or Connusance, in law, has divers significations. Sometimes it is an acknowledgment of a fine, or confession of something done; sometimes the hearing of a matter judicially, as to take cognizance of a cause; and sometimes a particular jurisdiction, as cognizance of pleas is an authority to call a cause or plea out of another court, which no person can do but the king, except he can show a charter for it. This cognizance is a privilege granted to a city or a town to hold plea of all contracts, &c., within the liberty; and if any one is pleaded for such matters in the courts at Westminster, the mayor, &c., of such franchise may demand cognizance of the plea, and that it may be determined before them.

Cognizance is also used for a badge on a waterman's or ferryman's sleeve, which is commonly the giver's crest, whereby he is deemed to belong to this or that nobleman or gentleman.