BARRETRY, in law, is the offence of frequently
exciting and stirring up suits and quarrels between his
Majesty's subjects, either at law or otherwise. The
punishment for this offence, in a common person, is by
fine and imprisonment: but if the offender (as is too
frequently the case) belongs to the profession of the
law, a barretor who is thus able as well as willing to
do mischief ought also to be disabled from practising
for the future. And indeed it is enacted by statute
12 Geo. I. c. 29. that if any one, who hath been
convicted of forgery, perjury, subordination of per-
jury, or common barretry, shall practise as an attor-
ney, solicitor, or agent, in any suit; the court, upon
complaint, shall examine it in a summary way; and, if
proved, shall direct the offender to be transported for
seven years. Hereunto also may be referred another
offence, of equal malignity and audaciousness; that of
suing another in the name of a fictitious plaintiff, ei-
ther one not in being at all, or one who is ignorant of
the suit. This offence, if committed in any of the
king's superior courts, is left, as a high contempt, to
be punished at their discretion: but in courts of a
lower degree, where the crime is equally pernicious,
but the authority of the judges not equally extensive, it
is directed by statute 8 Eliz. c. 2. to be punished by six
months imprisonment, and treble damages to the par-
ty injured.