54 George E. Hozvard, 



Similar courts held by two or more justices at any time 

 other than the regular quarterly terms are styled general 

 sessions. This distinction grew out of an act of Henry IV, 

 which provided that, besides the four annual sessions, the 

 magistrates should "meet more frequently when necessary." ^ 

 But it is of little practical significance, since the powers 

 created by statute, except in a few instances, may be exer- 

 cised indifferently either in general or quarter sessions ; and 

 the latter name is popularly applied to both tribunals. ^ 



The court of quarter sessions presents a remarkable exam- 

 ple of rapid development. Very soon after its creation it 

 appears as the most dignified and powerful body in the shire. 

 It acquired all the attributes of the "solemn bench and 

 figure of judgment."^ For ages it was the real centre of 

 English local government ; and still more interesting histori- 

 cally is the fact that it became the model for the county 

 courts of the American colonies. But, from an institutional 

 point of view, the process by which the new peace-magistracy 

 — deriving its authority from the royal commission — gradu- 

 ally acquired the powers and attributes of the ancient scirge- 

 mot, is the matter of supreme importance. The popular 

 county court, presided over by the sheriff, still continued to 

 exist ; but it no longer possessed the wide competence of 

 early days. With the rise of leet jurisdictions, comprising 

 view of frankpledge, many of its suitors were excused from 

 attendance ; and after magna charta, the right to try all the 

 more important criminal causes was transferred to the royal 

 judges. But though the shire court fell into decay, it did 

 not entirely perish ; its ancient organization as a folkmoot 

 was still preserved for the election of coroners, verderers, and 

 knights of the shire. And so, after the advent of the quarter 

 sessions, the county has two centres : the old scirgemot, the 

 meeting of the folk, with decaying functions ; and the new 

 peace tribunal, a branch of the royal jurisdiction, whose 

 authority and range of duties are constantly expanding. For 



' Gneist, II, 35S. - Maitland, Justice and Police, 85. ^ Lambard, Ei^-enarcha, 376. 



288 



