ORDINANCES IN CHANCERY. 285 



the account, and so to go on to a hearing of the 

 accounts. 



54. In all suits where it shall appear, upon the 

 hearing of the cause, that the plaintiff had not &quot; pro- 

 babilem causam litigandi,&quot; he shall pay unto the 

 defendant his utmost costs, to be assessed by the 

 court. 



55. If any bill, answers, replication, or rejoinder, 

 shall be found of an immoderate lengtb, both the 

 party and the counsel under whose hand it passeth 

 shall be fined. 



56. If there be contained in any bill, answer, or 

 other pleadings, or any interrogatory, any matter 

 libellous or slanderous against any that is not party 

 to the suit, or against such as are parties to the 

 suit, upon matters impertinent, or in derogation of 

 the settled authorities of any of his majesty s court; 

 such bills, answers, pleadings, or interrogatorie 

 shall be taken off the file and suppressed, and the 

 parties severally punished by commitment or igno 

 miny, as shall be thought fit, for the abuse of the 

 court ; and the counsellors at law, who have set 

 their hands, shall likewise receive reproof or punish 

 ment, if cause be. 



57. Demurrers and pleas which tend to discharge 

 the suit shall be heard first upon every day of or 

 ders, that the subject may know whether he shall 

 need farther attendance or no. 



58. A demurrer is properly upon matter defec- 

 tive, contained in the bill itself, and no foreign mat 

 ter ; but a plea is of foreign matter to discharge or 



