COLLEGE of civilians, commonly called Doctors-commons, founded by Dr Harvey, dean of the arches, for the professors of the civil law residing in the city of London. The judges of the arches, admiralty, and prerogative court, with several other eminent civilians, commonly reside here.
To this college belong thirty-four proctors, who make themselves parties for their clients, manage their causes, give licenses for marriages, &c.
In the common hall of Doctors-commons are held several courts, under the jurisdiction of the civil law, particularly the high court of admiralty, the court of delegates, the arches court of Canterbury, and the prerogative court of Canterbury, whose terms for sitting are much like those at Westminster, every one of them holding several court-days; most of them fixed and known by preceding holidays, and the rest appointed at the judge's pleasure.