement in my demain as of Fee Seisitus inde in dominico meo ut de feudo and that is as much as if he said it is my demain or proper land after a sort because it is to me and mine Heirs for ever yet not simply mine because I hold it in the nature of a benefit from another yet the statut an 37 H. 8. c. 16. useth these words of lands invested in the Crown but it proceedeth from the ignorance of the nature of this word Fee for see cannot be without fealty sworn to a superiour as you may read partly in the word Fealtie but more at large in those that write de feudis and namely Hotoman both in his Commentaries and Disputations And no man may grant that our King or Crown oweth fealty to any superior but God onely Yet it may be said that land c. with us is termed fee in two respects one as it belongeth to us and our Heirs for ever and so may the Crown-lands be called Fee the other as it holdeth of another which is and must be far from our Crown Britton c. 32. defineth fee to this effect Fee is a right consisting in the person of the true Heir or of some other that by just title hath purchased it Fletz saith that Feudum est quod quis tenet ex quacunque causa sibi haeredibus suis sive sit tenementum sive reditus qui non proveniunt ex camera alio modo dicitur feudum sicut ejus qui feoff at quod quis tenet ab alio sicut dicitur talis tenet de tali tot seuda per servitium militare lib. 5. cap. 5. § Feudum autem And all that write de feudis do hold that Feudataerius hath not an entire property in his fee Nay it is held by right learned men that these Fees were at the first invention or creation of them either all or some of them temporary and not perpetual and hereditary Jacobutius de Franchis in praeludio feud cap. 2. num 133. The divisions of fee in divers respects are many and those though little known to us in England yet better worthy to be known than we commonly think But for our present purpose it is sufficient to divide Fee into two sorts Fee-absolute otherwise called Fee-simple and Fee-conditional other-wise termed Fee-tail Fee simple Feudum simplex is that whereof we are seiled in these general words To us and our Heirs for ever Fee-tail Feudum taliatum is that whereof we are seised to us and our Heirs with limitation that is the Heirs of our body c. And Fee-tail is either general or special General is where land is given to a man and the Heirs of his body The reason whereof is given by Litleton cap. 2. lib. 1. because a man seised of land by such a gift if he marry one or more wives and have no issue by them and at length marry another by whom he hath issue this issue shall inherit the land Fee-tail special is that where a man and his wife be seised of lands to them and the Heirs of their two bodies The reason is likewise given by Litleton in the same place because in this case the Wife dying without issue and he marrying another by whom he hath issue this issue cannot inherit the land being specially given to
emphyteusin ut culti et meliorati feudi jure à vasallis possiderentur In contractu autem vasalli nonnunquam incrementum i. melior ationem omnem sive recipsebant sive per culturam sive per inaedificationem ea melioratio fieret c. And Cassaneus de consuetnd Burg. pa. 1195 defineth it thus Mansus est quantum quis cum uno pari bonum laborare possit Proving it out of Bartolus in lib. si ita Ï€. de auro argen legato in fine ligis Read Master Skene de verb. signif verbo Mansus I read the Lacine word mansia in the same signification as namely in the Charter graunted by King Kanulphus to Ruchin the abbot of Abington which Sir Edward Cook setteth down in his book de Jure regis ecclesiastico Manslaughter homicidium is the unlawfull killing of a man without prepensed maice as when two that formerly meant no harm one to another meet together and upon some sudden occasion falling out the one killeth the other West parte 2. symb titulo Inditements sect 44. it differeth from murther because it is not done with foregoing malice and from chance-medly because it hath a present intent to kill And this is selony but admitteth Clergy for the first time Stawnf bl Cor. li. 1. ca. 9. and Britton cap. 9. It is confounded with murther in the Statute an 28 Ed. 3. ca. 11. Mantyle mantile commeth of the French manteau and signifieth with us a long robe an 24 H. 8. ca. 13. Manucaptio is a writ that lieth for a man who taken for suspition of felony and offering sufficient Bayl for his appearance cannot be admitted therunto by the Sheriff or other having bower to let to mainprise Fitz. nat brev fol. 249. See Mainprise How diversly it is used see the Register original in the Table Manuel manuelis is a thing whereof present profit may be made Stawnf praerog fo 54. And a thing not manuel is that whereof no present profit may be made but hereafter when it falleth ibid. Manumission manumissio is a freeing of a Villein or slave out of his bondage The form of this in the time of the Conqueror Master Lambert in hi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fol. 126. setteth down in these words Si quis velit servum suum liberum facere tradat eum Vicecomiti per manum dexteram in pleno comitatu et quietum illum clamare debet à jugo servitutis suae per manumissionem et ostendat ei liberas portas et vias et tradat illi libera arma scilicet lanceam et gladâ—um et deinde liber homo efficitur Some also were wont to be manumitted by Charter of manumission Vide Brook titulo Villenage fol. 305. The new Expositour of Law Terms maketh two kinds of manumission one expressed another implyed Manumission expressed is when the Lord maketh a Deed to his Villein to infranchise him by this word Manumittere The manner of manumitting in old time was thus The Lord in presence of his neighbours took the bond-man by the head saying I will that this man be free and therwith shoved him forward out of his hand Manumission implyed is when the Lord maketh an obligation for payment of money to him at a certain day or sueth him where he might enter without sure or graunteth him an Annuity or leaseth land unto him by Deed for years or for life and such like Manutenentia is a writ used in case of maintenance Reg. original fo 182 et 189. See Maintenance Marches Marchia be the bounds and limits between us and Wales or between us and Scotland anno 24 Hen. 8. cap. 9. Camb. pag. 453 and 606. and the marches of Scotland are divided inâ—o West and middle Marches anno 4 Henr. 5. cap. 7. et anno 22 Edward 4. cap. 8. It seemeth to be borrowed from the German March i. limes Camdens Britan. pa. 27. or it may be from the French Marque id est signum being the notorious distinction of two divers countries or Territories It is used in the Statute anno 24 Hen. 8. cap. 12. generally for the precincts of the Kings dominions Marchers be the noble men dwelling on the Marches of Wales or Scotland who in times past as Camden sayth pag. 453 had their private laws much like as if they had been Kings which now be worn out Of these Marchers you may read anno 2 H. 4. ca. 18. et anno 26 Hen. 8. cap. 6. and anno 1 Edward 6. ca. 10. where they are called Lord Marchers See an 27 H. 8. ca. 26. how these were extinguished Mareshall Marescallus is a French word signifying as much as Tribunus scelerum or Tribunus militum with the antient Romanes or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the Grecians or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tiraquel de nobilitate c. 8. p. 42. n. 17. The French word may seem also among many other that they have to proceed from the German Marschalk id est equitum magister which Hotomon in verbis feudalibus verbo Marschalkus deriâ—eth from the old word March signifying an house With whom agreeth Lupanus de Magistratibus Franciae lib. 1. cap. Marcshallus Others make it of these two Saxon words Mar id est equus and scalch id est praefectus Or as Master Verstegan faith from Mare the general appellation of all horses as Horse is now in English and Scalc which in the antient language of the Netherlanders he affirmeth to signifie a kind of servant as Scalco doth at this day among the Italians being originally a Dutch word With us there be divers officers of this name but one most noble of all the rest who is called Lord or Earl Marshal of England of whom mention is made in divers Statutes as an 1 H. 4. cap. 7 et 14. and anno 13 Ri h. 2. cap. 2. his office consisteth especially in matters of warr and Armes as well with us as in other Countries whereof you may read in Lupanus ubi supra and Tilius lib 2. cap. de Conestabili Mariscallo c. But he that would know the office of our Lord Marshal had need beside the few Statutes which concern him to read his Commission and also to have accesse to the Heraulds who out of their antiquities are able to discover much that by prescription belongeth unto this office The next to this is the Marshal of the Kings house whose especial authority is according to Britton and M. Gwin in the preface to his reading in the Kings place to hear and determine all plees of the Crown and to punish faults committed within the verge and to hear determine sutes between those of the Kings houshold and others within the verge Cromp. Jurisdictions f. 102. Of him you may read Fitz. nat br f. 241. b. an 18 Edward 3. stat 2. ca. 7. and an 27 Edw. 3. stat 2. ca. 6. and an 2 H. 4. c. 23. and an 15 H. 9. ca. 1. Fleta saith That the office of the Marshal of the
three morsells of barley bread without drink and the second day he shall have drink three times and as much at each time as he can drink of the water next unto the prison door except it be running water without any bread And this shall be his dyet untill he die Palatin See County Palatin See Cassan de consuctud Burg. pag. 14. Palingman anno 11. Henr. 7. cap. 22. Panell panellum cometh of the French panne i. pellis or paneau a piece or pain as wee call it in English It signifieth in our common law a shedule or rolle containing the names of such Iurors as the Shyreeve provideth to passe upon any triall Register orig fol. 223. a. Kitchin fol. 266. See Broke hoc titulo And thereupon the empannelling of a Iury is nothing but the entering of them into the Shyreeves rolle or book Paunage pannagium is a tolle or contribution Fitz. nat br fol. 227. D. See Pawnage Parramounte aliâs peremounte cometh of these two French words par i. per and Monter i. ascendere It signifieth in our law the highest Lord of the fee for there may be a Tenant to a Lord that holdeth over of another Lord and the former of those is called Lord mesn the second Lord paramount And a Lord paramount as it seemeth by Kitchin fol. 289 consisteth only in comparison as one man may be great being compared with a lesser and little being compared with a greater and as Genus among Logicians may be in divers respects both genus species Fitzh nat br fol. 135. M. So that none seemeth simply to be Lord paramount but only the King as Genus summum is simply Genus For the King is Patron paramount to all the benefices in England Doctor and student ca. 36. See Paravaile Maner and Fee Paravail alias Peravaile is compounded of two French words par i. per and aveller i. dimitteree demittere It signifieth in our common Law the lowest Tenant or him that is tenant to one who holdeth his fee over of another So is it used pl. cor fol. 197. Fitzh nat br fol. 135 M. See Paramounte See Mesn Parcellmakers are two officers in the eschequer that make the parcells of the escheators accompts wherein they charge them with every thing they have levyed for the Kings use within the time of their office and deliver the same to one of the Auditors of the court to make an accompt of the escheator thereof Parceners See Coparceners Parcinarie participatio cometh of the French partir i. dividuum facere It signifieth in our common Law a holding or occupying of land by more pro indiviso or by joynt tenants otherwise called Coparceners of the French parsonier i. parciarius particeps For if they refuse to divide their common inheritance and chuse rather to hold it joyntly they are said to hold in parcinarie Litl fol. 56. 57. This by the Feudists and Lombards is termed adaequatio vel paragium And among the ancient Romans particulones sic enim anthore Nonio à veteribus cohaeredes inter se dicebantur quod paries invicem facerent Spigelius Pardon pardonatio is a French word signifying as much as pax venia gratia It is used most notoriously in our common Law for the remitting or forgiving of a felonious or other offence committed against the King This pardon is two-fold one ex gratia Regis the other per cours de ley by course of law Stawnf pl. cor fol. 47. Pardon ex gratia Regis is that which the King in some speciall regard of the person or other circumstance sheweth or affordeth upon his absolute prerogative or power Pardon by course of Law is that which the law in equity affordeth for a light offence as homicide casuall when one killeth a man having no such meaning Westm parte 2. symbel titulo Inditements sect 46. Of this see the new book of Entries verba Pardon Pardoners anno 22 H. 8. c. 12. were certain fellowes that carryed about the Popes Indulgences and sold them to such as would buy them against whom Luther by Sleydans report incensed the people of Germany in his time exhorting them ne merees tam viles tantiemerent Park parcus cometh of the French parquer i vallo vel fossa cicundare It signifieth with us a piece of ground inclosed and stored with wild beasts of chase Which a man may have by prescription or the Kings grant Cromptons Jurisd fol. 148. M. Manwood parte pri of his Forest laws pag. 148. defineth it thus A park is a place for privilege for wild beasts of venery and also for other wild beasts that are beasts of the Forest and of the chase tam sylvestres quam campestres And all those wild beasts are to have a firm peace and protection there So that no man may hurt or chase them within the park without license of the owner of the same Who also fol. 149. saith thus A park is of another nature than either a chase or a warren is For a park must be inclosed and may not lie open for if it doe that is a good cause of seisure of the same into the hands of the King as a thing forfeited as a free chase is if it be inclosed And moreover the owner cannot have an action against such as hunt in his park if it lie open See Forest See Chase See Warren This word Park Baldwinus deriveth à paradiso enmque locum esse dicit in quo varia animalia ad usum voluptatis aut venationis includuntur possidentur adempta naturali libertate Adtis de rerum divis in Institutionib Parco fracto is a writ which lyeth against him that violently breaketh a Pound and taketh out beasts thence which for some trespasse done upon another mans ground are lawfully impounded Register original fol. 166. Fitzh nat br fol. 100. Parish parochia cometh of the greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i Accolarnm conventus accolaius sacra vicinia it is used in the Canon law sometime for a Bishoprick But in our common Law it signifieth the particular charge of a secular Priest For every Church is either Cathedrall Coven nal or parochiall Cathedrall is that where there is a Bishop seated so called à Cathedra Coventual consisteth of Regular Clerks professing some order of religion or of Deane chapter or other college of spiritual men Parochial is that which is instituted for the sayingof divine Service ministring the holy Sacraments to the people dwelling within a certain compass of ground neer unto it Our Realm was first divided into Parishes by Honorius Archb. of Canterbury in the year of our Lord 636. Cambd. Britan. pag. 104. Of these Parish Churches I find there were in England in the dayes of H. 8. the number of 45000 Hotoman in his disputations de feudis cap. 2. maketh mention of this word parochia out of Pomponius Letus in these words Nam sic quoque Pomponins Letus veâ—eâ—em consuetudinem fuisse scribit
72. the office is as Crompton saith loco allegato properly to look to the vert and to see that it be well maintained Also when any forfeiture is taken in the Forest before the Foresters or other Ministers the price thereof shall be delivered to the Verdour who is to answer for it before the Iustices in Eyr And if he die his heir is chargeable therewith Crompton ibidem The form of his oath at his admittance you may see in Manwoods first part of his Forest laws pag. 51. who there calleth him verderour alià s verdictor You shall truly serve our Soveraign Lord the King in the office of a verderor of the Forest W. you shall to the uttermost of your power and knowledge do for the profit of the King so far as it doth appertain unto you to do You shall preserve and maintain the antient rights and franchises of his Crown you shall not conceal from his Majesty any rights or privileges nor any offence either in vert or venison or any other thing You shall not withdraw nor abridge any defaults but shall indeavour your self to manifest and redresse the same and if you cannot do that of your self you shall give knowledge thereof unto the King or unto his Iustice of the Forest You shall deal indifferently with all the Kings liege people you shall execute the laws of the Forest and do equal right and justice as well unto the poor as unto the rich in that appertaineth unto your office you shall not oppress any person by colour thereof for any reward favour or malice All these things you shall to the uttermost of your power observe and keep Their Office is farther expressed eodem pag. 93. which is to sit in the Court of Attachment to see the Attachments of the Forest to receive the same of the Foresters and Woodwards that do present them and then to enter these attachments into their Roles Verdict veredictum is the answer of a Jury or Enquest made upon any cause civil or criminal committed by the Court to their consideration or tryal And this verdict is two-fold either general or especial Stawnf pl. cor lib. 3. cap. 9. A general verdict is that which is given or brought into the Court in like general terms to the general issue as in an action of disseisin the Defendant pleadeth No wrong no disseisin Then the issue is this in general whether the fact in question be a wrong or not And this committed to the Iury they upon consideration of their evidence come in and say either for the Plaintiff that it is wrong and disseisin or for the Defendant that it is no wrong no disseisin And again the prisoner at the bar pleading Not guilty the Enquest in like general terms bring in their verdict either for the King Guilty or for the prisoner Not guilty A special 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 opinion it is proved and for the quality of the fact they pray the discretion of the Court. And this special verdict if it contain any ample declaration of the cause from the beginning to the end is also called a verdict at large Whereof read divers examples in Stawnf pl. cor lib. 3. cap. 9. and one or two in Littleton fol. 78. 79. See the new book of Entries verb. Verdict Verge virgata may seem to come from the French verger i. viridarium hortus It is used here in England for the compass about the Kings Court that boundeth the jurisdiction of the Lord Steward of the Kings houshold and of the Coroner of the Kings house and that seemeth to have been twelve miles compass anno 13 Richard 2. Stat. prim cap. 3. Fitzh nat br fol. 24. B. and Briton fol. 68. b. 69. a. and Fletae lib. 2. cap. 2. and Sir Edward Cooks Reports lib. 4. fol. 47. a. For this see the Statute anno 33 Hen. 8. cap. 12. toward the end But Fleta saith that this compass about the Court is called virgatä à virga quam Marishalus portat ut signism suae potestatis lib. 2. cap. 4. sect prim Verge hath also another signification and is used for a stick or rod whereby one is admitted Tenent and holding it in his hand sweareth fealty unto the Lord of a manor 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 bank c. Fleta lib. 2. cap. 38. otherwise called Porters of the Verge Very Lord and very Tenent verus Dominus et verus Tenens are they that be immediate Lord and Tenent one to the other Brook titulo Hariot fol. 23. In the Old nat br and in the writ Replegiari de averiis fol. 42. I find these words And know ye that in taking of Leases six things are necessary that is to say very Lord and very Tenent Service behind the day of the taking seisin of the services and within his Fee And know yee that a man is not very tenent untill he have atturned to the Lord by some services So that by Brook the very Lord and the very Tenent must be immediate and by this Book there must be an acknowledgement See anno 19 Hen. 7. cap. 15. See Tenent Vert viride is made of the French verd i. viridis and significth with us in the laws of the Forest every thing that doth grow and bear green leaf within the Forest that may cover and hide a Dâ—er Manwood in the second part of his Forest laws 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 divided into Over vert and Neather vert Over vert is that which our Lawyers call Hault bois and Neather vert is that which they call South boil And of this you may read him in his second part of Forest laws cap. 6. per totum Where you shall find that he divideth vert into general and special General is as it is above defined Vert special is every tree and bush within the Forest to feed the Deer withall as Pear trees Crab-trees Hauthorns Blackbush and such like And the reason of this name is because the offence of destroying of such vert is more highly punished than of any other according to the quantity thereof codem cap. 6. num 2. fol. 35. a. Vervise otherwise called Plonkets anno 1. R. 3. cap. 8. a kind of cloath Vesses anno 1 R. 3. cap. 8. anno 14 15 H. 8. cap. 11. otherwise called Set cloaths Vesture Vestura is a French word signifying a garment but in the use of our Common law turned metaphorically to betoken a possession or an admittance to a possession So it is taken Westm. 2. cap. 25. anno 13 Ed. prim And