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Chapiter.
CHapiter is a Summary or content of all such matters as are enquirable before Iusti∣ces in Eyre, Iustices of Assise, or of the Peace in their Sessi∣ons: so it is used 3 E. 1. c. 27. in these words, And that no Clerk of any Iustice, Eschea∣tor, or Commissioner in Eyre, shall take any thing for delive∣ry of Chapiters, but only Clerks of Iustices in their Circuits; and likewise 13 E. 1. c. 10. in these words, And when the time comes, the Sheriff shall certifie the Chapiters be∣fore the Iustices in Eyre how many Writs he hath. Also Britton uses it in the same sig∣nification, cap. 3. And at this day Chapiters are called Arti∣cles, for the most part, and are delivered as well by the mouth of the Iustice in his Charge, as by the Clerks in writing, to the Enquest, where in ancient time they were (after an Exhorta∣tion given by the Iustices, for the observation of the Laws of the Kings peace) first read di∣stinctly and openly in the full Court, and then delivered in writing to the grand Enquest. An example of these Chapiters there is in the Book of Assises fol. 138. pla. 44.