in general, something contrary to truth, or not what it ought to be: thus we say a false action, false weights, false claim, &c.

**FALSE Action**, if brought against one whereby he is cast into prison, and dies pending the suit, the law gives no remedy in this case, because the truth or falsehood of the matter cannot appear before it is tried; and if the plaintiff is barred, or non-sued at common law, regularly all the punishment is amercement.

**FALSE Imprisonment**, is a trespass committed against a person, by arresting and imprisoning him without just cause, contrary to law; or where a man is unlawfully detained without legal process: and it is al- so used for a writ which is brought for this trespass. If a person be any way unlawfully detained, it is false imprisonment; and considerable damages are recoverable in these actions.

**False News**, spreading of, in order to make discord between the king and nobility, or concerning any great man of the realm, is punishable by common law with fine and imprisonment; which is confirmed by statutes Wilm. r. 3 Edw. I. cap. 34. 2 Rich. II. stat. 1. cap. 5. and 12 Rich. II. cap. 11.

**False Oath.** See Perjury.

**False Prophecy.** See Prophecy.

**False Quarter,** in Farriery. See Quarters, Farriery Index.

**False Bay,** a bay lying to the eastward of the Cape of Good Hope; frequented by vessels during the prevalence of the north-westerly winds, which begin to exert their influence in May, and render it dangerous to remain in Table bay. It is terminated to the eastward by False Cape, and to the westward by the Cape of Good Hope. It is 18 miles wide at its entrance, and the two capes bear due east and west from each other.

**Falsi crimen,** in the civil law, is fraudulent subornation or concealment, with design to darken or hide the truth, and make things appear otherwise than they are. The crime falsi is committed, 1. By words, as when a witness swears falsely. 2. By writing, as when a man antedates a contract, or the like. 3. By deed, as when he sells by false weights and measures.

**Falsify,** in Law, is used for proving anything to be false. Hence we find,

**Falsifying** a record, for showing it to be erroneous. Thus lawyers teach, that a person purchasing land of another, who is afterwards outlawed for felony, &c. may falsify the record, not only as to the time wherein the felony is supposed to have been committed, but also as to the point of the offence. But where a man is found guilty by verdict, a purchaser cannot falsify as to the offence; though he may for the time, where the party is found guilty generally in the indictment, because the time is not material upon evidence.

**Falstaff.** See Fastolf.

**Falx,** in Anatomy, a part of the dura mater, descending between the two hemispheres of the brain, and separating the fore part from the hinder. It is called falx, i.e. "fickle," because of its curvature, occasioned by the convexity of the brain. It divides the brain as low as the corpus callosum.

**Fama clamosa,** in the judicial procedure of the church of Scotland, a ground of action before a presbytery against one of its members, independent of any regular complaint by a particular accuser. See Presbytery.

Any person who is of a good character, may give to the presbytery a complaint against one of their members; but the presbytery is not to proceed to the citation of the person accused, until the accuser under his hand gives in the complaint, with some account of its probability, and undertakes to make out the libel, under the pain of being considered as a slanderer. When such an accusation is brought before them, they are obliged candidly to examine the affair. But, besides this, the presbytery considers itself obliged to proceed against any of its members, if a fama clamosa of the scandal is so great that they cannot be vindicated unless they begin the proofs. This they can do without any particular accuser, after they have inquired into the rise, occasion, and authors, of this report. It is a maxim of the kirk of Scotland, that religion must suffer if the scandalous or immoral actions of a minister are not corrected. And wherever a minister is reputed guilty of any immorality (although before the most popular preacher in the kingdom), none almost will attend upon his ministry. Therefore the presbytery, for the sake of religion, is obliged to proceed against a minister in case of a fama clamosa. This, however, is generally done with great tenderness. After they have considered the report raised against him, then they order him to be cited, draw out a full copy of what is reported, with a list of the witnesses' names to be led for proving this allegation. He is now to be formally summoned to appear before them; and he has warning given him, at least 10 days before the time of his appearance, to give in his answers to what is termed the libel; and the names of the witnesses ought also to be sent him. If at the time appointed the minister appear, the libel is to be read to him, and his answers are also to be read. If the libel be found relevant, then the presbytery is to endeavour to bring him to a confession. If the matter confessed be of a scandalous nature, such as uncleanness, the presbytery generally depose him from his office, and appoint him in due time to appear before the congregation where the scandal was given, and to make public confession of his crime and repentance. If a minister absent himself by leaving the place, and be contumacious, without making any relevant excuse, a new citation is given him, and intimation is made at his own church when the congregation is met, that he is to be holden as confessed, since he refused to appear before them; and accordingly he is deposed from his office.

**Fame,** a heathen goddess, celebrated chiefly by the poets. She is feigned to have been the last of the race of Titans produced by the earth, to have her palace in the air, and to have a vast number of eyes, ears, and tongues. She is mentioned by Hesiod, and particularly described by Ovid and Virgil.

**Fames Canina.** See Bulimia, Medicine Index.

**Famia,** or Afamia, the modern name of one of the ancient Apameas. See Apamea.

**Familiars of the Inquisition,** persons who assist in apprehending such as are accused, and carrying them to prison. They are assistants to the inquisitor, and called familiars, because they belong to his family. In some provinces of Italy they are called crofs-bearers, and in others the scholars of St Peter the martyr; and they wore a cross before them on the outside garment. They are properly bailiffs of the inquisition; and the vile office is esteemed so honourable, that noblemen in the kingdom of Portugal have been ambitious of belonging to it. Nor is this surprising, when it is considered that Innocent III. granted very large indulgencies and privileges to these familiars; and that the same plenary indulgence is granted by the pope to every single exercise of this office, as was granted by the Lateran council to those who succoured the Holy Land. When several persons are to be taken up at the same time, these familiars are commanded manded to order matters, that they may know nothing of one another's being apprehended; and it is related, that a father and his three sons, and three daughters, who lived together in the same house, were carried prisoners to the inquisition without knowing anything of one another's being there till seven years afterwards, when they that were alive were released by an act of faith.

FAMILY denotes the persons that live together in one house, under the direction of one head or chief manager. It also signifies the kindred or lineage of a person; and is used by old writers for a hide or portion of land sufficient to maintain one family. See HIDE.