hundredum, or Centuria, a part or division of a county; which was anciently so called from its containing an hundred families, or from its furnishing an hundred able men for the king's wars. After king Alfred's dividing this kingdom into counties, and giving the government of each county to a sheriff, these counties were divided into hundreds, of which the constable was the chief officer. The grants of hundreds were at first made by the king to particular persons: but they are not now held by grant or prescription, their jurisdiction being devolved to the county-court; a few of them only excepted, that have been by privilege annexed to the crown, or granted to some great subjects, and still remain in the nature of a franchise.

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 register, 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 ease 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 though not invented by Alfred, being derived from the policy 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. Caesar 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 maurs) "inter suos jus dicunt, controversiaeque 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 hundreds, or jury; who were taken out of the common freehold-ers, and had themselves a share in the determination.

Hungary. "Eliguntur in concilii et principes, qui jura per pagos vicinos reddunt: centeni singulis, ex plebe comites, consilium simul et auctoritas, adjunt." This hundred-court was denominated Barela 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 disuse with regard to the trial of actions.