364 History of tJie English Landed Interest. 



of court could exist without suitors, and neither kind of court 

 could be created. The Court Leet held jurisdiction over 

 offences and annoyances to the commonwealth. The Court 

 Baron, on the other hand, enquired into injuries, debts, and 

 trespasses against the community of the manor. In the 

 former was administered the view of Frank pledge, and the 

 lo3'al oath to all who had attained the age of twelve. In 

 the latter enquiry was made into tenures, homages, services 

 and customs, and in it suits were made to the lord. The 

 former was held twice a year, at Easter and Michaelmas, in 

 any place within the Hundred, wherever it pleased the lord. 

 The latter might be held at any time and anywhere within 

 the manor, so long as the tenants should have sufficient notice 

 of suit. But let us enter in imagination a Court Leet, and 

 listen to the business of the day. The steward has previously 

 made a precept as follows : — " J. K., Steward to the Bailiff 

 thereof, health, — I command likewise and appoint, that dili- 

 gently you give to understand the view of Frank pledge, of 

 the court thereto to be held against the Thursday ; that is to 

 say, the sixteenth day of October, next coming; after the date 

 of these presents ; and have there this precept. And as, etc.. 

 Dated under my seal, the first day of this month of October, 

 the year of the reign of by the Grace of God, 



of England, France and Ireland ; Defender of the Faith." 



At the beginning of the Court Roll is then entered in the 

 following manner — 



" Visus Franc, Plegii cum Cur J F Clerici ibid. Tent die 

 Jovis, viz., Decimo sexto Die Octobris, Anno Regni Domini 

 nostri Dei Gratise Anglige, Franciae, et Hibernae, Fidei 



Defensoris, etc, vicesimo primo Tent, per J K Senescal, ibid," 

 Being a king's court the bailiff stands up and makes procla- 

 mation thrice^ of the words " J^ez," and then sa3'S, " If any 

 man will be essoyned, and in Court Baron, if any will be 

 essoyned or enter any plaint, come you in, and you shall 

 be heard." The steward next says, " Essoynes and profer 

 of suit and plea " three times, and thereupon enters the esso3'n 



' This was enjoined by 21 Ed. IV. fol. 37. 



