[Footnote 42: We learn from Bracton, that the Sheriff was in the habit of exercising Jurisdiction over many Pleas which did _not_ belong to him _ex officio_; but, in such cases, he acted by the King’s precept, not as Sheriff, but as _Justiciarius Regis_, (Bracton 154. b.) The distinction is important, and seems not unknown to the Grand Custumary of Normandy. (Vide c. 2.)] [Footnote 43: _Breve_, a Writ. When causes became so frequent that the king was unable to attend to them, says Craig, he remitted them to the Judge, by means of Instruments containing a brief summary of the chief points. Hence the name _Breve_. (Craig Jus Feud. L. 2. Dieg. 17, s. 24.) So early as Henry the first we find, that _contemptus Brevium_ was an offence, subjecting the person guilty of it to be amerced to the king. (LL. Hen. 1. c. 14.)] CHAP. V. When any one complains[44] to the King, or his Justices, concerning his Fee, or his Freehold, if the complaint be such as be proper for the determination of the King’s Court, or the King is pleased that it should be decided there, then the party complaining shall have the following Writ of summons. [Footnote 44: _Clamat._ Vide Spelm. Gloss. ad voc. Craig Jus Feud. L. 2. Dieg. 17. s. 25. and L. 3. Dieg. 5. s. 2.] CHAP. VI. “The King to the Sheriff, Health.[45] Command _A._ that, without delay, he render to _B._ one Hyde of Land, in such a Vill, of which the said _B._ complains, that the aforesaid _A._ hath deforced him; and, unless he does so, summon him by good summoners, that he be there, before me, or my Justices, _in crastino post octabas clausi Paschæ_ at such a place, to show wherefore he has failed; and have there the Summoners and this Writ. Witness Ranulph de Glanville, at Clarendon.” [Footnote 45: Vide Fitz. Nat. Brev. p. 5. Ed. 1687. As this is the first writ we meet with, it may not be improper to observe, that, in rendering the writs, the Translator has for obvious reasons endeavoured to adhere to the technical phraseology generally used in that species of process.] CHAP. VII.