could be prosecuted in church courts; became, for a brief period during the *Interregnum, a *felony

in cases of *homicide, the next of kin of the victim could appeal against an acquittal (overriding the usual rule of *double jeopardy) or *pardon

the process of bringing someone to answer formal charges in court

a broad category of misdemeanours including physical attacks (with or without weapons) short of killing them, but also frightening a person with intimidating gestures and threats. There was a category [..]

the most important courts held in most English counties, held twice a year and empowered to try *felonies and sentence convicts to death. Counties were grouped into circuits, and the Assizes were pres [..]

a legal officer employed to execute writs, make arrests, distrain goods, etc

a *breach of the peace, which could be similar in form to *scolding: quarrelling and stirring up quarrels by spreading false rumours, but additionally could cover instigating *vexatious lawsuits. Also [..]

a commonly used colloquial expression for *ecclesiastical courts

a salaried official in London *wards with a number of duties including supervision of the *night watch

the judge(s) presiding over a session of a court; magistrates at Quarter Sessions were also known as the 'county bench'