and prosecute the perpetrator. (See CORONER.)

INTERREGNUM. An interval between the death or abdication of one sovereign and the legal accession of the next.

INVESTITURE. The act of giving possession of an office or estate. In early times conferred by a form of words, or by a symbolical action (see BOC-LAND). The word is most frequently used in our earlier history in reference to ecclesiastical benefices, and the contest between the Crown and the Pope as to the right of nomination. Henry I. conceded the right of investiture to the Church, but obtained that homage should be done to him. In the investiture of a bishop, a ring and a pastoral staff were given to him.

JESUIT. Member of the "Society of Jesus," a religious order of the Roman Church, founded in 1534 by Ignatius Loyola. Special laws against Roman Catholic priests included the Jesuits by name. As late as 1670 an Act of Parliament imposed fine and imprisonment on those who, knowing, did not denounce priests and Jesuits to a justice of the peace.

JURISDICTION. The authority which a person or court has over the whole realm, or a special district, or a certain class of actions.

JURY. It is now acknowledged that the twelve compurgators whose function it was in A. S. times to declare the innocence of an accused person, had no real resemblance to the jury, which was not instituted until the reign of Henry II. Trial by Jury in criminal caseswas recognised by Magna Carta, but its members did not become sole judges of fact until the reign of Edward VI. (See Forsyth, Trial by Jury, p. 199; Stubbs, Const. Hist., i. 619-20.)

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. Unpaid judges, selected from among the chief land-owners in the country, and of citizens in towns, to preside over the courts of Petty Session, and, when necessary, to commit prisoners for trial before the Quarter Sessions or Assizes. The office was instituted in 1360, but very similar functions had before been executed by the "Conservators of the peace."

JUSTICIAR. The whole jurisdiction over England, now once more united in the

Supreme Court of Justice, after separation among the various courts of Westminster Hall, was originally also lodged in one court, called the King's Court, presided over by a high officer, the Justiciar, who in the king's absence acted as viceroy. Among the holders of this office may be mentioned Odo and William Fitz-Osborn under the Conqueror; Ralph Flambard in 1099; Roger, Bishop of Salisbury under Henry I.; Robert, Earl of Leices ter under Henry II.; and of later holders, the most famous was Hubert de Burgh.

KING'S EVIL. The scrofula, a disease which was supposed to be cured by the touch of the sovereign. Edward the Confessor was the first who made the attempt (see Freeman, H.N.C., ii. 527), and Queen Anne the last.

KNIGHT (Miles or eques; Fr. chevalier; Germ. Knecht). A word which has greatly changed its meaning. Orig. in the Germ. servant, but speedily acquired that of a military rank, the king's Knechte being his officers. One non-military sense remained in the "Knight of the Shire.' There were several Orders of Knighthood, the lowest and most ancient being that of Knight Bachelor. King

Alfred conferred this dignity on his son Athelstan. At present the dignity has declined in estimation, the judges only receiving it from precedent. (See Stubbs, Const. Hist., i. 367.)

KNIGHT'S FEE. The territorial unit of the Feudal system, measured not by extent, but by rent or valuation. It was settled at the annual value of £20. (Stubbs, Const. Hist., i. 164-6.)

LAZZI. An old Saxon word equivalent to the serviles and liti of the Latin writers. (See Stubbs, Const. Hist., i. 42, 46.)

LEN-LAND (A.S.). Either folc-land or boc-land leased out to free cultivators. (Stubbs, Const. Hist., i. 77.)

LÆT (A.S.). The word used in the Laws of Kent to denote the third and lowest of the social divisions, eorl, ceorl, and læt, equivalent to the nobilis, ingenuus, and servus of Tacitus. (Stubbs, Const. Hist., i. 42.)

LEGATE (Legatus). The ambassador or nuncio representing the Pope in foreign countries. They were of two sorts: 1. Legatus atus of limited authority, sometimes held

before the Reformation in England by the Archbishop of Canterbury. 2. Legatus a latere who had fullest powers without appeal over all ecclesiastical affairs in the kingdom. Sometimes one of this latter class was sent over in addition to the resident legatus natus.

LEGALIS HOMO. A man possessed of all the rights of a freeman.

LE ROY (LA REYNE) LE VEULT. The ancient form of words by which the royal assent to an Act of Parliament is still given.

LE ROY (LA REYNE) S'AVISERA. The form in which assent is refused.

LETTERS PATENT. Writings of the Sovereign under the Great Seal, by which privileges or rights are conferred. So called because they are open, with the seal affixed, ready for inspection. The word "Patent" is now generally used in reference to the privilege which can be secured by an inventor.

LIEGE. An epithet which, when coupled with the word lord, means one entitled to allegiance; and with the word man, one bound to yield it.