Jurisdictions: or, The lawful authority of courts leet, courts baron, court of marshallseys, court of pypowder, and ancient demesne : together with the most necessary learning of tenures, and all their incidents, of essoynes, imparlance, view; of all manner of pleadings, of contracts, of the nature of all sorts of actions, of maintenance; of diverse other things, very profitable for all students of innes of court and chancery : and a most perfect directory for all stewards of any the sayd courts. / Heretofore writ in French by the methodically learned, John Kitchin of Grays-Inne, Esq; and now most exactly rendred to more ample advantage in the English tongue; with a demonstrative table, pointing out all matter of consequence, throughout the whole work. Whereunto is added the authentick formes of all manner of writs, with their severall returnes in English, very usefull for all men in this Common-wealth, as they be now used.

THE PREAMBLE.

FIRST, [ 1] before I write of the Order of Courts Leets, Courts Barons, you ought to con∣sider for what cause the King was ordained of God.

Secondly, [ 2] For what cause the Law was ordained.

Thirdly, How ancient these Courts are, [ 3] and for what causes and matters they were ordained; and also how ne∣cessary it is, that the Law be duely and truely administred in these Courts.

And first, Fortescue, leafe the 30. saith, As a naturall body cannot be without a head, so a Realme cannot be governed without a head, which is the King: And there he further saith, That whensoever of many, one is con∣stituted amongst them, one shall be Governour, and the rest shall be governed. Britton, leafe the 1. saith, The King is ordained of God, that the Peace be kept; the which cannot be well without Law. And Fortescue also saith, All power is of our Lord God. Bracton saith also, That the King is Gods Vicar upon Earth, to seperate right from wrong, Justice from Injustice, that all which are Sub∣jects to him should live honestly, and none should hurt another; but that to every man which is his owne by a rightfull contribution should be given; for he is called King by well Governing.

Stamford, leafe the first, saith, The King is the preser∣ver, nourisher, and Defender of all his people, and that by his great travell, study, and labour, his people onely injoy their lives, Lands, and Goods: But all those which they have in peace and tranquility, and that by the Law. And as the body of a man cannot live without the head, but will fall downe unto the ground; so the Common∣wealth

cannot be governed without a head, which is the King. Also Seneca saith, Where there is not a Governour, there the people will be confounded, Prov. Chap. 11. Where there is not a Governour, the people goe to ruine, Rom. chap. 13. There is no power but of God; and which are the true Powers, are ordained of God.