Les termes de la ley; or, Certain difficult and obscure words and terms of the common laws and statutes of this realm now in use, expounded and explained Now corrected and enlarged. With very great additions throughout the whole book, never printed in any other impression.

Hundred.

HUndreds were divided by King Alfred, after he had divided the whole Realm into certain parts or sections, which of the Saxon word Scyran, signi∣fying to cut, he termed Shires, or (as we yet spake) Shares and Portious. These Shires be also dividid into smaller Parts; whereof some were called Lathes, of the word Gelathian, which is to assemble together: others Tithings, because there were in each of them to the number of Ten persons, whereof each one was Surety and Pledge for others good abearing: others Hundreds, because they contain∣ed Iurisdiction over one Hun∣dred Men or Pledges, dwelling peradventure in two, or three, or more Parishes, Boroughs, or Towns, lying and adjoyn∣ing nevertheless somewhat near together, in which he appoint∣ed Administration of Iustice to be exercised severally among

them of the same Hundred, and not that one should run out dis∣orderly into anothers Hundred, Lathe, or Tithing, wherein he dwells not.

These Hundreds continue to this day in force, although not altogether to the same purpose whereunto at first they were ap∣pointed, yet still to very need∣ful, both in time of Peace for good order of Government di∣vers ways, and in War for cer∣tainty of levying men; as also for the more ready Collection of Payments granted in Par∣liament to the Kings of this Realm.