COURT KOr.LS OF THE MANOR OF HOLMESFIELD, 53 



The word manor is immediately derived from the old French 

 via/ioir, habitation, or from the Latin vianere, to stay or dwell, 

 because the lord usually resided there in the. curia, hall, or chief 

 seat on the estate, where he held his courts, received his rents and 

 services, and transacted all his manorial business. The records 

 of these transactions are termed " Court Rolls." The Courts 

 were of two kinds : one was termed Court Baron, and the other 

 Court Leet. 



The Court Baron was an inseparable incident to the manor, 

 and was held by prescription. The homage jury were bound to 

 enquire that their lords did not lose their services, duties, or 

 custom, to see that the tenants made their suits of court, paid 

 their rents and heriots, kept their lands and tenements in repair, 

 and were bound to present all matters which might tend to 

 prejudice the lord's interest in his manor. 



The Court Lert was ordained for punishing offences against 

 the Crown, and is said to be the most ancient court of the land. 

 It was called The " Vietv of Frank Pledge" because the King was 

 to be certified by the steward how many people were within every 

 Leet, and have an account of their good manners and govern- 

 ment, and every person of the age of twelve to fourteen years who 

 had remained there for a year and a day might be sworn to be 

 faithful to the King, and every person from this age to sixty 

 dwelling in the Leet district was obliged to do suit in the court. 

 A Leet court was as incident to a Hundred, as a Court Baron to a 

 Manor. This court was to be held twice a year, viz., within a 

 month after the feasts of Michaelmas and Easter. The Steward 

 was the judge of this court, as the Sheriff was of the 'Turn.' 

 He had powers to elect his officers, as constables, tithingmen, 

 as well as punish offenders. Twelve freeholders or residents were 

 to form the jury. They were to inquire whether all that owed 

 suit of court were present, of customs withdrawn, of purprestures, 

 of lands, woods, of houses set up or beat down, of cottages 

 erected contrary to law, — of bounds removed, ways or waters 

 stopped, of thieves, of ' Hue and Cry ' disregarded, of blood- 

 shed, escapes, persons outlawed, money coiners, treasure trove, 



