MAI 
ihe unhappy criminal to undergo a repeti- 
tion of strokes, as has been the case in the 
common method. I must add, tliat if the 
sufferer is condemned for stealing a horse 
or a cow, the string is tied to the beast, 
which, on being whipped, pulls out the peg, 
and becomes the executioner.” This appa- 
ratus is now in possession of the Scottish 
Antiquarian Society. 
MAJESTY, a title given to kings, which 
frequently serves as a term of distinction. 
MAIHEM, or Maim, signifies a corporal 
wound or hurt by which a man loseth the 
use of any member. 
By the old common law, castration was 
punished with death, and otlier members 
with the loss of member for member ; but 
of latter days, maihem was punishable only 
by fine and imprisonment. If a man at- 
tack another with an intent to murder him, 
and he does not murder the man, but only 
maim him, the offence is nevertheless a ca- 
pital felony within the statute %‘l and 23 
Charles II. c. 1, usually called the Coven- 
try Act. 
And by a late statute, 44 Geo. III. c. 58, 
if any person shall, either in England or Ire- 
land, wilfully, maliciously, and unlawfully, 
shoot at any of his Majesty’s subjects, or 
wilfully, maliciously, and unlawfully pre- 
sent any kind of loaded fire-arms at any 
one, and attempt to discharge the same at 
him, or wilfully, maliciously, and unlavvfully 
stab or cut any of his Majesty’s subjects, 
with intent in so doing, or by means there- 
of to munier or rob, or to maim, disfigure, 
or disable him, or with intent to do some 
other grievous bodily harm to him, or to 
obstruct, resist, or prevent the lawful ap- 
prehension and detainer of the person so 
stabbing or cutting, or of any of his accom- 
plices, lor any offence for which they may 
be liable to be detained, or shall wilfully, 
&c. administer poison with intent to mur- 
der, or to procure the miscarriage of any 
woman quick with child, he shall be guilty 
of felony, and suffer death. But in case of 
levelling fire-arms, or cutting and maiming 
as aforesaid, if it shall appear that if death 
had ensued, the party would not have been 
guilty of murder, then the defendant shall 
•be acquitted. 
A person who maims himself that he may 
have the more colour to beg, or that he 
may not be impressed, may be indicted and 
fined. 
MAINPRIZE, a delivering a person to 
his friends, to be answerable for his appear- 
ance. It differs from bail, as the inain- 
MAJ 
pernors cannot keep the party in custody, 
but must let him be at liberty till the day of 
his appearance. 
MAINTENANCE, the unlawful taking 
in hand or upholding a cause of any person. 
It was formerly unlawful to assist any per- 
son in litigation, except as an attorney, ad- 
vocate, kinsman, servant, or near relation 
out of charity. The late Judge Buller ex- 
pressed serious doubts whether the law 
against maintenance was not obsolete. 
MAJOR, in the art of war, the name of 
several officers of very different ranks and 
functions j as, 1. Major-general, the next 
officer to the lieutenant-general : his chief 
business is to receive the orders from the 
general, or in his absence from the lieute- 
nant-general of the day ; which he is to dis- 
tribute to the brigade-majors, with whom 
he is to regulate the guards, convoys, and 
detachments. When there are two attacks 
at a siege, he commands that on the left. 
He ought to be well acquainted with the 
strength of each brigade, of each regiment 
in particular, and to have a list of all the 
field officers. In short, he is in the army, 
what a major is in a regiment. He is al- 
lowed an aid de camp, and has a seijeant 
and fifteen men for his guard. 2. Major of 
a brigade, the officer who receives the or- 
ders from the major|.generaI, and afterwards 
delivers them to the adjutants of the regi- 
ments at the head of the brigade ; where 
he takes and marches tlie detachments, &c. 
to the general rendezvous. He ought to 
^e an expert captain, to know the state and 
condition of the brigade, and keep a roll of 
the colonels, lieutenant-colonels, majors, 
and adjutants. 3. Major of a regiment, 
the next officer to the lieutenant-colonel, 
generally promoted from the oldest cap- 
tain. He is to take care that the regiment 
be well exercised, to see it march in good 
order, and to rally it in case of its being 
broke. He is the only officer among the 
foot that is allowed to be on horseback in 
time of action, that he may the more rea- 
dily execute tlie colonel’s orders, either in 
advancing or drawing off the regiment. 
4. Major of a regiment of horse, is the 
first captain, who commands in the absence 
of the colonel. 5. Town-major, the third 
officer in a garrison, being next to the de- 
puty-governor. He ought to understand 
fortification, and hath charge of the guards, 
rounds, patroles, &c. His business is also 
to take care that the soldiers arms are in 
good order 5 he likewise orders the gates to 
be opened and shut, and gives the governor 
/ 
