_Ch. II._ "It is provided, also, that if any man lease his tenement in the city of London, for a term of years, and he to whom the freehold belongeth causeth himself to be impleaded by collusion, and maketh default after default, or cometh into court and giveth it up, for to make the termor (lessee) lose his term, (lease,) and the demandant hath his suit, so that the termor may recover by writ of covenant; _the mayor and bailiffs may inquire by a good inquest_, (_jury_,) in the presence of the termor and the demandant, whether the demandant moved his plea upon good right that he had, or by collusion, or fraud, to make the termor lose his term; and if it be found by the inquest (jury) that the demandant moved his plea upon good right that he had, the judgment shall be given forthwith; and if it be found by the inquest (jury) that he impleaded him (self) by fraud, to put the termor from his term, then shall the termor enjoy his term, and the execution of judgment for the demandant shall be suspended until the term be expired."--_6 Edward I._, ch. 11, (1278.) Coke, in his commentary on this chapter, calls this court of "the mayor and _bailiffs_" of London, "_the court of the hustings, the greatest and highest court in London;_" and adds, "other cities have the like court, and so called, as York, Lincoln, Winchester, &c. Here the city of London is named; but it appeareth by that which hath been said out of Fleta, that this act extends to such cities and boroughs privileged,--that is, such as have such privilege to hold plea as London hath."--_2 Inst._, 322. The 12th chapter of the same statute is in the following words, which plainly recognize the fact that "the mayor and _bailiffs_ of London" are judicial officers holding courts in London. "It is provided, also, that if a man, impleaded for a tenement in the same city, (London,) doth vouch a foreigner to warranty, that he shall come into the chancery, and have a writ to summon his warrantor at a certain day before the justices of the bench, _and another writ to the mayor and bailiffs of London, that they shall surcease_ (suspend proceedings) _in the matter that is before them by writ_, until the plea of the warrantee be determined before the justices of the bench; and when the plea at the bench shall be determined, then shall he that is vouched be commanded to go into the city," (that is, before "the mayor and _bailiffs'_" court,) "to answer unto the chief plea; and a writ shall be awarded at the suit of the demandant by the justices _unto the mayor and bailiffs, that they shall proceed in the plea_," &c.--_6 Edward I._, ch. 12, (1278.)