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of securing a conviction by a judicious selection of peers. In 1696, however, (7 Wm. III.) the right of attendance was given to all peers.

Marshalsea.

Court of the Marshalsea was of very old origin Court of and was held before the Steward and Marshal of the King's household to administer justice to the King's servants. It was regulated by statutes of 1300, 1331, 1384, 1390, and 1436. By the statute of 1390 its jurisdiction was extended to a radius of twelve miles from the King's palace. It was abolished 1849. With it is closely connected The Palace Court (Curia Palatii), erected by Palace Court. Charles I. in 1631, to try personal actions within twelve miles of Whitehall Palace. It was abolished 1849.

COURTS OF SPECIAL JURISDICTION.

Courts of Special
Jurisdiction.

The Stannary Courts (Stannum tin) are courts Stannary Courts. for the administration of justice amongst the tinners in Devonshire and Cornwall. A charter of 1305 confirmed the ancient privileges of the tin workers to sue and be sued, except in cases of land, life, and member, in the Stannary Court only, before the Vice-Warden of the Stannaries; these privileges were again set forth in a statute of 1377. In 1512, Strode, a member of the House of Commons, was imprisoned by the Stannary Court for having proposed a bill for the regulation of the tinworkers. The House declared these proceedings void 4 Hen. VIII. (See Privileges of Parliament, ch. iii.) In 1607 the judges held that no writ of error lay from the Stannary Courts to any Court at Westminster, though an appeal lay from the Under Warden to the Lord Warden, and thence to the Privy Council of the Prince of Wales, as Duke of Cornwall. In 1855 the appeal lay from the Lord Warden to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, and now

Cinque Port
Courts.

County Palatine
Courts.

lies to the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Judicature. The Stannary Courts, which are courts of record, were regulated in 1641, 1836 and 1839. (See Stannaries, ch. vi.)

Courts of the Cinque Ports, i.e., of the ports of Sandwich, Dover, Hythe, Hastings and Romney (to which were subsequently added Winchelsea and Rye). These ports had special privileges and jurisdiction as early as the time of William I., and had courts of their own where the King's writ did not run, (except prerogative writs such as habeas corpus). These courts were held before the mayor and jurats of each port, a writ of error lying to the Lord Warden's Court at Shepway, and thence to the King's Bench. They were the courts of Brotherhood, and Guestling, in which matters concerning the supply of ships were regulated, the Court of Chancery, held at Dover, the Court of Shepway, the highest of all, and the Courts of Admiralty, and Lodemanage, (concerning pilots) which are still held. (See Cinque Ports, ch. vi.)

Courts of the Counties Palatine. The Earls of the Palatine Counties of Chester, Lancaster, and Originally also Durham, had royal rights, and the sole administraKentiend tion of justice in their territories where the King's ordinary writs did not run; all writs were issued in

Shrewsbury the name of the Earl, and offences were said to be

against his peace. They had Courts of Common Pleas and Chancery, the judges of which were appointed by the Earl until 1536, when many of the special priviliges were curtailed by 27 Hen. VIII. The Chancery Court of Lancaster still exists, though the Common Plea Courts were abolished by the Supreme Court of Judicature Act of 1873. (See Counties Palatine, ch. vi.)

missioners of

Court of Commissioners of Sewers is a court Court of Comauthorised in 1532 (23 Hen. VIII., ch. v.), to be Sewers. appointed when required by a commission under the Great Seal. The commissioners are appointed for some particular district and have jurisdiction in the place named only; their business is "to overlook the repairs of sea banks and sea walls, the cleansing of public rivers, streams, etc.;" they form a Court of Record.

LOCAL COUrts.

The Shire-moot (scir-gemot).

1. Before the Norman Conquest.

The shire-moot was originally the folk-moot or assembly of the people, as well as the court of the shire. The meetings were held twice a year1 (May and October) under the presidency of the sheriff, (the royal officer,) who was also the convener; with him sat the bishop and the ealdorman (the national officer). Its members were the landowners, the reeve, priest, and four representatives from each township, twelve representatives from every hundred, and all officials. Judgment lay theoretically with the whole body of suitors, though practically a committee consisting of the twelve senior thegns declared the shire report. Its judicial powers, civil, ecclesiastical, and criminal, were large, though suitors had first of all to seek justice in the lower court; if they failed to obtain it the appeal lay to the shire court. New laws were announced in it by the sheriff as the King's representative, and temp. Athelstan, the Kentish shire-moot at Faversham is found approving of certain new police laws. All suitors on their way to and from the shire and hundred courts were under the special protection of the 1 Sel. Charters, 71, 73. Laws of Edgar and Canute.

Shire-moot.

Pre-Norman.

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