‘ 
By the Rev. W. H. Jones. 81 
for the maintenance of the public peace; that he should enjoy 
protection for life, honour and property himself, and be compelled 
to respect the life, honour and property of others; that he should 
have a fixed and settled dwelling where he could be found when 
required, where the public dues could be levied, and the public 
services demanded of him; and that, if guilty of actions that com- 
promised the public weal or trenched upon the rights and well- 
being of others, there might be persons appointed to bring him to 
justice, and if injured by others, supporters to pursue his claim and 
exact compensation for this wrong.” In later years, of course, all 
that was implied in the ‘View of Frankpledge’ was an enquiry by 
the Steward into the general good and peaceable conduct of those 
living within the jurisdiction of the Court, and receiving present- 
ments concerning any matters of which the Court was empowered 
to take cognizance. 
As in the case of the ‘Three Weeken Court,’ so here there seems 
to have been one Court Leet for the Borough, and another for the 
Hundred, which, though held at thesame time and place, were, never- 
theless, distinct from each other. At the former, the Jury were 
chosen from the householders of the Borough, at the latter, from 
the inhabitants of the Tithings. From those not ‘warned’ specially 
to attend the Courts, the ‘Essoign’”! money was collected, as it is, 
indeed, to this day, at the rate of ‘one penny’ for each householder. 
As late as 1629, as appears from the Manuscript from which we 
have made several extracts, the ‘Leets’ or ‘Law-days’ were held 
twice in the year,—at Easter and at Michaelmas. For a long time, 
however, there has been but one Court-Leet, held at Easter in each 
year. 
The jurisdiction of this Court was extensive. Even petty trea- 
sons and felonies were presentable, though not punishable in it, 
the course pursued being to certify the presentment in some supe- 
rior court, where the offender might be prosecuted and punished. 
1 ¢ Bssoign’ money (from the Fr. Essoine, an excuse,) was the sum paid by 
those who did not attend the Lord’s Court, and, in consideration of this pay- 
ment, were excused. ‘The old people in Bradfordthave abbreviated the term, 
and pronounce it as though it were written, ‘sign-money,’ or, as they more com- 
monly say, ‘ sign-pence,’ 
G 
