The interpreter, or, Book containing the signification of words wherein is set forth the true meaning of all ... words and terms as are mentioned in the law-writers or statutes ... requiring any exposition or interpretation : a work not only profitable but necessary for such as desire thoroughly to be instructed in the knowledge of our laws, statutes, or other antiquities / collected by John Cowell ...

RO

Roag (rogus) seemeth to come of the French (Rogu, i. arrogans) It signifieth with us an idle sturdy begger, that wan∣dring from place to place without pasport, after he hath been by Justices bestowed up∣on some certain place of aboad, or offered to be bestowed, is condemned to be so cal∣led, who for the first offence, is called a Roag of the first degree, and punished by whipping, and boring thorow the grissel of the right ear with an hot iron an inch in compass: and for the second offence, is called a Roag of the second degree, and put to death as a felon, if he be above 18 years old. See the Statute anno 14 Eliz. cap. 5. & 18 ejusdem, cap. 3. & anno 36. cap. 17. If you will know who be Rogues, and to be punished as Rogues by law, read Lamberts Eirenarcha, lib. 4 cap. 4. See Rout.

Robbery (robaria) commeth of the French (Robbe, i. vestis) and in our Common law, a felonious taking away of ano∣ther mans goods from his person or presence, against his will, putting him in fear, and of purpose to steal the same goods, West. parte 2. Jymbol. titulo Indite∣ments, sect. 60. This is sometime called vio∣lent theft, Idem, eodem, which is felony for two pence. Kitchin, fol. 16. and 22. lib. Assis. 39. Robaria is a word also used in other Nations, as appeareth by the anno∣tations upon Mathaeus de afflictis, descis. 82. num. 6. pag. 122. See Skene verbo Reif. libro de verbo. significat. See Cromp. Justice of peace, f. 30. b.

Roberdsmen, an. 5 Ed. 3. cap. 14. & an∣no 7 R. 2. cap. 5. M. Lamb. interpreteth them to be mighty theeves. Eirenarch. li. 2. cap. 6. pag. 90.

Rodknights, aliâs Radknights, are certain servitours, which hold their land by serving their Lord on Horse-back. Bracton li. 2. ca. 36. num. 6. saith of them, debet equitars cum Domino sus de manerio in manerium, vel cum Domint uxore. Flo a lib. 3. cap. 14. § Continetus.

Redde (Pertica) is otherwise called a Pearch, and is a measure of sixteen foot and an half long, and in Stafford-shire 20 foot, to measure land with. See Pearch.

Rose tyle, alias Creast tyle, is that tyle which is made to lay upon the rudge of the house, anno 17 Ed. 4. cap. 4.

Rogation week (dies rogationum) is a time well known to all, being otherwise called Gang-week. The reason why it is so ter∣med, is because of the especial devotion of Prayer and Fasting, then enjoyned by the Church to all men, for a preparative to the joyfull remembrance of Christs glorious Ascension, and the Descension of the holy Ghost, in the form of cloven Tongues shortly after. And in that respect the so∣lemnization of carnal Matrimony is forbid∣den, from the first day of the said week, un∣till Trinity sunday. See Advent.

Rood of land, (roda terrae) is a certain quantity of Land being the fourth part of an Acre. Anno 5 Eliza. cap. 5. See Perch.

Roll, alias Roule, (rotulum) commeth of the French (rouler, i. volvere, pervolvere, rotare) whence also is the French (Role ou Roule, i. volumen, catalogus, codex) It signi∣fieth with us a shedule of Paper, or Parch∣ment turned or wound up with the hand to the fashion of a pipe. So is it used in Stawnf∣plees of the Crown, fol. 11. The Chequer Roll of the Kings house, out of the statute anno 3 H. 7. cap. 13. which signifieth no∣thing but the Catalogue wherin the names of the Kings Houshold servants are set down. And anno 5 Rich. 2. cap. 14. stat. prim. there is mention made of the great Roll of the Exchequer, which seemeth o∣therwise to be called the Pipe. The Roules is also a place destinated, by Edward 3. to the keeping of the rolls, or records of the Chancery, situate between the two Temples in London, Cambden Britan pag. 321. the Master whereof is the second man in Chancery, and in the absence of the Lord Chancellor, or Keeper, sitteth as Iudge, be∣ing commonly called the Master of the Rolls. See Master of the Rolls.

Romescot, is compounded of Rome, and Scot, as you would say, the tribute due to Rome: it is called by Matthaeus Westmona∣steriensis, consuetudo Apostolica, à qua neque Re••, neque Archiepiscopus, vel Episcopus, Abbas, vel Prier, aut quilibet inregno im∣munis erat: and was first granted by Offa a Saxon King. Camden. Britan. pag. 6. See Peter pence: and Roger Hoveden parte

poster, suorum annalium, fol. 34 i. a. in Hen. secundo.

Roundlet, is a certain measure of Wine, Oyl, &c. containing 18 gallons and an half, anno 1 R. 3. cap. 13.

Rout (routá) is a French word signifying a company or flock: as (une grande route de gents on de cerfs, i. grex hominum, longa servo∣rum series) It signifieth in our Common law, an Assembly of three persons or more, going on about forcibly to commit an unlawfull act, but yet do it not, Westm. parte 2. symb. ti∣tule Indictments, sect. 65. O. M. Lamberd thus saith of it: A Rout is the same, which the Ge••manes yet call Rot, meaning a bond or great company of men gathered toge∣ther, and going about to execute, or exe∣cuting indeed, any Ryot or unlawfull act: and (saith more) it is said properly of the multitude that assembleth themselves in such disorderly sort, for their common quarrels. As if the Inhabitants of a Town-ship do as∣semble to pull down a hedge, or pale, to have their common, where they ought to have none, or to beat a man that hath done them some publike offence or displeasure. But the Statute of 18 Ed. 3. stat. prim. cap. unico, which giveth process of outlawry a∣gainst such as bring routs into the presence of the Instices, or in any affray of the people, and the Statute of 2 Richard 2 cap. 6. that speaketh of riding in great routs to make entry into Lands, and to beat others, and to take their wives, &c. do seem to under∣stand it more largely. And it is a rout whether they put their purpose in ex∣ecution or no, if so be, that they do go, ride, or move forward after they meeting. Brook titulo Riot. 4. & 5. So (as it seemeth) a Rout should be a special kind of unlawfull assembly: and a Riot the disorderly fact committed generally by any unlawfull Assembly. Howsoever it be, two things are common both to Riot, Rout, and un∣lawfull Assembly: the one, that three persons at the least be gathered together, for so it is commonly taken at this day, as I have lear∣ned: the other, that they being together, do breed disturbance of the peace, either by signification of speech, shew of Armour, turbulent gesture, or actual and expresse vi∣olence: so that either the peaceable sort of men be unquietted, and feared by the fact, or the lighter sort, and busie bodies, em∣boldned by the example. Thus far M. Lam∣berd in his Eirenarcha, libre 2. cap. 5. &c. where you may read more worth the no∣ting, though too long to be copied out. See Riot, and Unlawfull assembly. Kitchin giveth the same definition of a Rout, fo. 20.

Rowing of clothes, anno 27. H. 8. cap. 13.

Royal assent (regius assensus) is that ap∣probation which the King giveth to a thing formerly done by others: as to the election of a Bishop by Dean and Chapter. Which gi∣ven, then he sendeth-an especial Writ to some person for the taking of fealty. The form of which Writ you may see in Fitzh. na. br. f. 170. C. And also to a Bill passed by both the houses of Parliament, Cromptons Jurisd. folio 8. which assent being once given, the Bill is indorsed with these words, Le Roy veult, i. It pleaseth the King. If he re∣fuse to agree unto it, then thus, Le Roy avi∣sera, i. the King will yet think of it. See Parliament.

Royalties (Regalia vel regalitates) be the rights of the King, Iura Regis. Hotoman in verbis feudalibus, verbo, Regum Feudi∣stae. And so are they understood of us like∣wise, who otherwise call them the Kings Prerogative. See Prerogative. And some of these be such as the King may grant unto Common persons, some so high, as may not be separated from his own Crown pri∣vativè, as the Civilians term it, though dumulativè he may. See Bracton lib. 2. cap. 5. These be in some sort expressed in the first of Samuel, cap. 8. but these generali∣ties be specified more at large by those Law∣yers that write of this point. Among whom I especially commend Mathaeum de Afflictis upon the Title of the Feuds. Quae sint regalia, being the 33. title of the third Book as some divide them, but according to others the 56. of the second Book; where be named in the Text 25 specialties of Roy∣alties. See also Hotomans Commentaries in lib. 2. Feudor. cap. 56.

Rougecrosse. See Herald.