72 ON THE PROBABLE ORIGIN 
frey of the commune, to muster in arms for the 
defence of their walls. 
The constitutions of these cities of Northern 
France and Flanders differed from those of the 
South and of the Rhine, in bearing stronger 
marks of feudal origin. The great object was 
to secure an independent administration of jus- 
tice, for which purpose the echevinage was 
formed commonly of twelve members and a 
Major (Maire), who had a civil and criminal 
jurisdiction except in capital cases, which was 
reserved for the propositus (prévét) or bailiff of 
the superior. In some instances, as at Beauvais, 
the echevins appear under the feudal name of 
Pares. For the administration of the affairs of 
the community a council answering to the cre- 
dentia was established, who in France were usual- 
ly called jurati, im Flanders choremanni, whence 
the law of the city itself was called Chora and 
Keuran;* the most common number was twenty- 
four, one half being composed of the echevins, 
the other of the jurati. The larger cities only 
had also a council, answering to the parlamentum 
* Koren signifies to choose, but it is doubtful whether in 
this connexion it is applied primarily to the magistrates to de- 
signate their election, or to law as expressive of the choice and 
pleasure (wilkiihr) of the party who enacts it. 
