commerce, the tribute or toll, paid by merchants to the king, for goods exported or imported; they are otherwise called duties. See Duty.

Custom House, an office established by the king's authority in the maritime cities, or port-towns, for the receipt and management of the customs and duties of importation and exportation, imposed on merchandises, and regulated by books of rates.

Custos brevium, the principal clerk belonging to the court of common pleas, whose business it is to receive and keep all the writs made returnable in that court, filing every return by itself; and, at the end of each term, to receive of the prothonotaries all the records of the nisi prius, called the poitras.

Custos rotulorum, an officer who has the custody of the rolls and records of the sessions of peace, and also of the commission of the peace itself.

He usually is some person of quality, and always a justice of the peace, of the quorum, in the county where he is appointed.

Custos spiritualium, he that exercises the spiritual jurisdiction of a diocese, during the vacancy of any see, which, by the canon law, belongs to the dean and chapter; but at present, in England, to the archbishop of the province, by prescription.

Custos temporalium was the person to whom a vacant see or abbey was given by the king, as supreme lord. His office was, as steward of the goods and profits, to give an account to the exchequer, who did the like to the exchequer.

CUTAMBULI, certain worms, either under the skin, or upon it, which, by their creeping, cause an uneasy sensation. It is also applied to wandering scurbutic pains.