| 释义 |
court leet
[See leet.]
A court of record held periodically in a hundred, lordship, or manor, before the lord or his steward, and attended by the residents of the district.
It had jurisdiction over petty offences and the civil affairs of the district, and performed a number of administrative functions. The institution still survives, but its jurisdiction has practically passed to authorities of more recent creation.
1588Fraunce Lawiers Log. i. xii. 53 Court Leete. 1598J. Kitchin (title), Jurisdictions; or, the Lawful Authority of Courts Leet; Courts Baron, etc. 1604Act 1 Jas. I, c. 5 To keep Court Leets or Court Barons, for the true administration of Iustice, and to the punishing and suppressing of offences. a1654Selden Table-t. (Arb.) 42 Court-Leet, where they have a power to make By-Laws, as they call them; as that a man shall put so many Cows, or Sheep in the Common. 1683Evelyn Mem. (1857) II. 198, I was at the court-leet of this manor [Deptford-le-Strond], my Lord Arlington his Majesty's High-Steward. 1760C. Johnston Chrysal (1822) I. 307 He is one of the grand jury of the court-leet. 1819Manor of Hitchin in Seebohm Eng. Village Community (1883) App. 445 That in the Court Leet yearly holden after the Feast of St. Michael..the jurors for our Lord the King are accustomed to elect and present to the lord two constables and six headboroughs..and likewise two ale conners, two leather searchers and sealers, and a bell⁓man. 1875Digby Real Prop. i. (1876) 54 The court leet held either separately or in conjunction with the court baron had jurisdiction over crimes committed within the manor, and the court baron over civil suits arising within the same limits. 1879Jefferies Wild Life in S.C. 140 The Court Leet is still held, but partakes slightly of the nature of a harmless farce.
transf.1643Milton Divorce ii. xii. (1851) 93 That power the undiscerning Canonist hath improperly usurpt into his Court-leet. |