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 poftear.

CUSTOS-Rotulorum, an officer who has the custom of the rolls and records of the session 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.

CUT-FEATHER, in the sea-language. If a ship has too broad a bow, it is common to say, She will not cut a feather; that is, she will not pass through the water so swift as to make it foam or froth.

CUT-Purse, in Law; if any person clam et secrete, and without the knowledge of another, cut his purse or pick his pocket, and steal from thence above the value of twelve pence, it is felony excluded clergy.

CUT-purses, or saccularii, were more severely punished than common thieves by the Roman and Athenian laws.

CUT-Water, the sharp part of the head of a ship below the beak. It is so called, because it cuts or divides the water before it comes to the bow, that it may not come too suddenly to the breadth of the ship, which would retard it,