Jurisdictions, Title page – Dedication
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.
LONDON, Printed by T: Roycroft, for M: Walbancke at Grays-Inne Gate, and H: Twyford, in Vine Court in the Middle Temple, 1651.
TO The Students of the Innes of COURT, AND CHANCERY: JOHN KITCHIN wiſheth happineſſe.
TO the end no failer in the adminiſtration of Lawes, from which the Common-Wealth receives its eſtabliſhment, may through ignorance be admitted, as much as my abilities have prompted me unto, for direction of ſuch as keep Courts, I have here preferred at once, both to profit and cenſure, both which I ſhall as juſtly expect, as that I am confident, my indeavours are neither fruitleſſe nor free from Errings; having neither been induſtriouſly idle, nor bleſſed with infalibility; yet ſuch as they are, I moſt ſeriouſly wiſh them to your advantage, who are many of you imployed in the keeping of Court Leets, Court Barons, and other Courts, and Juriſdictions.
And therefore I have here in this Book collected all ſuch caſes out of our Books of Law, under ſuch generall heads and notions, which are upon any occaſion to be diſcuſsed, ſo that thoſe, who either have not the ſaid Books at large, or have them, and yet want time to peruſe them, may here for ſweatleſſe labour receive ſatisfaction in exchange, whereupon I have fixt my hopes, that ignorance the naturall Mother of Errour (which hath ſo much foſtered it ſelfe, in thoſe imployments, into which many Ignaro's have thruſt themſelves, with ignorance and confidence of equall ſize) will loſe its no-being in Judiciall performances; and that the knowledge of the Law in this kinde, may prove impulſive to the Love of Juſtice, which is alwaies the leſſe regarded, by how much, Ignorance is her Enemy, Ignoti nulla Cupido. For deſire and nothing are the ſame, where the underſtanding is not felicitated with apprehenſion; which here I teach as far as it is eſſentiall for any man, Quatenus, he is a Steward of Courts, in which duty I wiſh him Jurisprudentiall for his owne Honour, and the Publique benefit, deſiring nothing in requitall but your kinde accepctance.
From GRAYS INNE.