GOOD Behaviour, in Law, an exact carriage and behaviour to the king and his people.
A justice of the peace may, at the request of another, or where he himself fees cause, demand surety for the good behaviour; and to that end the justice may issue out his warrant against any persons whatsoever, under the degree of nobility; but when it is a nobleman, complaint is to be made in the court of chancery, or king's bench, where such nobleman may be bound to keep the peace. Infants and feme-coverts, who ought to find surety by their friends, may be bound over to their good behaviour; as also lunatics, that have sometimes lucid intervals, and all others who break the peace, or being suspected to do it by affrays, assaults, battery, wounding, fighting, quarrelling, threatening, &c. A person may be likewise bound to his good behaviour for a scandalous way of living, keeping bawdy-houses, gaming-houses, &c. and so may common drunkards, whoremongers, common whores, cheats, libellers, &c. He who demands surety for the peace, on any violence offered, must take an oath before the justice, that he goes in fear of his life, or some bodily harm, &c. and that it is not out of malice, but from a regard to his own safety.