CHAMPERTRY, in law, a species of MAINTENANCE, and punished in the same manner; being a bargain with the plaintiff or defendant campum partire, "to divide the land," or other matter sued for between them, if they prevail at law; whereupon the champertor is to carry on the party's suit at his own expence. Thus champart, in the French law, signifies a similar division of profits, being a part of the crop annually due to the landlord by bargain or custom. In our sense of the word, it signifies the purchasing of a suit, or right of suing; a practice so much abhorred by our law, that it is one main reason why a chose in action, or thing of which one hath the right but not the possession, is not assignable in common law; because no man should purchase any pretence to sue in another's right. These pests of civil society, that are perpetually endeavouring to disturb the repose of their neighbours, and officiously interfering in other mens quarrels, even at the hazard of their own fortunes, were severally animadverted on by the Roman law; and were punished for the forfeiture of a third part of their goods and perpetual infamy. Hitherto also must be referred the provision of the statute 32 Henry VIII. c. 9. that no one shall sell or purchase any pretended right or title to land, unless the vender hath received the profits thereof for one whole year before such grant, or hath been in actual possession of the land, or of the reversion or remainder; on pain that both purchaser and vender shall each for-
feit the value of such land to the king and the prosecutor. Champion. CHAMPION, a person who undertakes a combat in the place or quarrel of another; and sometimes the word is used for him who fights in his own cause.
It appears that champions, in the just sense of the word, were persons who fought instead of those that, by custom, were obliged to accept the duel, but had a just excuse for dispensing with it, as being too old, infirm, or being ecclesiastics, and the like. Such causes as could not be decided by the course of common law, were often tried by single combat; and he who had the good fortune to conquer, was always reputed to have justice on his side. See the article BATTLE.