Ki?igs Peace and English Peacc-JMagistracy. 53 



the issue of certificates to pawnbrokers, gang-masters, pas- 

 sage brokers, emigrant runners, and dealers in game ; the 

 revision of juryhsts; and the execution of laws relating to 

 highways.^ Nearly all of the administrative functions of the 

 petty sessions remain undisturbed by the recent local govern- 

 ment act ; and, besides, various powers may be delegated to 

 them at any time by the county council. ^ 



{d). — The Quarter Sessions. 



The court of quarter sessions^ sits four times a year, as the 

 name implies. In theory it is composed of all the justices 

 of the shire sitting en banc, though any two may hold a legal 

 session ; ^ and in practice a considerable number usually 

 attend.^ 



This court originated as early at least as 1362, when it was 

 enacted that four sessions should be held in each year : one 

 in octabis of Epiphany, the second in the second week of 

 Lent, the third between the feast of Pentecost and St. John 

 the Baptist, and the last in octabis of St. Michael.^ Under 

 Richard II, obligation to hold four sessions a year, each for 

 three days if necessary, was enjoined under sanction of pun- 

 ishment at the discretion of the king and council on the suit 

 of any complainant.' 



1 Gneist, II, 341-357; Maitland, Justice and Police, i66 (jury lists); Pulling, 

 Haiidbooli for County Autliorities, 64-72, 56. 



'^ 51 and 52 Victoria, c. 41, sec. 28. See also Bazalgette and Humphreys, Tlie 

 Law relating to tJie County Councils (London, 1889), p. 42; and Chambers, A 

 Popular Summary of the Law relating to Local Government, 54-5. 



3 On the quarter sessions, see Wood, Lnstitute, 505 ff.; Burn, Justice of the 

 Peace, 643 ff.; Dalton, Country Justice, 35 ff.; Lambard, Eiretiarcha, 376-634; 

 Gneist, II, 358-407 /«5«w ; Stephen, Hist, of Crim. Law, I, 114 ff. 



* Originally the presence of at least one member of the quorum was required. 

 The number of justices necessary for the transaction of business was fixed by the 

 words of the commission : Assignavimiis etiam vos, et quoslibet duos vet plures 

 vestrum, quorum, etc.: see text of the commission in Gneist, II, 172. Cf. Lam- 

 bard, Eirenarcha, 379. 5 Maitland, Justice arid Police, 85. 



*= Reeves, Hist. ofEng. Law, III, 206; Statutes at Laige, II, 154; Gneist, II, 358. 



^ By 12 Rich. II, c. X. Cf. Reeves, Hist, of Eng. Lata, III, 405; Gneist, II, 358. 



287 



