The Domestic Acquirements of the Landed Interest. 367 



real," inasmuch as it was a king's court. But lie was as well 

 the judge of Record in leet/ and as such, though his bailiff 

 that served him was not answerable for his unlawful acts, he 

 was, as long as the Court of Star Chamber lasted, liable to be 

 punished by it for misdemeanours, and in this respect, his 

 powers did not exceed those of the justice of the peace. 



The manner of keeping a Court Baron differed from that of 

 the Court Leet, not only in the business transacted, but in the 

 formalities observed. The entry on the Manor Roll ran as 

 follows : — 



" Curia R.F.C. ibidem tenta die Martis, videlicet decimo quarto die 



Maii, Anno Regni Eegis Dei Gratia, Angiise, Francise et Hibernse 



fidei defensoris, etc. Tent per J. K. seneschallem. 



J. S. J. D. et R. R. Essoin de commune vel essoin prosecta Curise per R.R. 

 Johannes Doo Robertus Dodg 



Ricbardus Roo Thomas Lodge 



Johannes Den Adam Clarke 



Ricbardus Fen David Park 



Walterus Hollen Henricus Roo 



Robertus Allen Wilhelmus Croo " 



After the style of the court is entered, the steward makes 

 one " oyez," calls the suitors, makes another oyez, and says, — 



'' If any will be essoyned, or enter a plaint, come you in and 

 you shall be heard." 



The essoyne is then entered, the plaint determined, the jury 

 empannelled and sworn. A third " oyez " is proclaimed, and 

 the steward addresses the jury at great length. He begins by 

 •showing by whose authority they are there assembled. He 

 proceeds to classify the causes of their meeting under three 

 heads. (1) That as residents within the precincts of the leet 

 they are bound to appear. (2) That as copyholders, free- 

 holders, or tenants of their lord they should make him suit 

 every three weeks if so warned. (3) That they might learn 

 the laws, so as to know what things to follow and what to 

 avoid. He then exhorts them to act with truth, justice and 

 judgment, for the sake of the duties that they owe their God, 

 the commonwealth, themselves, their relatives and posterity. 

 He then proceeds to make the charge in Court Baron, which 



1 12 Hen. IV. fol. 3. 



