_Court of_ COMMON PLEAS. This is one of the four great courts of the kingdom, and is so called because in that court are debated the usual or common pleas between subject and subject, and all civil causes whatsoever. It was anciently ambulatory, and followed the King wheresoever he went; but at the confirmation of _Magna Charta_, by King John, in 1215, it was fixed at Westminster, where it still continues.
Soon after the fixing of this court at Westminster, such a multitude of causes were brought before it, that the King for the greater dispatch of business, found it necessary instead of three, to constitute six Judges, whom he appointed to sit in two places: but at present the number being only four, they sit together in Westminster hall to hear and decide causes; but no Counsellor can plead before them under the degree of a Serjeant.
The chief Judge in this court is the Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, who has a salary of 2500_l._ _per annum_. with his robes and two tons of wine; the other, who are called the three puisne Judges of this court, and also four Serjeants, are each allowed fees, reward and robes, the puisne Judges having 2000_l._ _per annum_ each.
The other officers of this court are, the Custos Brevium; three Prothonotaries and their Secondaries; several clerks, who have their several counties allotted them, and are to engross the fines levied on lands in their respective divisions; the Chirographer; the Register of the fines, and a Clerk of the proclamations. The Prothonotaries and Chirographer sit in the court covered with black round caps, which was the fashion before the invention of hats and wigs. These are all sworn and have their offices for life. See Custos BREVIUM, PROTHONOTARY, &c.
_Entrance to the House of Lord’s with the Office of Ordnance._
_House of Commons._ _C. Grignion sculp._ ]
In this court there are three officers unsworn, viz. a clerk of the treasury, a clerk of the enrollments of fines and recoveries, and a clerk of the outlawries: there are besides a clerk of the King’s silver; a clerk of the warrants; a clerk of the juries; a clerk of the essoins; a clerk of the supersedeas; filazers for the several counties of England; an exigenter; four criers and a porter.