HUNDRED-COURT. This is only a larger COURT-BARON, being held for all the inhabitants of a particular hundred instead of a manor. The free suitors are here also the judges, and the steward the registrar, as in the case of a court-baron. It is likewise no court of record; resembling the former in all points, except that in point of territory it is of a greater jurisdiction. This is said by Sir Edward Coke to have been derived out of the county-court for the case of the people, that they might have justice done them at their own doors, without any charge or loss of time: but its institution was probably co-eval with that of hundreds themselves, which were formerly observed to have been introduced tho' not invented by ALFRED, being derived from the polity of the ancient Germans. The centeni, we may remember, were the principal inhabitants of a district composed of different villages, originally in number an hundred, but afterwards only called by that name; and who probably gave the same denomination to the district out of which they were chosen. Cæsar speaks positively of the judicial power exercised in their hundred-courts and courts-baron. "Principes regionum, atque pagorum," (which we may fairly construe, the lords of hundreds and manors) "inter suos jus dicunt, controversiasque minuunt." And Tacitus, who had examined their constitution still more attentively, informs us not only of the authority of the lords, but that of the centeni, the hundredors, or jury; who were taken out of the common freeholders, and had themselves a share in the determination. "Eliguntur in conciliis et principes, qui jura per pagos vicosque reddunt: centeni singulis, ex plebe comites, consilium simul et auctoritas, adsumunt." This hundred-court was denominated hæredia in the Gothic constitution. But this court, as causes are equally liable to removal from hence, as from the common court-baron, and by the same writs, and may also be reviewed by writ of false judgment, is therefore fallen into equal
Hungary. disuse with regard to the trial of actions.