100 Indiana University Studies 
evils described above were corrected by equity in the next 
period. 
In addition to the ordinary common law writs above named, 
there were the extraordinary legal remedies of mandamus, 
quo warranto, habeas corpus, and prohibition. While the 
writs of habeas corpus and prohibition, at least, had been in- 
vented in the Archaic Period, there is no evidence of the use 
of any of them before the time of Edward I. Mandamus, 
now a writ of right, was originally a writ of royal prerogative 
issued by courts of superior jurisdiction (King’s Bench) and 
directed to subordinate courts, corporations, and the like, 
commanding them to do something specified. Quo warranto 
was a writ commanding a person to show by what authority 
he exercised an office or franchise, to prevent the illegal exer- 
cise thereof. Prohibition was a prerogative writ issued by a 
superior court (King’s Bench) to an inferior court or tri- 
bunal to prevent the latter from usurping or exceeding its 
jurisdiction. Habeas corpus has already been defined as a 
remedy to relieve against the illegal restraint of personal 
liberty. All of these remedies were very effective where avail- 
able, but with the exception of habeas corpus they were not 
available for private individuals against private individuals. 
Private individuals had need of such remedies. But this de- 
fect had to be supplied by equity. Mandamus is like specific 
performance, except that it concerns obligations growing out 
of official station or duties imposed by law. Prohibition is 
like injunction, except the latter is directed to parties while 
the former is directed to the court, or tribunal charged with 
judicial powers. 
Most of the equitable remedies were developed after the 
Strict Period, but two equitable remedies and those the two 
most important were developed and came into use in this 
period. They were specific performance and injunction. In- 
junction is a remedy to restrain the doing of some act, or to 
require the restoration of a former condition, where the rem- 
edy of damages is inadequate. Specific performance is a rem- 
edy to compel the fulfillment of a valid promise to do a certain 
thing, where the remedy of damages is inadequate, and the 
contract is free, fair, and capable of being presently executed. 
Courts. All the courts of the Archaic Period continued 
thru the Strict Period. An interesting thing in connection 
