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YOLUMEONE

GLANVILLE


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GLANVILLE

IntroductioabyJosephHenryBeale,Jr.,A.M.,LL.E.

LITTLETON'STENURES

IntroductionbyEugeneWambaugh,LL.D.

BRITTON

IntroductionbyHon.SimeonE.Baldwin.

MIRROUROFJUSTICE

IntroductionbyHon.WilliamC.Robinson,alsoFLETA,andothers.




ATRANSLATION

OF

GLANVILLE

BY

JOHNBEAMES,ESQ.

OFLincoln'sinn,barristeratlaw

TOWHICHAREADDEDNOTES

^Multaignoramus,qusenobisnonlaterent,siVeterumlectionobisessetfamiliaris.Macrob.

WITHANINTRODUCTION

BY

JOSEPHHENRYBEALE,Jr.,A.M.,LL.B,

PROFESSOROFLAWINHARVARDUNIVERSITY

WASHINGTON,D.C.

JOHNBYRNE&CO.

.LAWPUBLISHERSANDBOOKSELLERS1900




Copyrighted,1900

BY

JOHNBYRNE&COMPANY.


TO

SIRSAMUELROMILLY,

THEFOLLOWINGWORK

ISINSCKIBED

ASAMARKOFTHEHIGHRESPECT

WITHWHICH

HISABILITIES,ASASENATOR,

ANDHIS

TALENTS,ASANADVOCATE,

AREVIEWEDBY

THETRANSLATOR.





ATREATISE

THELAWSANDCUSTOMS

KINGDOMOFENGLAND

COMPOSEDINTHETIMEOFKINGHENRYTHESECOND

TheillustriousRanulphdeGlanville,whoofallinthatagewasthemostskilledintheLawsoftheRealm,andtheancientCustomsthereof,thenholdingthehelmofJustice.

TliepresentworkcontainsthoseLawsandCustomsonly,accordingtowhichPleasaredeterminedintheKing'sCourt,theExchequer,andbeforetheJustices,wheresoevertheymaybe.



INTRODUCTION.

BYJOSEPHHENRYBEALE,JR.,A.M.,LL.B.,PROFESSOROPLAWINHARVARDUNIVERSITY.



I.EANULPHDEGLANYILLE.

EanulphdeGlanvillewasbornintheSuffolkStratford,about1130a.d.HeisbelievedtohavebeenthesonofSirHerveydeGlanville,ChamberlaintoKingStephen,andthegrandsonofthatEanulphdeGlanvillewhocameoverwiththeConqueror.Thefamilywasanimportantone,owningmuchlandinthecountiesofSuffolkandNorfolk.Glanville'spubliclifebeganin1164,whenhewasappointedsheriffofYorkshire;anofficewhichhecontinuedtoholdforsixyears.In1171hewasappointedGovernorofRichmondCastle,andin1174,sheriffofLancashire.TheScotshavinginvadedEnglandinthatyear,heledtheforcesofLancashireandRichmondagainstthem,and(joiningthesheriffofYorkshireandhisforces)surprisedandroutedtheScotsatAlnwick,andtookKingWilliamtheLionprisoner.ForthisvictoryGlanvilledeserved,ashecertainlyreceived,thecredit;andfromthattimenomanstoodhigherthanheinthefavorofKingHenryII.HewassheriffofWestmorelandfrom

1175to1179;sheriffofYorkshireasecondtime,from

iii


IV

1177tohisdeath;judgeoftheKing'sCourtin1176,andChiefJusticiarin1180.liewasalsoemplo^^edinmanydistinguishedpublicservices.In1177hewassentasambassadortoFlanders.In1182heledanarmyagainsttheWelsh.In1184,withArchbishopBaldwin,hewassentasambassadortoEiceapGriffin,PrinceofSouthWales.InhisnextWelshexpedition,afewyearslater(againwithBaldwin),hepreachedacrusade.In1186hewasambassadortotheKingofFrance,andwasactiveinnegotiatingthepeaceofGisors.In1189,whileHenrywasstrugglingwithhisrebellioussonsandwithPhilipofFrancein



Normandy,hewassenttoCanterburytotreatwiththeChapter;wassoonagaininNormandywithHenry;andfinallyreturnedtoEnglandtoraiseanarmyforhismaster'sservice,aworkinwhichhewasengagedatthetimeofHenry'sdeath.

Thesegreatofiiceswereduetohispersonalmeritandtothegreatservicesherenderedtohiscountry;buttheyappeartohavebeentheresult,also,ofthepersonalfriendshipandaffectionoftheKing.HewasoneofthewitnessestoHenry'swill,andatrusteeoftheKing'sbequestof5,000marksofsilvertocertainreligiousandcharitableinstitutions,andof300marksofgold'formarryingpoorfreewomenofEngland.HewasnamedbyHenryascustodianofQueenEleanor,andastreasurerofhisprivatefortune.AprettypictureoftheKing'sfeelingtowardhimoccursintheaccountofthearrivalofGlanville'smessengerinLondon,afterthebattleofAlnwick.


ThemessengerarrivedatmidnightandinsistedonseeingtheKing.BeingadmittedtotheroyalchamberheboldlyapproachedtheKing'sbedandrousedhimfromsleep.lie,springingup,cried,"Whoisit?""TamthemessengerofKanulphofGlanville,yourfaithfulsubject,andIcomefromhimtoyourhighnessasabearerofgoodtidings.""IsourEanulphwell?"criedtheKing,movedlessbythepromisedgoodtidingsthanbyhisloveforthesenderofthem."Mylordiswell,"wastheanswer,''andheholdsyourenemy,theKingoftheScots,aprisoneratEichraond."'

UponthedeathofITenry,Glanville'spositiojiwasadifficultone.Henry,conservative,thoughareformer,hadestablishedthegovernmentofhiskingdomonafoundationoflawandjustice,andhadcreatedaneffectiveandpureadministrativemachine.ThenewKingappearedtohavenosympathywithhisfather'sprinciplesofgovernment.Hewasrash,radicalandcarelessofregulardetailsofadministration,



andGlanville,inthewordsofacontemporary,"InhisoldagesawtheKingdoingmanythingsinanewfangledway,withoutwisdomorforethought."HewaspresentatthecoronationofEichard,andwassentbyhimtoquellariotagainsttheJewswhichdisgracedtheceremony.Abouthisnextactswehavedifferentaccounts.Hehadtakenthecrossin1186."WhetherheaskedandreceivedhisdismissalfromKichardinordertojointhearmy,thenabouttostartfortheHolyLand,orwhether,asanotheraccounthasit.


VI

he'wasremovedandimprisonedbyEichardandobligedtopurchasehisfreedombyafineof15,000poundsofsilver,wecannotcertainlytell.Atanyrate,hesetoutforPalestinetogetherwithBaldwin,ArchbishopofCanterbury,andhisnephewHubert,thenbishopofSalisbury;thethreewereplacedincommandoftheEnglishforcesbyKichard(whowasobligedtodelayhisowndeparture),andGlanvillein1190diedbeforeAcre,bydisease,theresultoftheunhealthyclimate.Heleftonesonandthreedaughters,whomhehadalreadyenrichedfromhisgreatfortune.HefoundedtheprioryofButley,theAbbeyofLeiston,andahospitalatSomerton.

Glanvilleimpressedhiscontemporariesasamanstrongbothinbodyandinmind.Amanofintegrityandprudence,"mostfaithfulinfortuneormisfortune,""Wise,graveandeloquent,""TheKing'seye;""Anameaboveeveryname,whospokeamongtheprincesandwasadoredbythepeople."Hewasamanwise,justandcharitable,whosefellowshipwassoughtandopinionsvaluedb}^witsandbyscholars.Onescandalonlyattackedhim.HeischargedwithfalselycondemningtodeathforrapeSirGilbertdePlumpton,inorderthathiswidowmightbemarriedtoGlanville'sfriendandsteward,Kainer;SirGilbert'spunishmentwascommutedbytheKingtoimprisonmentforlife.Thetaleisquiteinconsistentwithallwe



knowofGlanville'scharacterandwithhispositionintheKing'saffection,andmaysafelybedisbelieved.

Hisfamilysharedinhissuccess.Nolessthanseven


Vll

ofhisnearrelativesiieldhighjudicialpositionunderHenryorhissons.FewotherfamilieshaverenderedgreaterservicetoEnglandthanthatofEanulphdeGlanville,ambassador,administrator,general,judgeandjurist.

[IncidentsofGlanville'slifeandcharacterarereportedinallthechroniclersofthetime.EspeciallyvaluablearetheaccountsinHoveden,BenedictusAbbas,GiraldusCambrensis,Newburgh,EichardofDevizes,andDioeto.ThefullestmodernsketchofhislifeisbyProfessorMaitland,intheDictionaryofNationalBiography.OthermodernbiograpliiesaretlaoseofFoss(JudgesofEngland,i,376);ThomasWright(BiographiaBritannica,275);LordCampbell(LivesoftheChiefJustices,i,19);andProfessorGross(SourcesandLiteratureofEnglishHistory,315).

ManyinterestingdocumentsbearingonGlanville'sgenealogyandhispropertyareprintedinGlanvilleRichards'"RecordsoftlieAngloNormanHouseofGlanville."]

II.THEAUTHOESHIPOFTHETREATISE.

Thefollowing"TreatiseontheLawsandCustomsoftheKingdomofEngland,"waSpublishedbetween11S7and1189;itmentionsafinemadeintheformeryear,anditisfilledwithreferencestoHenry,asthenKing.Ithadahighcontemporaryreputation.Copiesofthebookweremultiplied,andmanymanuscriptsstillexist.ItformspartofseveralcollectionsoflawsmadebycontemporariesofGlanvillehimself.Itwastranslated,orpartlytranslated,intoFrenchimmediatelyafterGlanville'sdeath,anditwasrevisedandanattemptmadetobringitdown,todatetwogenera




Vlll

tionslater.ItwasfinallysupersededbyBracton'scompleterandmoreelaboratetreatise.

TheAvorkitselfisanonymous,themanuscriptsstatingonlythatitwascomposedinthetimeofHenryII.,"Glanvillethenholdingthehelmofjustice."Earlytradition,however,assertsthatitwaswrittenbyGlanvillehimself,andthatfactwasacceptedasundoubtedfromthethirteenthtothenineteenthcentury.Modernscholarshaveexpresseddoubtofit.Littleton'sobjection(inhis"LifeofHenryII.")thatGlanvillecouldnothavewrittenthebookbecausehewasnotinorders,maybedismissedatonce.Thegreaterofficersoftheadministration,whetherinordersornot,musthavehadsufficientLatintodictateaLatintreatisetoaclerk,andGlanvillewasparticularlycommendedforhiseloquencebymorethanonecontemporary.Hunter'sobjection(intheprefacetohis"Fines")isthatGlanville,atthetimethetreatisewaswritten,Avastoobusyinpublicaffairstohavecomposedsuchawork,andhesuggeststhattheauthormayhavebeenWilliamdeGlanville,ajusticeinthenextreign;whowas,infact,Glanville'sson,and(from1186)hissecretary.Butthisisthemerestguess.ProfessorMaitlandconjectures(foraratherfancifulreason,perhaps)thattheauthormayhavebeenHubert"Walter.Liebermann,ontheotherhand,defendsGlanville'sauthorship.CertainlythereislittleexternalproofthatGlanvillewastheauthorofthetreatise,thoughitmusthavebeenwrittenbysomeoneinhighpositionandreputetohaveobtainedsoimme




LX

diateasuccess.Theinternalevidencedoesnotleadusmuchfurther.Thestyleisthatofapersonspeakingwithauthority,butnotnecessarilytheauthorityoftheChiefJusticiarhimself.TheclaimofHubertWaltertotheauthorshipcannotbedismissedwithoutfurtherexamination.

HubertwasanephewofGlanville'swife;accordingtooneaccount,ofGlanvillehimself,Glanville'syoungerbrotherhavingmarriedhiswife'ssister.WhetherHerveyWalter,Hubert'sfather,wasreally,asthisaccounthasit,HerveydeGlanvilleornot,itiscertainthatHubertwasbroughtupinintimacywithGlanville'sfamily,becamehissecretary,andwasregardedbyhimasavaluedcounsellor.PiewasmadeDeanofTorkin1186,beingsucceededassecretarybyGlanville'ssonWilliam.HesoonbecameBishopofSalisbury,ArchbishopofCanterbury,andlaterChiefJusticiarandChancelloroftheKingdom.Heisdescribedasamanofforesightandwisdom;itissaidofhimthathisheartwasinhumanaffairsratherthandivine,andthatheknewallthelawsofthekingdom.Hewas,however,aman"oflittleeloquence;"indeed,onechroniclerridiculeshisLatinstyle.

DidGlanvillewritethewholetreatise?ordidHubertWalterwriteit?Ordidtheycollaborateonit?Perhapswecanreachaconjecturalconclusionbyamorecarefulexaminationofthetreatiseitself.

Themoststrikingfeatureofthetreatiseis,thatitisbaseduponacollectionofwrits.OmittingtheIntroductionandthelastbook,onPleasoftheCrown,just


onethirdofthechaptersintowhichitisdividedconsistsofwrits.Theseareofallkinds,directedtoLords'Courts,toCountyCourts,andtoEcclesiasticalCourts,aswellaswritsreturnableintheKing'sCourts.Laterwritershavemadefreeuseofwrits,buthere



theyaretheskeletonofthewholetreatise.TheyfulfilthefunctionofjudgmentrollsinBracton'sbook,andofdecisionsinCokeandlaterwriters.Thecollectionoftheseeightywritsmusthavebeenaworkofseveralyears,sincesomeofthewritswerecertainlyofrareoccurrence.TheChiefJustice,orhisclerk,attestedallthewrits,andeitherofthemhadbothopportunityandreasonformakingsucha'collection;hardlyanothermaninthekingdomwouldhavebeenlikelytodoit.

Alargepartofthetreatiseiswritteninacrabbedandinelegant,thoughusuallyaclearstyle.Inafewpassages,however,nearthebeginningofthebook,wefindanelevationofthoughtandeleganceofdictionoftenadmiredandimitated.TheIntroduction,inparticular,andtheseventhchapterofthesecondbook,inpraiseoftheassize(which,accordingtotradition,Glanvillehadahandininventing,or,atleast,inestablishing),areworthyofaman"sapienssimuleteloquens";insharpcontrastwithotherpartsofthework,whichindicateanauthorwho"omniaregninovitjura,"butwassurely"noneloquiopollens."

Theiirsttenbooksofthetreatisearecarefullywritten,thecommentaryisfull,thesubjectwelldeveloped.Thelastfourbooks,ontheotherhand,seem


XI

tohavebeenhurriedlythrowntogether.Theproportionofwrittotextismorethantwicethatintheprecedingbooks;indeed,inthebookdevotedtotheCountyCourts(inwhichGlanvillehadpresidedforyears,andmusthavebecomeasfamiliarwiththelawandprocedureaswiththoseoftheKing'sCourts),,thereisalmostnocomment.ItseemspossiblethataproposedfullcommentaryontheCountyCourtpractice,forwhichanelaboratecollectionofwritswasathand,wasabandoned.



Theexactdateoftheworkisfixedbytheonlytwodateddocumentstwofines,ofJune27andaboutNovember1,1187.Fineswerethennovel,andtheyweredescribedcarefully.Itseemslikelythatthepassage,whichoccurstowardtheendofthetreatise,waswrittensoonafterthedatesofenrollment.BothfineswereenrolledinGlanville'spresence.

Wemaynowconjecturethattheauthor,orauthors,ofthetreatisehadforyearsbeencollectingwrits,eitherforpreservationasusefulprecedents,orpossiblywiththeobjectofcomposingacommentaryuponthem.Thecollectionfinished,itwouldnotbeamatterofmuchtimeordifficultyforonewhoknewthelaw^,writsinhand,todictatehiscommentarytoasecretarj'"alsolearnedinthelaw.IfthecollectorwasGlanville,andthesecretaryHubert,wemaysupposethattheactualworkofcompositionwasbegunin1185,or1186;not,apparently,atimeofstrenuouslaborforeither.PassagesofparticularimportanceorofespecialinteresttoGlanvillewouldbecomposedby


xu

IjiixiAvithcare;theactualformoftheremaindermightsafelybelefttohiscompetentsecretary,subjectonlytorevisionbyhimself.In1186theDeanofYorkdied,andthesuccessionwasgiventoHubert;andGlanvillesoonsetoutonhisembassytotheKingofFrance.Inspiteofthis,however,timestillremainedforthecompletionoftheworkintheratherlesspolishedformofthelaterbooks.InFebruary,

1187,GlanvilleandHubertweresittingtogetherintheCourtatWestminster;andfromthatmonthtothebeginningof1189(withtheexceptionofLent,1188,AvhenGlanvillewaspreachinghiscrusadeinWales),bothappeartohaveremainedinEngland,without.seriousinterruptionfrompublicbusiness.Theyear

1188,infact,seemstohavebeenoneoftheleastbusy



ofGlanville'sofficiallife;and,untilhistimewasabsorbedbythetroublesoftheclosingyearofthereign,therewasnothingtopreventacontinuanceofthework.Thelasthurriedchaptersmaywell,therefore,havebeencompletedin1188.

Thereis,then,nothingagainsttheearlyandpersistenttraditionthatGlanvillewrotethetreatise,andmuchinitsfavor;thoughmostoftheactualcompositionmayhavebeentheworkofHubertWalter.

[Thefullestdiscussionoftheauthorshipof"Glanville"maybefoundinPollockandMaitland's"HistoryoftheEnglishLaw,"i,163.Reeves'discussion("HistoryoftheEnglishLaw,"Einlayson'sEdition,i,254)andFoss's("JudgesofEngland,"i,180)arealsoworthconsultinguponthispoint.Liebermann("Einleitung,"p.73)supportsthetheoryofGlanville'sauthor.ship;andinthe"ZeitschriftfurromanischePhilologie,"xix.


Xlll

51,hegivesinterestingproofoftlieearlypopularityofthetreatise.SeealsoProfessorMaitland'sarticle,"GlanvilleRevised,"intheHarvardLawReview,vi,1.

ThelifeandcharacterofHubertmaybefoundinthe"ActusPontificumCantuariensium"ofGervase.Glanville'sandHubert'sitinerariesmaybefoundinEyton's"ItineraryofHenryII."]

III.THECHAKACTEEOFTHETEEATISE.

"ATreatiseontheLawandCustomsoftheKingdomofEngland"istheearliestsystematictreatiseonlawwritteninmoderntimes.Afewcollectionsoflawanddecretals,liketheDecretumofGratianandthe*'AssisesofJerusalem,"had,tobesure,beenpublishedearlier;buttheywerenot,likethisbook,regularexpositionsofanexistingsystemoflaw.Bracton'sworkwasmodelledonGlanville,and,throughBracton,Glanvillethusfixedthetypeofthemoderncommentaryonlaw.Animitation,inmanypartsanexactcopy,



ofthisbookwaslaterpublishedinScotlandunderthetitle"RegiamMajestatem,"andtheclaimwasvigorouslymadeforatimethatitwastheoriginal,Glanvilletheimitation.Thisnotion,improbableonitsiace,wasabsolutelydisprovedbyargumentssetforthinBeames'Introduction.

ThefirsteditionofthetreatisewasprintedbyE..Tottelinsmall12mo,abouttheyear1554.CokesaysthatthiswasdonebysuggestionofSirWilliamStanford,thelearnedjudgeandauthor.ThesecondeditionwasprintedbyThomas"Wrightin1604.Thetextwascorrectedbythecollationof"variousmanu


XIV

scripts."Thiseditionwasexactlyreprinted,omittingthepreface,in1673.ThetreatisewasagainprintedinthefirstvolumeofIlouard's"TraitessurlesCoutumesAngloNormandes'^inquarto,Eouen,1776.ThelastLatineditionwaspublishedbyJohnEayner,8\'o,1780,collatedwiththeBodleian,theCottonian,,theIlarleianandDoctorMiUes'smanuscriptsbyJ.E.Wilmot.TheLatintextisalsoprintedasanappendixtoPhillips's"EnglischeReichsundEechtsgeschichte,"'ii,335:Berlin,1828.AcollationofGlanvillewiththe"EegiamMajestatem"maybefoundintheActsoftheParliamentofScotland,i,133.AnEnglish,translationbyJohnBearaes,withnotes,waspublishedinoctavo,London,1812,andiSreprintedinthepresentedition.

Thistreatiseismorethanannerelawbook.Itisamonumenttothegeniusofoneofthegreatestlegalreformersofalltime.HenryII.cametothethrone,afteralongperiodofanarchy,tofindcountlesssystemsoflawadministeredbyaconfusedandconfusingmassofpopularcourtsandfeudalcourts,lieatoncesethimselftobringorderandunityoutofanarchyandchaos.HemadetheKing'sCourtthecommoncourtoftheland;hedetermineditsjurisdic



tionasagainstthechurch,thelordsandthesheriffs^andhemadeittheguardianofaKing'sjseace,whichshouldprotecthighandlowthroughoutthewholeland.Theestablishmentofpeacewasinfactthechiefobjectofhisstormycareer.Glanville'streatiseshowsusthemethodhetooktosecurehisobject.


XV

ByafreeuseofwritsrunningfromtheKingorhisJusticiar,helimitedthe.jurisdictionofallothercourts,andsubordinatedthemtotheKing'sCourt.Byaregularsystemofremovalfromlordtocounty,andfromcountytoKing,hesecuredthegradualunificationofthelaw.Thelord'scourtshadadministeredthecustomsofeachmanor;eachcountycourt,too,haditscustoms,allbasedupontheGermaniclaw,butdifferingmateriallyintheseveralcounties,andespeciallyintheseveralancientdivisionsofthekingdom.TheKing'sCourtnowbegantodevelopacommonlaw,partlyAngloSaxoninitsorigin,partlyNorman,butmoldedlargelybyHenry'sformalorinformallegislation,andtempered,asGlanvilleseveraltimesasserts,byequity.

ToincreasetheinfluenceoftheKing'scourtsandtobringthemtothepeople,Henryreliedonanalreadyexistinginstitution,theiteroreyre;buthesoimprovedthesystemastomakeitalmostanewinvention.TheKingdomwasdividedintocircuits,eachmadeupofanumberofneighboringcounties;andjudgeswereappointedtorideeachcircuit,holdingaKing'scourtineachcounty,andthusbringingeverypartoftheKingdomunderthedirectcontroloftheKing.GlanvillehimselfbecameoneofthefirstjudgesoftheNorthernCircuit.

OneofthemostimportantofHenry'sprovisionsforsecuringtheKing'speacewastheinventionofwritsfortheprotectionofpeacefulseisin,andthepreventionofdisseisin,evenbythetrueowner.Thesewrits




XVI

putanendtoforcibleselfhelp,andbroughteverylegaldisputeoverdispossessionintotheKing'sCourt.Thewritsofnoveldisseisin,ofmortd'ancestor,andofdarreinpresentment,establishedbyHenry'slegislation,becamethebasisofthelandlaw.

Anotherreform,ofevenmorefarreachingconsequence,washisinventionofamorerationalmethodofestablishingthetruthoffacts.Inplaceoftrialbyordeal,bycompurgation,orbybattle,heprovidedtheassise(soonfollowedbythejury)asameansofelicitingtruth.TrialbyjuryintheKing'sCourt,byfavororbyright,becamesopopularaseventuallytode,privetheothercourtsoftheirlitigation;andsosatisfactoryastocultivateinthepeopleofEnglandarespectforlawandawillingnesstoabidebyitsdecisionsthathavebeencharacteristicoftheraceforcenturies.

Thedoctrineofresjudicataseemstohavebeenadoptedatthistimeasanotherruletendingtoth&preservationofpeace.WhenGlanvillewrote,ithadnotbeenfullysettledthatthejudgmenteveninawritofrightwasnecessarilyfinal;Glanville'sstrongopinionthatitwassonodoubtsettledthelawaswenowhaveit.

IntheworkofreformHenrj'appearstohavefoundinGlanvilleanenthusiasticandanablehelper.ThistreatiseisfullofpraiseoftheKingandhislegislation.Thepeacefulgoverningofitspeopleisagreatobjectofregalpower,itisasserted.Theking,wholovespeaceandistheauthorofit,conductshimselfjustly,.




XVll

discreetly,andmercifullytowardhissubjects.Hiswillislaw,ifpromulgatedassuchbytheadviceofhisnobles;thatandreasonablecustoms,longused,formtheLawsofEngland,whichmayusefully,inpartatleast,bereducedtowriting.

lY.THETREATISEANDTHELAW.

ItispossiblefromGlanville'streatisetogetarathercompletepictureofthecommonlawattheendofthereignofHenryII.Inthelord'scourtswereregularlybroughtnotonlythesuitsofthevilleintenants,butallsuitsconcerninglandheldofthelord.Suitsofthelattersort,however,mustbebegunbytheKing'swrit;ifthelordrefusedjustice,resortmightbehadtothecountycourtinallsuitsinvolvingfreeholdland;andthelordmightonhisownmotionadjournaquestionofdifficultyintotheKing'scourt.Thecountycourthadoriginaljurisdictionofquestionsofvilleinageandofcustomaryservice,andofanyquestionsenttoitbytheKing'swrit;andithadjurisdictionoverwritsofrightremovedfromthelord'scourt.Itapparently,also,hadjurisdictionofdisputesastotitleorpossessionofpersonalproperty.Theecclesiasticalcourtshadjurisdictionofquestionsofmarriageandlegitimacy,ofwills,andofdisputesinvolvingecclesiasticalquestionsonly;theKing'scourtwouldprohibitthembywritfrominterferinginothermatters.

TheprocedureintheKing'scourtdidnotdiffergreatlyfromthepresentprocedure.Asuitwasbegunbywrit,servedbythesheriff,andenforcedbythe,


XVIU



distraintofthedefendant'sland.Themostimportantfeatureoftheprocedurewastheelaboratesystemofrulesgoverningessoinsorcontinuances.Byaskilfuluseofessoinsthedefendantortenantcouldprolongproceedingsonawritofrightforyears;thefactthatinthenewpossessoryassisesfewessoinswereallowed,andtheproceedingswerethereforemuchprompter,contributedgreatlytothefavorwithwhichtheywerereceived.FinaljudgmentintheKing'scourtwasbythistimeenrolled;andthemethodofconveyinglandbylevyingafinewasinfulloperation.

Thelawofrealpropertyinitsessentialfeatureswasfullyformed.Thewholelawoftenuresandincidentshadbeenfinallysettled;buttherulesofinheritanceandoftransferbywillwerestilluncertain.Thedoctrinesofwarranty(nowobsolete),accordingtowhichthegrantorofapartycouldbecalledintoasuit,orinthetechnicalphrasevouchedtowarranty,andthussubstitutedfortheoriginalparty,werestillofthehighestimportanceinpractice.Themodernmortgage,i.e.thegrantoncondition,wasasyetunknown:Glanville'smortgageofland,likethepledgeofpersonaltyinhistime,isameregrantofcustodybywayof.security.

Thelawofpersonalpropertywaslittledeveloped.Doctrinesastopledgeandbailment,derivedfromtheoldGermaniclaw,wereappliedinthecountycourts;there,forinstance,theabsoluteresponsibilityofthebaileewasstillenforced.Throughthewritofdetinue.andtheactiononthecase,theKing'scourtsweresoon


XIX

totakecontrolofthesesubjects,andtoestablishthemodernlawofbailmentsandcarriers.

CertainformalcontractswereenforcedbytheKing'scourt.Thewritofdebtwouldlieasaresultofaloan,asale,oranobligationcreatedbycharter.Eedressfor



breachofordinaryjcontractscouldbeobtainedonlyintheecclesiasticalcourts,whichmightdealwiththesinofdeceit.NotforthreecenturiesdidtheKing'scourtworkoutadoctrinebywhichapartymightbeheldtoperformhissimplecontract.

Noactionofdamagesfortortwouldlie.Thereisasyetnotraceoftheprocessbywhich(workingfromappealsoffelonytowritoftrespassagainsttheKing'speaceandactionsonthecase)theKing'scourtwouldeventuallyworkoutthemodernlawoftort.Sofarastherewasanyremedyfortortsitwasintheinferiorcourts.

TheKing'scourtcouldatthistimepunishallfeloniesexcepttheft,jurisdictionoverwhichitobtainedbyMagnaCharta.Itwasalongtimebeforeitobtainedexclusivejurisdictionoverfelony,ortookcontrol,as"custosmorum,"ofmisdemeanors.

Suchlaw,itmaybeadmitted,wasrudeandunsatisfactory;butitwasalongadvanceoverwhathadgonebefore,andithadwithinitselfthegermofthemodernCommonLaw.

JosephH.Beale,Je.

HaevardUNrvEEsriT,October,1900.



THETRANSLATOR



TOTHE

READER.

vJfRanulphdeGlanville,thereputedAuthorofthefollowingTreatise,LordCokespea"ksintermsofthehighestencomium.Heinformsus,thatGrianvillewasChiefJusticeintheReignofHenrytheSecond,thathewroteprofoundlyonpartoftheLawsofEngland,andthathisWorkswereextantatthatday."And,"continueshisLordship,"intoken"ofmythankfulnesstothatworthyJudge,"whomIcitemanytimesintheseRe"ports,(asIhavedoneinmyformer)

"forthefruitwhichIconfessmyselfto

vii


Vlll

havereapedoutofthefairfieldofhisLabors,Iwillforthehonorofhimandofhisnameandposterity,whichremaintothisday(asIhavegoodcausetoknow)impartandpublish,bothtoallfutureandsucceedingAges,whatIfoundofgreatantiquityandofundoubtedverity,theoriginalwhereofremainethwithmeatthisday,andfollowethinthesewords:RanulpliusdeGlanviUa,JiisticiariusAnglice,Fundatorfuitdomus



deButteley,inComitatuSuffolcice,qucefundataeratannoRegisHenrici,filiiImperatricis,decimoseptimo,etannoDomini1171.quoannoThomasBecket,CantuariensisArcMejnscopus,eratoccisus.EtdictusRamdphusnascehaturinVilladeStratford,incomitatuSuffolcice,ethahidtManeriumdeBenliall,cumtotoDominio,edonodictiRegisHenrici.EtdiixitinuxoremquandamBertam,filiamDominiTheobaldideValeymz,SeniorisdominideParham:quiTheobaldusperCliartam


IX

"suamdeditdidoRanulplioetBertceUxori"sucBtotamterramdeBrochous,cumper"tinentiis,inquadomusdeButteleysita"est,cumaliisterrisettenementis,inlihero"maritagio.PrcedictusveroRamdphus"procreavittresfiliasdedictaBerta(viz.)"Matildam,Amabiliam,etHelewisam,qui"6msdeditterramsuamanteprogressum"suumversusTerramSanctamyThedocumentthenproceedswithaminuteaccuracytotraceourAuthor'sDescendants,andfinishesthesketchbyinformingus"quodprcefatusRanulphusdeGlanvilla^^fuitvirprceclarissimusgenere,nfpotede"nohilisanguine,virinsuperstrenuissimus"corpore,quiprovectioricetate,adTerram"sanctamproperavit,etibidemcontrainimi"cosCrurisClirististrenuissimeusquead"necemdimicavif^^Thepaucityofthesefactsmaybe,insomemeasure,remedied,byconsultingtheAnnalsofourSecond

1Co.8.Rep.pref.




Henry,wherethenameofGlanvillenotunfrequentlyoccurs.Wehearofhimin1171,asFermouroftheHonorofEarlConan:în1172,ashavingthecustodyofthatHonor,andtheFairofHoiland;ândin1174,asstillretainingthesameHonor,andaccountingfortheCaptureandRansomsofPrisoners,&c.takeninWar.Înthelatteryearheissaidtohavedistinguishedhimself,astheGeneralwhotooktheKingofScotlandPrisoner/In1175,hestillretainedtheHonorofEarlConan,ândfilledtheOfficeofSheriffofYorkshire.În1176,hewasmadeaJusticeoftheKing'sCourt,andaJusticeItinerant."Inthesameyear,heaccountedforWestmorelandbythehandsofReiner,hisDapiferorSteward,aprivilegeconcededtothegreatalone.^

1Madox'sExch.439.'Ibid.203.

3Ibid.253.*Hume'sHist.

6Mad.Excli.297.eiî^.7.

'Hoveden,p.600.Mad.Exch.662.


In1180,hewasmadeChiefJusticiaryofallEngland,asweareinformedbyhiscotemporaryRogerHoveden,whosewordsaretooremarkabletobeomitted.HenricusRexAnglicepaterconstituitRanulphumdeOlanvillasummumJusticiarimntotiusAnglice^cujussapientiaconditcesunt



legessubscriptce,quasAnglicannsvocamus.^TheChiefJusticiary,presidedintheCuriaRegisnexttotheKing,asChiefJudgeinallcivilandcriminalquestions;andgovernedtheRealmlikeaViceRoy,whentheKingwasbeyondSea,aneventoffrequentrecurrenceinthatage.Infine,thisofficerwasinvestedwithapowerthatplacedhimfaraboveeveryothersubject.NosoonerhadGlanvillearrivedatthiselevatedpost,thanheexertedhimselftorestoreandconfirmmanyancientLawscalculatedforthegoodoftheRealm.^Howmuchtothesatisfactionof

1Hoveden,p.600.n.40."Mad.Exch.24.


Xll

HenrytheSecondGlanvillefilled,thisarduoussituation,wemayinfer,fromfindingadditionalhonorsheapeduponhimbythatableandpoliticPrince.In1183,ourAuthorheldtheplaceofDapifertotheKing,^and,inthesameyear,hewasappointedFermourofYorkshire:^situations,itistobepresumed,notincompatiblewiththatofChiefJusticiary,whichheappearstohaveretained,untilthedeathofHenrytheSecond,^andthatwithundiminishedhonor,ifweexcepttheimputationcastuponhimforcondemningSirGilbertdePlumptuntodeath,butwhichseemstoberefutedbytheconfidencecontinuedtobereposedinhimbythediscerningHenry.*ImmediatelyafterthedeathofthatPrince,heassumedtheOrderoftheCross,andperishedfighting



1Mad.Exch.35.^ibid.225.

8Leg.AngloSax.p.339.*Hoveden,p.622,628.Note10.


XUl

valiantlyattheSiegeofAeonintheyear1190.1

But,whetherthesameidenticalpersonsuccessivelyoccupiedthesevarioussituations,and,atdifferentperiodsofhislife,filledtheratheroppositeandinconsistentcharactersofanableGeneralandaprofoundLawyeraskilfulCourtierandanenlightenedLegislator,isadoubtwhichhasbeenentertainedbysomeveryrespectableWriters.Norhasitpassedwithouta*question,whetherthepresentTreatisewasreallycomposedbythepersonwhosenameitbears.LordLittleton,indeed,iainclinedtoinfer,thatitwasnotwrittenbyGlanville,butbysomeClergymanunderhisdirection.^Thesedoubtsmayservetoevincetheingenuityofthosewhohavesuggestedthem,buttheyprovenothing:.Whenthevarioussituations

1Spelm.Gloss,advoo.Justitia;andPlowden,368.b."Hist.Hen.II.




XIV

Glanvilleisstatedtohavefilledarerepresentedasincompatible,andwestartatTaeholdingthegraveLawyerdivesthimselfofhisrobestogirtonthearmourofthesoldier,weforgetthemannersoftheagewhenGlanvilleflorished.Whenwesuppose,thatbecausetheworkiscomposedinLatin,itwasnotwrittenbyaLayman,webegthequestion:and,havingassumed,thatnoLayman,whateverhisparts,whateverhisapplication,couldhavebeensufficientlyskilledtowritesuchLatinasourAuthorhasemployed,wepaybutasorrycomplimenttotheage,andrathertoohastilyconcludethatwehaveproved,what,indeed,wehavemerelytakenforgranted.When,infine,weinfer,thattheknowledgeofLawdisplayedintheWork,andthelaborconsumedincomposingit,arenolessinconsistentwiththeTiighandelevatedstationofGlanville,thanincompatiblewithhisemployments,weforget,thathisrisewasprogressive,and


XV

that,astherearebutfewthingstowhichatrulygreatmindisinadequate,theproductionofasmallvolumeuponthatLawivhichitwasdailyinthehabitofdispensing,oughtnot,whateverthemeritoftheworkmaybe,toberankedamongstthenumber.Itmustnot,however,beconcealed,thatMr.Seldenmentionsacircumstancewhich,atthefirstglance,appearstogoagreatwayindeterminingthequestion."Iknowtheauthorityof"thatTreatise,"sayshe,inspeakingofthepresentwork,"issuspected,and



"'someofthebestandancientestcopies"havingthenameofE.deN.whichI"haveheardfromdiligentsearchersin"thiskindofLearningaffirmedtohave"beensometimesE.deNarbrough,and^'notR.deGlanvilla,ithathbeenthought"tobeanother'swork,andoflatertime."Butas,ontheotherside,Idarenot"beconfidentthatitisGlanville's,soI"makelittlequestion,thatitisasancient


XTl

"ashistime,ifnothiswork.Theteste"oftheprecedentsofwritsunderhis"name,thelanguage,especiallythename"ofJustitiaalwaysforthatwhichwenow"fromancienttimecalledJusticiariuSy"(andJustitiawaSsousedinwritersunder"HenrytheSecond)andtheLawdeli"veredinittastethnotofanylaterage."^ThoughthelatterpartofthisExtractmayhereasonablythoughttofurnishasufficientanswertothedoubtexpressedintheformerpart,theTranslatorcannotbutobserveuponthesingularity,thatnone"ofthebestandancientestcopies"areforthcominginsupportofthefacttheyaresaidtoprove.

WithrespecttotheWorkitselfnowsubmittedtothePublicinanEnglishdress,itissaidtobethefirstperformancethathasanythingliketheappearanceof

1Seidell,operaomnia.1669.




XVll

aTreatiseonthesubjectofJurisprudence,sincethedissolutionoftheRomanEmpire.^Butthisisnotcorrect,iftheAssisesofJerusalem,compiled,asweareinformedinthepreamble,in1099theSystemofFeudalLaw,composedbythetwoMilaneseLawyersin1150,andtheDecretumofGratian,publishedaboutthesametime,beconsideredasTreatisesonLaw.Itseems,however,tobeunquestionable,thatthepresentTreatiseistheearliestandmostancientworkOnthesubjectofEnglishJurisprudence,fromwhichanyclearandcoherentaccountofitistobeobtained.Dr.Robertson,indeed,informsus,"thatinnocountryofEuropewasthere"atthattime,anycollectionofCustoms,"norhadanyattemptbeenmadetorender"Lawfixed.Thefirstundertakingofthat"kindwasbyGlanville,LordChiefJustice"ofEngland,inhisTractatusdeLegibus

1See1.Reeves'sHist.Eng.Law.323.


XVlll

"etconsuetudinibus,^composedaboutthe"Year1181."='

Ithasbeenthought,thatGlanvilledrewupthiscompendiumoftheLawsofEnglandforthepubhcuse,bytheexpresscommandofHenrytheSecond,aconjecturewhich,Mr.Madoxobserves,isnotonlyfavoredbyacertainMS.remainingintheLibraryofCorpusChristiCollege,Cambridge,writteninahandoftheageof



EdwardtheSecond,inwhichthereisaTreatiseentituledLegesHenriciSecundi,agreeinginmanypassageswiththeprintedcopyofGlanville,butalsobythemannerofourAuthor'swriting,especiallyinthePrologue.^ThereisalsointheCottoniancollectionaMS.ofGlanville,whichbears,theTitleofLawsofHenrytheSecond.ButMr.Eeevesinformsus,thismanner

1Robertson'sCharles5.Vol.1.p.296.

2VideInfrap.'198.Note3.

3Madox'sExch.133.andNote.

DigitizedbyIVIicrosoft

XIX

ofentitulingTreatiseswasnotthenuncommon.^

ThepresentworkappearstohaveremainedinMS.untiltheYear1554,when,asSirEdwardCokeapprisesus,itwas,bythepersuasionandprocurementofSirWiUiamStanford,agraveandlearnedJudgeofthecommonPleas,firstprinted.^Withmanypeculiarcircumstances,however,tocreateanInterestinitsfavor,thefateoftheworkhasbeenmostsingular.Indebtedtoitsintrinsicmeritaloneforthohighcomplimentithaslongenjoyed,inbeinglookeduptoasanauthorityfromwhichtherewasnoappeal,curiosityhasgivenwaytoanopinion,thatwhilstitwasvenerableforitsantiquity,itwasalsouseless,foritwasobsolete.Thatmanypartsofitareobsolete,itwouldbeidletodeny;butthattheworkitselfis



1Reeves'sHist.Eng.Law.1.213.

24Inst.345.


XX

bynomeanssoentirelyobsoleteasgenerallyassumed,willbefullyevidenttoeveryimpartialandcandidReader.Butwereitentirelyobsolete,itwouldnotnecessarilyfollow,thatitwouldbeuseless,thetermsnotbeing,atleastinthescienceofJurisprudence,eitherconvertibleorsynonymous,howeverfashionable,or,moreproperlyspeaking,convenientitmaybetoesteemthemsuch.Multaignoramusqucenobisnonlaterent,siVeterumlectionobisessetfamiliaris.TheLawofModernTimesisintimatelyconnectedwiththatofourForefathers,andthedecisionsofthepresentdayarenotunfrequentlybuiltuponprinciplesthatareenvelopedinthealmostimperviousmistoffardistantages.ButtotheseprinciplesmusttheStudentascend,ifhewouldmeritthenameofaLawyer;and,ifthelaborbesevere,hemustreconcileittohimselfbyreflecting,thatitwassubmittedtobyaCoke,aHale,aBlackstone.Ledbythesoundnessof




XXI

theirjudgments,toinvestigatetheearheragesofourJurisprudence,thosegreatmenconsiderednothinguseless,thoughitpossiblymighthappentobeobsolete,whichtendedtoenlightentheirminds,andshewthemthefundamentalprinciplesofthoseLaws,whichtheyafterwardsnolessadmirablyillustrated,thanablyadministered.Butthebrightnessoftheexampleinsteadofexcitingemulationseemstohavedepressedit:andGlanville,Bracton,andFletahavebeensufferedtocrumbleontheshelf,whilstEditionhasrapidlyfollowedEditionofthosemoremodernAuthors,whohaveadvocatedtheircause,bydrawingsodeeplyfromtherichandinexhaustiblemines,whichtheirpagespresenttotheEnglishLawyer.

ItremainstospeakoftheTranslationnowsubmittedtothePublic.FidelityhasbeentheprincipalobjectoftheTranslator.Ifmorebedemanded,hewouldshelter


xxu

himselfunderthehighnameofSirWiUiamJones."Elegance,onasubjectsodeli"cateasLaw,mustbesacrificed,without"mercy,toexactness'."Nexttofidelity,simplicityhasbeenaimedat,asmostinunisonwiththeoriginal,and,perhaps,thebestadaptedfortransfusingitsspiritintotheEnglishLanguage.Notthatwiththesetwoobjectsimmediatelybeforehim,theTranslatorwouldbeunderstoodasconceding,thathehassacrificedanybeauty,anyeleganceofexpressiongenerallyaboundingin,orspreadover,theoriginalwork.



Hecouldnotsacrificethatwhichneverexisted.ThestyleofGlanville,destituteofeverygrace,anddryandharshintheextreme,professedlyaimsatthepeculiarqualitieswhichcharacteriseit.Stilovulgarietverbiscurialibusutensexindustrialadnotitiamcomparandumeis,quihujusmodivulgaritateminussuntexercitati,aretheverytermsinwhichhedescribeshisownmannerofwriting.Sosuccessfullyhashe


XXUl

accomplishedhisobject,thatheimposesuponhisTranslatoraTasknotaltogetherunlikethatofacquiringanewlanguage.YettothesedifficultiestheTranslatorreluctantlyalludes,forthoughtheymay,insomemeasure,atoneforthoseerrorsintowhichheisapprehensivehehasoftenfallen,heisconscious,themeritofhisattemptisnottobeestimatedbyitsarduousness,butitsutility.

WithrespecttotheAnnotations,itwastheTranslator'soriginalintentiontohaveconfinedhimselftoamereexplanationoftheobsoleteTerms.But,anxioustorendertheworkmoreextensivelyuseful,hehasnotunfrequentlydepartedfromhisfirstdesign.Amongtheworksoccasionallyreferredto,theReaderwillrecognisetheRegiamMajestatemsotermedfromthewordswithwhichitcommences.Thisworkhasbeensometimesreceived,ascontainingthegenuineancientLawofScot




XXIV

landsometimesrejected,asamerespuriousfabrication.AmongthenamesincollisiononthispointarethoseofSkene,Erskine,LordKaims,Houard,Dairympie,Craig,LordStairandDr.Eobertson.NorhastherebeenlessdisputewhetherGlanville,ortheRegiamMajestatembetheoriginalwork.ButthisquestionissaidtobesatisfactorilydisposedofbyMr.Davidson,whohaspublishedapamphletexpresslyonthesubject,andhasproved,ifitwerenecessarytoprove,whatisrenderedindubitablebytheinternalEvidenceofthetwoWorks,thatGlanvilleistheoriginal;observing,atthesametime,"thatGlanville"isregular,methodical,andconsistent"throughout;whereastheRegiamMajes"tatemgoesoutofGlanville'smethodfor"nootherassignablereason,thantodis"guisethematter,andistherebyrendered"confused,unsystematical,andinmany"placescontradictory."TheTranslatorhasnotbeenabletomeetwithMr.David


XXV

son'swork,butisindebtedtotheprefaceattachedtothelastEditionofGlanvilleforthisSummaryofit."Tothisobserva"tionuponthemethodoftheEegiam"Majestatem,"saysMr.Reeves,"itmay"beadded,that,onacomparisonofthe"accountgivenofthingsinthatandin"Glanville,itplainlyappears,thatthe"ScotchAuthorismoreclear,,explicit,"anddefined;andthathewritesvery"oftenwithaviewtoexplaintheother,



"inthesamemannerinwhichthewriter"ofourFleta,explainshispredecessor"Bracton.Thisisremarkableinnumber"lessinstancesallthroughtheBook,and"is,perhaps,asdecisiveamarkofacopy"ascanbe.TheotherScotchLaws,"whichfollowtheRegiamMajestatemin"Skene'scollection,contributegreatlyto"confirmthesuspicion.These,asthey"areofalaterdatethanseveralEnglish"Statuteswhichtheyresemble,mustbe"admittedtobecopiedfromthem;and


XXVI

'socloselyaretheoriginalsfollowed,that

'theverywordsofthemareretained.

'Thisisparticularlyremarkableofthe

'EeignofEoberttheSecond,inwhichis

'theStatuteofquiaEmptores,andothers

'plainlycopiedfromourLaws,without

'anyattempttoconcealtheimitation.

'TheseLaws,atleast,canimposeupon

'noone;andwhenviewedwiththe

'EegiamMajestatemattheirliead,and

'comparedwithGlanvilleandtheEnglish

'StatuteBook,theyseemtodeclarevery



'intelligiblytotheworld,thatthispiece

'ofScotchJurisprudenceisborrowedfrom

'ours."^Noristheenlightenedandliberal

HistorianDr.Robertsonmorefavorably

disposedtowardsthatclaim,whichsome

ofhiscountrymenhaveputin,forthe

originalityoftheRegiamMajestatem.

"TheRegiamMajestatemascribedto

"Davidthefirstseems,"heobserves,"to

1Reeves'sHist.Eng.Law225.


xxvu

beanimitationandaservileone,ofGlanville.SeveralScottishAntiquaries,undertheinfluenceofthatpiouscredulity,whichdisposesmentoassentwithouthesitationtowhatevertheydeemforthehonoroftheirnativecountry,contendzealously,thattheRegiamMajestatemisaproductionpriortotheTreatiseofGlanville;andhavebroughtthemselvestobelieve,thatanation,inasuperiorstateofimprovement,borroweditsLawsfromoneconsiderablylessadvancedinitspoliticalprogress.TheinternalEvidence(wereitmyprovincetoexamineit)bywhichthistheoryrhightberefutedisinmyopiniondecisive.Theexternalcircumstances,whichhaveseducedScottishAuthorsintothismistake,havebeenexplainedwithsomuch



precisionandcandorbySirDavidDalrymple,inhisExaminationofsomeoftheargumentsforthehighantiquityoftheRegiamMajestatem,Eding,1767.


XXVIU

"4to,thatitistobehoped,thecontro"versywillnotbeagainrevived."^

Indismissingthissubject,itmayberemarkedinthewordsofMr.Reeves,thatitseemsunnecessarytocontendfortheoriginalityoftheEegiamMajestatem,whilstadoubtofmuchmoreimportanceremainsunsettledwhetherthatTreatise,aswellastheothersinthepublicationofSkene,arenow,oreverwere,anypartoftheLawofScotland,onwhich,aswehavealreadyobserved,somanyeminentmendiffer.Ontheotherhand,theauthenticityofGlanville,asthecodeofLawexistinginthiscountryduringtheReignofHenrytheSecond,hasbeenadmitted,eitherexpresslyorimpliedlybyalltheEnglishLawyers,whohaveflorishedinthelongintervalwhichhaselapsedfromthatperiodtothepresent,andneverhasbeenquestioned,ifweexceptasolitarydictum,

1Hist.Charles5.Vol.1.p.396.


XXIX

which,asitequallyaffectedthecreditof



Bracton,andwastotallyunauthorised,isrefutedbyathousandcircumstances,ifitwereanobjecttomentionthem.^Buttoreturnfromthisdigression.

ThoughtheTranslatorhadnotthegoodfortunetomeetwithMr.Davidson'sPamphlet,hewasmoresuccessfulindiscoveringSkene'stranslationoftheRegiamMajestatem,depositedinLincoln'sInnLibrary.TheTranslatorintendedtohavenoticedsuchpartsoftheRegiamMajestatem,ascoincidedwithGlanville.But,afterhaving,withsomeattention,perusedtheformerBook,hefoundthesimilaritybetweenthetwoworkssoverygeneral,andthecorrespondencesoexact,thattheRegiamMajestatemmightfrequentlybetakenasaverbalTranslationofGlanville,or,atleast,asanotherEditionofthesameTreatise,in

1Plowd.357.


XXX

whichthewriterhadmadesomeshghtadditionsandalterations,andhadcapriciouslyamusedhimselfincontrivinganarrangementtotallydifferent,thoughfarlesshappyandsystematical.TheTranslatorhas,therefore,generallycontentedhimselfwithnoticingthosedeviationsbetweenthetwoworks,whichweremoreimmediatelyrelevanttohissubjects.Norhashealwaysstoppedhere,buthasavailedhimselfoftheRegiamMajestatem,wheneveritwaslessambiguous,ormoredecidedthanGlanville,whichfromtheverycircumstanceofitsbeingaposteriorpublication,itsometimesnaturallywillhappentobe.InadditiontotheRegiamMajestatem,



referencehasbeenoccasionallymadetotheGrandCustumaryofNormandy,Bracton,Fleta,Britton,Coke,Hale,&c.&c.SomeofthesereferencesservetocorroboratesometoillustratetheText:sometendtoshewthataLawwasnotpeculiartothisCountry,andsomethatasimilar


XXXI

E,ulehasbeenadoptedeveninModernTimesbyaneighboringState.InconsultingtheLawsofthatstate,andnoticingthoseinstancesofstrongorfaintresemblancebetweenthemandtheCodeofHenry"theSecond,theTranslatoractedindeferencetothesuggestionsofaGentleman,who,thoughpossessedofthemostprofoundlegalknowledge,isyetmoreentitledtoouradmirationforhissingularliberalityofsentiment,andurbanityofmanners.IftheTQoreenlightenedmindderivenobenefitfromtheplanwhichhasbeenadoptedinthenotes,andanticipatetheResult;yet,itishoped,theStudentmayreceivesomeadvantagefromit.But,iftheTranslatorhasbeentoodiffuseinsomeinstances,hehas,onotheroccasions,contentedhimselfwithabarereference.HehasbeenaversetoswelltheNotes,whereabarecitationwouldservetodirecttheStudent,ifdisposedtoextendhisinquiries.InadditiontotheTranslator'sownNotes,theReaderisfur


xxxu



nishedwithafewannotationsextractedfromacopyofGlanville,formerlybelongingtoMr.JusticeAland,andnowdepositedinthecollectionoftheEoyalInstitution.Yet,shoulditbeobserved,itisnotperfectlyclearwhethertheseannotationsweremadebythatlearnedJudge,orbytheEeverendMr.Elstob,agentlemandeeplyversedinAngloSaxonLiterature.Bywayofdistinction,theseAnnotationsareparticularisedby(Al.MS.)

InordertorendertheworkascompleteasthelimitedabilityoftheTranslatorwouldallow,hehassubjoinedthemoreimportant,andonlythemoreimportantvariousReadings,asfurnishedbytheBodleian,theCottonian,theHarleianandDr.Milles'sMSS.TheMS.ofGlanvilledepositedinLincoln'sInnLibraryhasnotbeenconsulted.

TheTranslatorconcludesthesecursoryobservationswithabriefsummaryofthe


XXXIU

contentsofGlanville,availinghimselt,insomemeasure,ofthatcontainedinMr.Reeves'sHistory.

OurAuthoringeneralconfineshimselftosuchmattersonlyasweretheobjectsofjurisdictionintheCuriaRegis,anddivideshisworkintofourteenBooks.ThetwofirstofwhichtreatoftheWritofRight,whenoriginallycommencedintheCuriaRegis,andofallitsstages,theSummonsEssoinsAppearancePleadingsDuelorGrandAssiseJudgmentandExecution.TheThirdspeaksofvouch



ingtoWarranty,whichwiththetwoformerBooks,comprisesalucidaccountoftheproceedingsinaWritofRightfortherecoveryofLand.ThefourthBookisemployeduponrightsofAdvowson,thefifthuponVillenage,andthesixthuponDower.TheseventhtreatsuponAlienation,Descents,Succession,Wardship,andTestaments.TheeighthisuponfinalConcords,


XXXIV

andRecordsingeneral.TheninthisuponHomage,Eelief,Fealty,Services,andPurprestures.ThetenthtreatsofDebtsandmattersofContract;andtheeleventhuponAttornies.HavingthusdisposedofActionscommencedoriginallyintheCuriaRegis,ourauthor,inhistwelfthBook,speaksofWritsofRight,whenbroughtintheLord'sCourt,andthemannerofremovingthenifromthencetotheCountyCourtandCuriaRegis,whichleadshimtomentionsomoother"WritsdeterminablebeforetheSheriff.InhisthirteenthBook,hetreatsofAssises,andDisseisins.ThelastBookiswhollytakenupindiscussingthedoctrineofPleas

oftheCrown.

JOHNBEAMES.

ItwasintendedtohaveaddedthenamesofallthoseGentlemen,whosubscribedforthework.ButthelisthavingbeenconsumedinthefirewhichdestroyedMr.Reed'sPremises,andmanyofthenameshavingbeentherebylost,itisbecomeimpossible.



g:


PREFACE.

iHEEegalPowershouldnotmerelybedecoratedwithArmstorestrainRebelsandNationsmakingheadagainstitanditsrealm,butoughtlikewisetobeadornedwithLawsforthepeacefulgoverningofitsSubjectsanditsPeople.^WithsuchfelicitymayourMostIllustriousKingconducthimself,intheperiodsbothofPeaceandofWar,bytheforceofhisrighthand,crushingtheinsolenceoftheviolentandintractable,and,withthesceptreofEquity,moderatinghisJusticetowardsthehumbleandobedient,thatashemaybealways

1TheintroductorypartofthisPrefaceisinimitationof

thatofJustinian'sInstitutes,andseemsstrangelytohave

takenthefancyofthelawwritersoftheage,sinceGlan

villeismoreorlessfollowedbytheRegiamMajestatem,

BractonandFleta.

XXXT


XXXVl



victoriousinsubduinghisEnemies,somayheonalloccasionsshewhimselfimpartiallyjustinthegovernmentofhisSubjects.Buthowgracefullyhowvigorouslyhowskilfully,incounteractingthemaliceofhisFoes,ourMostExcellentKinghas,intheseasonofhostility,conductedhisArms,ismanifesttoall:sincehisfamehasnowspreadoverthewholeWorld,andhissplendidactionsreachedeventheconfinesoftheGlobe.Howjustlyhowdiscreetlyandhowmercifullyhe,wholovesPeaceandistheAuthorofit,hasconductedhimselftowardshissubjectsinthetimeofPeace,isevident,sincetheCourtofhisHighnessisregulatedwithsostrictaregardtoEquity,thatnoneoftheJudgeshavesohardenedafront,orsorashapresumption,astodaretodeviate,Tioweverslightly,fromthepathofJustice,ortoutterasentence,inanymeasurecontrarytothetruth.Forthere,indeed,thepowerofhisadversaryoppressesnot


xxxvu

thepoorMan,nordoegeitherthefavororcreditofanother'sFriends,driveanypersonfromtheseatofJudgment.SinceeachdecisionisgovernedbytheLawsoftheEealm,andbythoseCustomswhich,foundedonreasonintheirintroduction,haveforalongtimeprevailed;and,whatisstillmorelaudable,ourKingdisdainsnottoavailhimselfoftheadviceofsuchmen(althoughhissubjects)whom,ingravityofmanners,inskillintheLawandCustomsoftheRealm,inthesuperiorityoftheirwisdomandEloquence,heknowstosurpassothers,andwhomhehasfoundbyexperiencemost



prompt,asfarasconsistentwithreason,intheadministrationofJustice,bydeterminingCausesandendingsuits,actingnowwithmoreseverity,andnowwithmorelenity,astheyseemostexpedient.^Forthe

1"Ontheselastwords,"saysLordLittleton,"Iwould"observe,that,asinthosedaystherewaswasnodistinct"CourtofEquity,theJudgesoftheKing'sCourthad"probablyapowerofmitigatinginsomecasestherigour


XXXVlll

EnglishLaws,althoughnotwritten,mayasitshouldseem,andthatwithoutanyabsurdity,betermedLaws,(sincethisitselfisaLaw^thatwhichpleasesthePrincehastheforceofLaw^)Imean,thoseLawswhichitisevidentwerepromulgatedbytheadviceoftheNoblesandtheauthorityofthePrince,concerningdoubtstobesettledintheirAssembly.For,iffromthemerewantofwritingonly,theyshouldnotbeconsideredasLaws,then,unquestionably,writingwouldseemtoconfermoreauthority

"oftheLaw."(Hist,ofLifeHen.3.Vol.3.p.315.Oct.Ed.)AstronginstanceinpointtheReaderwillfindinL.7.c.1.orthepresentTranslationp.149.

1Thisprinciple,theverybasisofdespotismoccursinth&Romancode.(Justin.lustit.L.1.t.2.s.6.)Itmayveryjustlybequestioned,whetheritisnotherecitedironically.Atallevents,thepassageofourtextcanscarcelywarranttheconclusionthecelebratedM.Houardhasdrawnfromit.ButtheReadershallhavehisownwordsLeTextedenotreAuteurprouveqiCaprislaconquSte,



lesAngloisregurent,deOuillaumeleBdtard,lesrn4meMaximesquenousaviansjusquesldsuivies,dVegardduDroitexclusif,quenosRoisavoienttoujoursexei'ce,defairelesLoix.(TraitesSurlescoutumesAngloNormandesparM.Houard.1.378.)


XXXIX

uponLawsthemselves,thaneithertheEquityofthepersonsconstituting,orthereasonofthoseframing,them.But,toreduceineveryinstancetheLawsandConstitutionsoftheRealmintowriting,wouldbe,inourtimes,absolutelyimpossible,aswellonaccountoftheignoranceofwriters,asoftheconfusedmultiplicityoftheLaws.But,therearesome,which,astheymoregenerallyoccurinCourt,andaremorefrequentlyused,itappearstomenotpresumptuoustoputintowriting,butratherveryusefultomostpersons,andhighlynecessarytoassistthememory.AcertainportionofthoseIthereforeintendtoreduceintowriting,purposelymakinguseofavulgarstyle,andofwordsoccurringinCourt,inordertoinstructthosewhoarelessaccustomedtothiskindofvulgarity.Inproofofwhich,IhavedistinguishedthepresentworkbyBooksandChapters.



ioflit3.



OFPLEASWHICHBELONGTOTHEKING'SCOURT,ORTOTHESHERIFF;ANDOFESSOINS;ANDOTHERPREPARATORYSTEPSUSUALLYRESORTEDTOINSUITS,UNTILBOTHPARTIESAPPEARTOGETHERINCOURT.

CHAP.I.

PleasareeitherCriminalorCivil.^TheformeraredividedintosuchasappertaintotheKing'sCrown,andsuchasbelongtotheSheriffsofCounties.ThesePleasbelongtotheKing'sCrown.^

CHAP.II.Thecrimewhich,inlegalphrase,istermedthatof

1"Now,asoutoftheoldFieldsmustcomethenewcorn,so"ouroldBooksdoexcellentlyexpoundandexpressthismatter,"astheLawisholdenatthisday;and,therefore,Glanville"saith,Placitorumaliudestcriminale,aliudCivile,where"PlacitumcriminaleisPlacitumcoronce.andPlaaitumcivile."Placitumcommune,namedinthisStatute."(MagnaCharta.)(Vide3Inst.31.)

2LL.^thelbyrti,c.1.2.3.4.5.&c.(Al.M.S.)

I1


LseseMajesty,asthedeathoftheKing,oraseditionmovedintheRealm,orArmy^thefraudulentconcealmentofTreasuretroveThePleaconcerningthebreakingoftheKing'speaceHomicideBurningRobberyRapethecrimeofFalsifying,^andsuchotherPleasasareofasimilarnature.^Thesecrimes



areeitherpunishedcapitally,orwithlossofMember.*Wemust,however,exceptthecrimeofTheft,whichbelongstotheSheriffsofCounties,andisdiscussedanddeterminedintheCountyCourts.^Italsoapper

1"TheCommittersoftheseCrimes,''saystheRegiamMajestatem,"maybepunishednotonlyforanyfactordeed,butalsofortheintentandpurpose."(Reg.Maj.L.1.c.1.)

2Crimenfalsi,anexpressionborrowedfromtlieCivilLaw.(VideJustin.Inst.4.18.7.&c.)Ourauthorexplainsitsimport,L.14.c.7.

8Cap.2.HenghamMagna,c.3.p.7.LL.CanutiE.secul.c.61.etSomneriGloss,invoceemenda.(Al.MS.)

TheLawofCanutealludedto,isinthesewords:Irrvptioindotnumetincendiumetfurtummanifestumetccedespublicaetdominiproditiojuxtalegeshumanassuntinexpidbilia.(VideLL.AngloSaxon.Ed.Wilkins,p.143.)

*AmongtheLawsofCanute,aresomeinflictingthepunishmentoflossofmembers.(LL.Cnnuti,c.15.33.&o.)

Fromhenceithasbeeninferred,thatCanutefirstintroducedthisspeciesofpunishmentintoEngland.

Howeverthatmaybe,theConqueror'sLawformstooremarkableafeatureinhisLegislationtobepassedoverinsilence.Itforbidsthepunishmentsofdeathandhangingforanycrime,butorders,thattheeyesoftheoffendersshouldbepluckedout,ortheirfeetorhands&c.amputated,itaquodtruncusvivusremaneatinsignumproditionisetnequitioesuae!!(LL.Gul.Conq.p.318.Ed.Wilkins.)

6"Theftandmanslaughter,"saystheRegiamMajestatem,"belongtotheSheriffwhenanycertainaccuserappears:not"sowhenthosecrimesaretakenupbydittay."(c.1.L.1.)"TheSheriffintheTourn(forthatistobeintended)heldplea


tainstoSheriffs,incaseofneglectonthepartofLords



ofFranchise,totakecognizanceofScuffles,^blows,andAvounds,unlesstheAccusersubjointohischarge,thattheoffencewascommittedagainsttheKing'sPeace.^

CHAP.III.

CivilPleasaredividedintosuchasarediscussedanddeterminedintheKing'sCourtonly,andsuchasfallwithintheJurisdictionoftheSheriffsofCounties.IntheformerCourt,arediscussedanddetermined,allsuchPleasasconcernBaronies,AdvowsonsofChurches,questionsofcondition,Dower,whenthe"Womanhasbeenentirelydebarredfromreceivingit;forbreachofFinemadeintheKing'sCourt;concerningtheperformingofHomage,andthereceivingof

"ofTheft,"saysLordCoke.ButtMspartofhisjurisdictionwastakenawayby17.c.Mag.Chart.(Vide2Inst.301.)

1Medletis,or,asinHarl.Cotton,andBodl.MS.melletis.FromBractonitistobecollected,thatsomeinstancesofthisoffencefellundertheJurisdictionofLordsofFranchise,andontheirdefault,revertedtotheSheriff;whilstotherinstancesfellundercognizanceofthecrown,adistinctionconfirmedbytheEeg.Majestatem(videBracton,154.B.Eeg.Maj.L.1.c.2.)ThetermissaidtobederivedfromtheFrenchmesler.(Vide3Inst.66.Spelm.Gloss,andCowell'sInterpreter.)

2TheReg.Maj.makesthisallegationagroundoftheSheriff'sJurisdiction(L.1.c.3.)"Inthisdistinction,betweentheSher"iff'sJurisdictionandthatoftheKing,weseethereasonofthe"allegationinmodernIndictmentsandWrits,"vietarmis""oftheking'scrownanddignity,""theIcing'speace,"and"the''peace,"thislastexpressionbeingsufficient,afterthepeaceofthe"SheriffhadceasedtobedistinguishedasaseparateJurisdio"tion."(VideReeves'sHist.Eng.Law.1.113.)


Eeliefs,andconcerningPurprestures,^andDebtsowingbylaypersons.ThesePleas,indeed,relatetothe



proprietyofthethingonly:concerningthosewhichrefertothepossession,andwhicharediscussedanddecidedbyKecognitions,^weshallspeakintheirproperplace.

CHAP.TV.

TotheSheriffsofCountiesthesePleasappertain:thePleaconcerningtheEightofFreehold,whentheCourtsoftheLordsareprovedtohavefailedindoingjustice,thenatureofwhichweshallspeakofinanotherplace;andthePleaconcerningYilleinsborn:suchPleasbeing,ineachinstance,^sanctionedbytheKing'sWrit.*

1Ourauthorexplainsthisterm,B.9.c.11.

2Eeeognitioiies.Uponthewordsfaeerereoognitionem.SirEdwardCokethuscomments."Cognitioisknowledgeor"knowledgement,oropinion,andRecognitionisaseriousac"knowledgement,oropinionuponsuchmattersoffactasthey"shallhaveincharge,andthereupontheJurorsarecalledRe"cognitoresAssisce,"(VideCo.Litt.158.b.)OurauthortreatslargelyonRecognitionsiuthe13thBook,towhichwereferthereader.

3WelearnfromBracton,thattheSheriffwasinthehabitofexercisingJurisdictionovermanyPleaswhichdidnotbelongtohim653officio;but,insuchcases,heactedbytheKing'sprecept,notasSheriff,butasJustioiariusRegis,(Bracton,154.b.)Thedistinctionisimportant,andseemsnotunknowntotheGxandCustumaryofNormandy.(Videc.2.)

*Breve,aWrit.Whencausesbecamesofrequentthatthekingwasunabletoattendtothem,saysCraig,heremittedthem,totheJudge,bymeansofInstrumentscontainingabriefsum


CHAP.V,



Whenanyonecomplains^totheKing,orhisJustices,concerninghisEee,orhisFreehold,ifthecomplaintbesuchasbeproperforthedeterminationoftheKing'sCourt,ortheKingispleasedthatitshouldbedecidedthere,thenthepartycomplainingshallhavethefollowingWritofsummons.

.CHAP.YI.

"TheKingtotheSheriff,Health.^CommandA."that,withoutdelay,herendertoB.oneHydeofLand,"insuchaVUl,ofwhichthesaidJS.complains,that"theaforesaidA.hathdeforcedhim;and,unlesshe"doesso,summonhimbygoodsummoners,thathobe"there,beforeme,ormyJustices,mcrastinopostocta"iasclmisiPaschcBatsuchaplace,toshowwherefore"hehasfailed;andhavetheretheSummonersand"this"Writ.WitnessEanulphdeGlanville,atClaren"don."

maryofthechiefpoints.HencethenameBreve.(Craig.Jus.Feud.L.3.dieg.17,.24.)SoearlyasHenrythefirstwefind,thatcontemptusBreviumwasanoffence,subjectingthepersonguiltyofittobeamercedtotheking.(LL.Hen.1.c.14.)

1Clamat.VideSpelm.Gloss,advoc.Craig.Jus.Feud.L.3.Dieg.17..25.andL.3.dieg.5..2.

2VideFitz.Nat.Brev.p.5.Ed.1687.Asthisisthefirstwritwemeetwith,itmaynotbeimpropertoobserve,that,inrenderingthewrits,theTranslatorhasforobviousreasonsendeavouredtoadheretothetechnicalphraseologygenerallyus^dinthatspeciesofprocess.


CHAP.VII.

Thepartywhoisthussummonedeitherappearsatthedayappointed,ormakesdefault,orsendsaMessenger,orEssoin,^orneither.Ifheneitherappear,



norsendanEssoin,hisadversary,theDemandant,should,onthedayappointed,appearbeforetheJustices,andoffertoproceedagainsthiminthesuit;andheshallthusawaitinCourtduringthreedays.IftheTenantappearnotonthefourthday,thesummonersbeingpresent,andalledgingthattheyhaddulycitedhim,andofferingtoproveit,accordingtothecourseoftheCourt,anotherWritshallIssuetosummontheTenanttoappearatthedistanceoffifteendays^at

1Essonium,anExcuse.SirEdwardCokederivesthetermfromtlieFrenchverbessonierorexonier.Hetellsus,itisallonewithwhatthecivilianscallexcusatio.SirHenrySpelmanmentionsthesamederivation,andadds,ex,privativum,soing,cura.TheGreekwordi^d/ivva0aihasbeenproposedasanotherderivation,implyinganexcusebymeansofanoath.ThetermoccurssoearlyastheAssizesofJerusalem,(o.58.)SolimitedisthedoctrineofEssoinsinthepresentday,thatitwillheresuiBcetoobserve,therewerefiveprincipalkindsinthex'eignofHenrythesecond;Isayprincipal,becausetherewerenecessarilymanyothersoflessimportance.These,asenumeratedbySirEdwardCoke,were;1.deservitioRegis.3.Interramsanctam.3.Ultramare.4.Demalolecti.5.Demaloveniendi;thetwolastbeingthesameasthoseexinfirmitatedereseantisaandexinfirmitateveniendi,sofrequentlymentionedbyourauthor,inthepresentbook.EssoinsaresaidtohavebeenderivedtousfromtheNormans.(VideAssisesofJerusalem,c.58.leGrandCustum:deNorm,sparsim.Bracton,336.b.etseq.FletaL.6.o.7.Mirror,117.etseq.3Inst.135.Spelm.Cowell.Lestermesdelaley,&c.&c.)

2Inaffirmanceofthisperiodoftime,seeArticidisuperchartas,o.15.andLordCoke'scomment.(3Inst.567.)TheNorman


least,inwhich"WritheshallberequiredaswelltoanswertotheoriginalSuit,asforhisdefaultindisobeyingthefirstsummons.^Inthismanner,threeSummonsesshallissue;and,iftheTenantneitherappearatthethirdsummons,norsend,theTenementshallbetakenintotheKing'shands,andshallsoremain,duringfifteendays.



And,if,withinthatperiod,heappearnot,theSeisin"^shallbeadjudgedtohisadversary,sothatfromthenceforththeTenantshallnotbeheard,unlessinasuitconcerningthepropriety,andthatauthorisedbytheKing'sWritofRight.^If,however,heappearwithinthefifteendays,andbedesirousofreplevyingtheTenement,heshallbecommandedtoappearonthefourthday,andheshallhavethatwhichheislegallyentitledunto;andthus,ifheappear,hemayrecover

coderequiredthesameperiodtorenderasummonslawful,GrandCustum.deNorm.c.49.SeealsoBracton,334.a.andFleta,L.6.c.6.s.11.13.

1ItseemsfromtheBegiamMajestatem,thatifthesummonsweremadebyonesummoner,inthepresenceoflawfulandsufficientwitnesses,itwasgood.Thesewitnessesweretoverifythesummons,beforethedefendantcouldbecompelledtoanswer.(Reg.Maj.L.1.c.6.)

2Seisina"isborrowedoftheFrenchseisine,'possessio,'andsoitsigniflethinourcommonLaw."(Cowelladvoc.)Craigconcludes,thataswehadtheterm,sowehadthedoctrinefromtheFrench.(Craig,deFeud.L.2.Dieg.7.s.1.)SirEdwardCokeandSirHenrySpelmancoincidedwithCowellandCraiginthederivation.(Co.Litt.)17.a.Spelm.Gloss,advoc.)Theterm,itseems,wasused,bothbythecanonistsandcivilians.(Cowellubisupra:videalsoIndexadAngloSax,LL.verb.saisiareandreferencesthere.)

8VideBracton,367.a.


8

theSeisin.Shouldhe,liowever,appearatthethirdSummons,andconfesstheformerSummonses,heshallinstantlylosetheSeisin,unlesshecanexcusehisdefaultbytheKing's"Warrant,andbythe"Writ;which,heshouldinstantlyproduce.



CHAP.Till.

"TheKingtotheJustices,Health.IwarrantB."whowasatsuchaplace,bymyprecept,onsucha"day,inmyservice,and,therefore,couldnotbepres"entbeforeyouonthatdayatyourAssizes;andI"commandyou,thatyouputhimnotindefaultforhis"absencethatday,northatheinanyrespectsuffer"loss.Witness,&c."^

CHAP.IX.

Ifheshoulddenyallthesummonses,heshall,astoeachofthemindividuallj'^,corroboratehisdenialwiththeoathsoftwelve.^Shouldithappenontheday

1VideF.N.B.36.37.Ed.1687.

2Duodecimdmanu.Theauthorofthecommentariesrendersthisexpressioneleven,besidestheprincipal,aninterpretationwhichismoreorlessconfirmedbythefollowingauthorities:Co.Litt.295.a.2Inst.44,andtheDiversityofCourts,p.824.Ontheotherhand,LesTermesdelaLey,indescribingtheceremonyasappliedtotheveryobjectofthetext,expresslysays,thattheprincipalshouldbeaccompaniedbytwelve.(Ibid,advoc.ley.)

Bracton,whentreatingofthesubject,employsthesameex


appointedthateitheroftheCompurgators^fail,orshouldthepersonofeitherofthembejustlyexceptedto,andthevacancyoccasionedbyeitherofthesecircumstancesnotbefilledup,theTenantshall,onaccountofhisdefault,immediatelylosehisSeisin.^^^But,iftheTenantthuscompletelydisprovethesummonses,heshallonthesamedayanswertotheAction.^



CHAP.X.

IftheTenant,beingsummoned,appearnotonthefirstday,butEssoinhimself,suchEssoinshall,ifreasonable,bereceived;andhemay,inthismanner,essoinhimselfthreetimessuccessively;and,sincethe

pression,andobserves,thatthelandwasnottobereplevied,beforethetenanthadwagedhislaw,nor,ifhefailedinwagingit.;andhelaysitdown,thattheTenantcouldnotwagehisLawbymeansofanAttorneyconstitutedforthatpurpose,butmiistdoitpersonally.(Bracton,366.a.410.a.)AstotheoriginofwagingLaw,thereadermayconsultCowelladvoc.LaivandlesTermesdelaleyubisupraandBl.coram.3.341.&c.

Beforewequitthischapter,itmaynotbeamisstoobserve,thatSirEdwardCokereferstoittoshow,thatprevioustoMagnaCharta,hethatwouldmakehisLawinanyCourtofRecord,mustbringwithhimfidelesTestes.(Co.Litt.168.b.)

1Bractontellsus,thatitwasnotnecessarythatthecompurgatorsshouldbeofthesamerankastheirPrincipal:itwassufficientiftheyweretrustworthy,andofgoodcharacters.(Bracton,410.a.)

2Mr.Eeevesobserves,thatthewagingofLawisnotmentionedbyGlanville,asamodeofproofforthedefendantincivilsuits.Thatjudiciouswritermustbeunderstood,asspeakingofthatproof,whichconstitutedthedefencetotheAction.

8VideMirror,c.4.s.7.Bracton,366.a.b.368.a.b.


10

causes,onaccountofwhichapersonmayjustlyessoinhimself,arevarious,letusconsiderthedifferentkindsofEssoins.



CHAP.XI.

OfEssoins,someariseonaccountofillhealth,othersfromothersources.OfthoseEssoinswhicharisefromillhealthonekindisthatexinfirmitateveniendianotherexinfirmitatedereseantisa}

CHAP.XII.

IftheTenant,beingsummoned,should,onthefirstday,casttheEssoindeinfirmitateveniendi,^itisintheelectionofhisAdversary,beingpresent,eitherto

1Reseantisa,fromtheFrenchreseant,orresiant,orwhenanglicised,resiance,atermwhichDr.Johnsonexplainsinhisdictionary,asmeaningaresidence,though,asheremarks,itisnowonlyusedinLaw.Inthis,itssimplesense,ourauthorhasusedit,inasubsequentpartofhiswork.(L.12.c.7.)Yetitassumesadifferentmeaning,asusedbytheoldEnglishandScotchLawyerstodenoteanEssoin,whenitindicated,asSkeneexpressesit,"alongandoldsickness,oraresident,heavyin"iirmityandsoresickness."(RegiamMajestatem,L.1.c.8.)Anobservationinthemarginofourauthorinformsus,thatthisEssoinwassynonymouswiththatdemalolecti;inotherwords,thisEssoinwasresortedtoonaccountofsuchasevereindispositionasnecessarilyconfinedamantohishouseorbed.

"OrdeviaCurice,asitistermedintheNormancode.ThisEssoinwascast,whenthepartyonhiswaytoCourthadfallensuddenlysick,andwastherebypreventedattending.(LegrandCustum.deNorm.c.39.)


11



requirefromtheEssoineralawfulproofofthetruthoftheEssoininquestion,onthatveryday/orthatheshouldfindpledges,orbindhimselfsolemnly,thatatthedayappointedhewillhavehis"WarrantoroftheEssoin;andhemaythusEssoinhimselfthreetimessuccessivel}'.If,onthethirdday,2heneitherappearnoressoinhimself,thenletitbeordered,thathebeforthcominginproperpersononanotherday;orthathesendafitAttorneyinhisplace,togainorloseforhim.Thus,whoeverontheappointeddaj''mayappearintheplaceoftheTenant,offeringtoundertakehisdefence,whetherauthorisedbyhisLetters,orwithoutthem,isimmaterial,ifitbeknown,thathebealliedtotheabsentTenant,heshallbereceivedforhiminCourt,eithertogainorlose.^Itmaybeasked,whatwillbetheconsequenceiftheTenantappearatthefourthday,afterhavingcastthreeEssoins,andwarrantalltheEssoins?Inthatcase,heshallprovethetruthofeachEssoin*byhisownoathandthatofanother;and,onthesameday,heshallanswertothesuit.If,onthefourthday,he

^"Oronanother,"accordingtotheCotton.Bodl.andDr.Milles'sMS.

2"Fourth,"aocordingtoDr.Milles'sMS.andsoitundoubtedlyoughttobe,asthecontextevinces.

8VideInfra,L.11.c.5.

*Itshouldseem,fromBractonandFleta,thatsuchpersonsonlyaswereinferiorindignitytoBarons,wererequiredtoprovethetruthoftheirEssoinsbytheirownoaths.(Bracton,351.b,Fleta,L.6.c.10.s.15.)Bythe19thc.ofMarlbridge,eventhesepersonswererelievedfromtheobligation.(2Inst.136.)


12

neitherappearnorsendanAttorney,lettheTenementbetakenintotheKing'shands,aWritbeingissuedby



theCourtforthatpurpose,directedtotheSheriffoftheCounty,inwhichsuchTenementissituated,whichWritisinthefollowingwords:

CHAP.XIII.

"TheKingtotheSheriff,health.Icommandyou"that,withoutdelay,youtakeintomyhandsthehalf"ofthelandsinsuchawill,whichM.claims,asher"Dower,againstR.concerningwhichthereisasuit"betweentheminmyCourt,andthatyoumake"knownthedayofthecaptiontomyjustices.And"summon,bygoodSummoners,theaforesaidR,that"hebebeforeme^ormyjusticesatWestminster"acrastinoootdbusclausiPaschceinquindecimdies,"tohearhisjudgment,andhavetheretheSummoners"andthisWrit.WitnessEanulphdeGlanvilleat"Westminster,&c."Inaddition,lettheSheriffoftheCountybecommandedtotaketheEssoiners,asDefaulters,andtodetainthem,andforthispurposethefollowingwritshallIssue:

CHAP.XIY.

"TheKingtotheSheriff,Health.Icommandyou"that,withoutdelay,youdiligentlyseek,through

1VideMadox'sExcheq.c.3.s.3.


13

"yourCounty,A.whohasfalselyEssoinedB.against"C.inmyCourt,andthatyousafelykeephim,untilyou*'havemyotherprecept.Witness,&c."TheDefendanthimselfshallalso,inthemeantime,besummonedtoappearbeforetheKing,orhisJustices,toshowwhyhehasnotwarrantedhisEssoiner,andto



answertotheprincipalsuit.Besides,thePledgesoftheEssoinersshallbesummoned,bythefollowingWrit.

CHAP.XV.

"TheKingtotheSheriff,Health.Summonby^'goodSummonersT.thathebebeforeme,ormy"Justices,at"Westminster,infifteendaysfromthe"Pentecost,toshowwhyhehasnothadI.beforeme"at"Westminster,onsuchaday,towarrantthe^'Essointhat/.madeforhiminmyCourtagainstM.^'ashepledgedhimselftohavehim.Andhavethere*'theSummoners,andthisWrit.Witness,&c."

CHAP.XYI.

But,iftheTenantappearwithinthefifteendays,andbewillingtoreplevytheTenement,lethimbecommandedtoattend,onadayappointed,thathemaythenhavejusticedonehim;and,ifheappearonthatday,andfindpledges,heshallrecoverhisseisin,andmayretainit.IfhedenyalltheSummonses,and


u

alltheEssoins,anddisprovethemindividuallywiththeoathsoftwelve,orifbeacknowledgethefirstSummons,andwarrantthethreeEssoins,andsavethefourthdaybytheKing's"Writofwarranty,whichheshouldforthwithproduce,hemayalsoretainhisSeisin.But,iftheTenantappearnotwithinthefifteendays,theseisinshall,onthefollowingday,beadjudgedtohisadversary,sothattheTenantshallneveragainbeheardconcerningit,unlessbytheKing'sWritconcerningtheKight.^ButtheDemandantshallbeputintothepossessionoftheTene



ment,bythefollowing"Writ,directedtotheSheriff.

CHAP.XYII.

"TheKingtotheSheriff,Health.Icommandyou"that,withoutdelay,youdeliverpossessiontoM.of"somuchlandinsuchaYill,ofwhichtherewasa"suitinmyCourt,betweenhimandJ?.;becausethe"SeisinofsuchLandisadjudgedtothesaidM.inmy"Court,forthedefaultofi?.Witness,&c."

CHAP.XYIII.

IfanyonedesiretocasttheEssoindeinfirmitatt,

1TheseverityofthisLawwasmitigatedby9Ed.3.c.3.wherebynoneweretolosetheirland,byreasonofnonplevin.AnotetothiseffectisinsertedinthemarginofourAuthor;butthereferencetothechapteriserroneous.


15

deJResewntisdfhemaythricedoit.^YetshouldtheEssoiner,onthethirddayprecedingthatappointed,ataproperplace,andbeforeaproperperson,presenthisEssoin.If,onthethirdsummons,theTenantappearnot,theCourtshoulddirect,thatitmaybeseenwhetherhisindispositionamounttoalanguor,^ornot.Forthispurpose,letthefollowingWritissue,,directedtotheSheriff.

CHAP.XIX.

"TheKingtotheSheriff,Health.Icommandyou"that,withoutdelay,yousendfourlawfulmen^of



"yourCountytoseeoftheinfirmityofwhichJB.hath"essoinedhimselfinmyCourt,againstli.bealan"guorornot.And,iftheyperceivethatitisalan"guor,then,thattheyshouldputtohimadayofone"yearandoneday,fromthedayoftheview,toap"pearbeforeme,ormyjustices,orthathesenda"sufficientAttorneytoanswerforhim.Andifthey"seethatitbenotalanguor,then,thattheyputhim

1"AndbytwoEssoiners,"accordingtoCotton:andDr..Milles'sMS.

2Skeneexplainsalanguorby"avehementsicknessofbody,"orofmind."(Reg.Maj.L.1.c.8.)

^ThetextisHomines.TheTranslatorsubmitsthatitshouldbemilites,areadingwarrantedbythelatterpartofthisverywrit;andauthorisedbytheconcurringtestimonyofBracton,Fleta,GrandCustum:ofNorm:&c.Seealsochapter38.ofthepresentBookwhere,asimilarobjectbeinginview,fourKnightsaredirectedtobesent.


16

"acertainday,onwhichheshallappear,orsenda"sufficientAttorneytoanswerforhim.AndSum"mon,bygoodSummoners,theaforesaidfourKnights,"thattheybethentheretotestifytheirview,andthe"daytheyputhim;andhavetherethesummoners"andthisWrit.Witness,&c."Itshouldbeobserved,thattwoEssoiners,atleast,arenecessarytocastthisEssoin.

CHAP.XX.

Itshouldalsoberemarked,thatthetwofirstessoinsmaybecastdeinfirmitateveniendi,andthethirdde

reseaiitisd.



Shouldthatcoursebeadopted,theCourtshouldsendtoascertain,whethertheindispositionamounttoalanguor,ornot.If,however,thetwofirstessoinsshouldbedereseantisd,andthethirddeinfirmitateveniendi,itshallbeorderedasifthej'^werealldeinfirmitateveniendi,becausethejudg.mentmustalwaysfollowthenatureofthelastessoin.

CHAP.XXI.

Shouldituponanyoftheseoccasionshappen,thatthepartyhimselfshouldanswerinCourt,andwhilsthewaspresent,afuturedayshouldhavebeenappointedhim;if,atthatday,he.neithercomenor


17

sendanAttorney,lethis,landbetakenintotheKing'shands,andlethimbedebarredthepowerofreplevyingit.Andheshallbesummonedtoappearandhearthejudgmentatanappointeddayandthus,whetherheappearornot,heshalllosetheSeisin,onaccountofhisdefault;becausehecannotafterwardsdenythesummons,unlessbytheKing'sWrit,whichheshouldforthwithproduce,andbywhichhemaysavehisdefault.Butalthoughonanyofthedaysappointedforhisappearance,theTenantshouldanswerinCourt,ifhelawfullydepart,hemayrecurtohisthreeEssoins,unlesshehasprecludedhimselfhjanagreementtowaivethem.If,onthefirstday,thepartyshouldessoinhimself,but,onthesecond,shouldneitherappearnoressoinhimself,lettheSheriffbecommandedtoattachtheEssoiner,asadefaulter,andforthispurposelettheforegoingWritbedirectedtohim.



CHAP.XXII.

Butitshouldbeobserved,thatwhenapartytoasuithasEssoinedhimself,theEssoinermayalsoavailhimselfofareasonableEssoin.ForifanyonedesirousofcastingareasonableEssoin,shouldcommissionapersonforthispurpose,andtheEssoinermeetswithsomereasonableimpedimentintheway,bywhichheispreventedbeingpresentattheappointedday,heshallbeawaiteduntilthefourthday,ashisPrincipalwould


18

havebeen;andifwithinthatperiodheappear,hisEssoinshallbereceived,onwhateverdaj'heshouldcome;andhemaythussavethedaj'swhicharepastforthesamecausesforwhichhisprincipalcould.

CHAP.xxm.

TheprincipalEssoinerisalsoatliberty,ifsodisposed,toessoinhimselfbyanotherEssoiner.InthiscasethesecondEssoinermuststatetotheCourt,thattheTenant,havingajustcauseofEssoin,hadbeendetained,sothathecouldnotappearatthedayappointed,neithertolosenorgain,andthat,therefore,hehadappointedacertainotherpersontoessoinhim;andthattheEssoinerhimselfhad'metwithsuchanimpediment,whichhadpreventedhisappearanceonthatday:andthisheispreparedtoproveaccordingtothepracticeoftheCourt.Bythesemeans,suchEssoinershallbereceived,andadayshallbegrantedtotheTenant,throughthemediumofsuchEssoiner,uponhisundertakingtoproducehis"Warrantoronsuchagivenday,whentheTenantoughttoguaranteehisprincipalEssoiner,andtoprovehisEssoinintheusualmanner.Inthesamemanner,thefirstEssoineristoguaranteethesecond,unlessonthefirstdayhehimselfhasprovedhisEssoins,upontherequisitionof



theadversepart3^

1TheTenant,accordingtoDr.Milles'sMS.


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CHAP.XXIY.

ButiftheTenant,desirousofproceedinginthecause,should,afterhisEssoincastinCourtandwithinthefourthday,appear,then,ifthedaywasinthefirstinstancefixedthroughtheinterventionoftheEssoiner,andtheadversepartyhasunderthesecircumstanceslefttheCourt,theDemandant^cannotrecover,ashemightonthedaypast.

CHAP.XXY.

ThereisanotherspeciesofEssoin;whichispermittedfromthenecessityofthecase;andthishappenswhenanyonecaststheEssoindeultramare."^Inthatcase,iftheEssoinbereceived,theperiodoffortvdays,atleast,shallbegiventothepartyessoined.Butif,'bymeansofthisoranyotherreasonableEssoin,amanwouldessoinhimselffora,longerperiod,theusualcourseoftheCourtshallbefollowedingivingtime.

1AccordingtotheBodleianMS.itwouldstand,he(theTenant)cannotrecover,&c.

2"Thereis,"saystheRegiamMajestatem,"anotherkindof"ExcuseorEssoinwhichisnecessary,thatis,whenanyoneis"essoinedbecauseheisbeyondthewaterofForthorof"Spey;and,ifthisEssoinisfoundlawful,fortydaysshallbe"grantedtohimwhoisexcused."(VideReg.Maj.L.1.c.8.)"TheinconveniencesresultingfromtheabuseoftheEssoininour



"textwereremediedbyWest.1.cap.44,VideSirEdward"Coke'sComment.2Inst.251.


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CHAP.XXVI.

ThereareotherEssoinswhicheventuallymayberesortedto,inordertosavethefourdays,oroneofthem,bymeansofAvhichEssoinstheadversepartyshouldbeawaitedinCourt:as,forExample,asuddeninundation,oranyotherunexpectedeventwhichcouldnotbeforeseen.

CHAP.XXYII.

TheserviceoftheKingisalsoanotherreasonablecauseofEssoin,ândwhenthisEssoinisprovedinCourtandallowed,theSuitshallstandoversinedie,untilitappearthatthepartyhasreturnedfromtheKing'sservice.HencethosewhoarecontinuallyintheKing'sservice,ashisServants,^shallnotavailthem

1And,asthis'âsfoundeduponapoliticalobligation,itdidnotextendtoexcusetheDefendant,ifintheserviceofanyotherpex'son.(Bracton,336.b.)

2Servientes.Thistermwasreceivedinmanydifferentsenses.Sometimesitmeant,personsholdingmilitaryrankSometimes,VassalsorTenantsonlySometimes,Esquires.Itis,inthislattersense,thatLordLittletonandDr.Bradyseeminclinedtothinkitvsâsmoregenerallyused(Litt.Hist.Hen.3.Vol.3.p.87.)Mr.Selden,however,has,inhisTreatiseonTitlesofHonor,proved,thatthereweresomeverymaterialdistinctionsbetweentheterms,andthattheywerefarfiombeingsynonymous.Dr.Sullivan,whenhemeetswiththewordinaLawoftheconqueror,explainsitasmeaning"thelowersoldiers,notknighted,



"whohadnotyetgotlands,butwerequarteredontheAbbies."(LecturesonLawsofEngland,p.266.)SirJohnSkeneinterprets,whatIpresumeisthesameTerm,asmeaningdomesticservants.(Reg.Maj.L.1.c.8.)Thisis,Iapprehend,thetrue


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selvesofthisEssoin;but,withrespecttotheirpersons,theordinarycourseoftheCourt,andtheorderoftheLaw,shallbeobserved.Wemust,however,makeadistinction,withrespecttotheforegoingEssoin.ThepartydesirousofavailinghimselfoftheEssoinperservitiumMegis,willeitherhavebeensummonedbyhisadversarypreviouslytoenteringintosuchservice,orhewillhaveenteredintosuchserviceinthefirstinstance,andhaveafterwardsbeensummoned.

IfhewereinthefirstinstanceintheKing'sservice,andinthemeantimebesummonedtoanswerthesuit,theEulewehaveabovelaiddownmustunquestionablyprevail.Ontheotherhand,ifapartybeimpleadedinthefirstinstance,andheafterwardscasttheEssoinperservitium,Begis,itismaterialtoascertain,whetherheactbyamandateoftheKing,orageneralorspecialprecept,andbefromnecessityinsuchservice,orotherwise.IfhewerecalledbyapreceptoftheKingintohisservice,then,indeed,thesameLawprevails,asintheformerinstance.Butif,ontheotherhand,voluntarilyandwithoutanysuchprecept,hehasrecentlyenteredintotheKing'sservice,.itmustbedistinguished,whetherhehasgonebeyondseainthatservice,orremainswithintheEealm.If

meaningofthetext,notwithstandingthatServientes,whenconnectedwiththetermsdominiRegis,sometimesmeantaparticulardescriptionofofficers,residingineveryCounty,andpossessedofanauthority,perhaps,notaltogetherunlikethatofSheriffsorCoroners,afterwhom,theyareenumeratedbyBraoton.(L.3.Tr.2.c.32.)



DigitizedbyMicrosoft^

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hehasgonebeyondSea,arespite^offortydays,atleast,shallbeallowedhim,but,ifheshouldnotreturnwithinthatperiod,theaccustomedcourseoftheCourt,andtheorderofLawshallbeobserved.AtwhateverperiodheappearsinCourt,andwhetherpersonally,orbyhisAttorney,hemustimmediatelyproducetheKing'sWrit,towarranthisprecedingEssoins.Butif,ontheotherhand,theDefendantbewithintheKealm,andintheserviceoftheKing,inthatCaseitmustberegulatedbythewillandpleasureoftheKing'sJustices,whetheralessoragreaterperiod^beallowedhimtoappearandanswer,accordingasitmaybestsuittheKing,andmaybeconsistentwiththecourseofJustice.

CHAP.XXVIII.

Itmayalsohappen,thatapartyisessoinedinCourt,onaccountofsomeindispositionbywhichheisconfinedinthesameTownwheretheCourtissitting,havingarrivedtheretoprosecutehisplea.Inthiscase,lettheCourtdirect,thatheappearonthemor

1Bespectus,promora,dilationsvelcontinuationetemporis.Inthissense,thetermfrequentlyoccursinouroldlawbooks.(VideReg.Maj.L.4.o.20.andSpelm.Gloss,advoc.)ThereisintheRegisterawritrespectueomputivicecomitishabendo,fortherespitingaSheriff'saccounts..TherewasalsorespectusHoniagii,delayingofHomage.(SeeCowelladvoc.)

2Terminum."IntheCivilLaw,"saysSpelman,"itsignifleth"adaysettotheDefendant,andinthatsensedothBracton,"Glanville,andsomeotherssometimesuseit."(ReliquiaeSpelmanniansep.71.)




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row;andthuslethimbeawaitedduringthreesuccessivedaysandforthiscause,heshallhaveadelayofthreesuccessivedays.If,onthethirdday,hethensoessoinhimself,thenfourKnightsshouldbedirectedbytheCourttoattendhimforthepurposeofascertaining,whetherheisinsucliastateastobeabletomakehisappearanceinCourt,ornot;and,shouldtheybeofopinionthatheisable,then,theyshouldcommandhim,toattendinCourt,anddothatwhichheought.But,iftheyshouldthinkhimunable,andshouldtestifythistotheCourt,thenshallareasonabletime,adelayoffifteendaysattheleast,beallowedhim.

CHAP.XXIX.

ThereisalsoanotherEssoin,w

full text of _a translation of glanville

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