original post, though alleged to be a fac-simile of its fore-runners) as a Roman landmark, and suggests that the main purpose of this manor and its nocturnal Court was the preservation of this. Local tradition tells the following story in explanation of the case. At some distant time of long-forgotten date the tenants of this manor formed a conspirancy "to raise a commotion," or, as one version has it, to dispossess or even murder their lord. But it fell out that, as they were plotting together on the King's Hill amid the darkness of the hour before the dawn, one Wednesday after Michaelmas, the lord himself at a neighbouring window, was ear-witness of their treasonable plans, for the punishment of which he exacted his suits and services henceforth in this strange court; so that those who met in secret and in darkness for his hurt, were compelled ever after to meet at the same unseasonable time, and in the same stealthy way, for his pleasure and profit. According to this tradition, therefore, every succeeding generation of tenants has been obliged to play at conspiracy in memory of that night's ill work; meeting by pre-concerted but unsuspicious-seeming signal almost at dead of night, conducting their business in whispers, and

checking the attendance of the company with charcoal marks, un-meaning to all but the initiated.

It will have been observed that the court boasts of several names, all more or less curious. It is the "Court without Care," or "without Cure" (Curia Sine Cura), that is, the Sinecure Court, probably as having no business to perform such as usually falls under a Manorial Court's jurisdiction. It is the "Jury of Injury" (jurata* de injuria), an extraordinary term that may imply that the tenants are summoned in order to prevent injury to their lord, or as a memorial of the alleged conspiracy for his injury.

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Two other names are the "Court at Cockcrowing," and the Whispering Court," which sufficiently explain themselves. But the principal, and (from the Latin title) almost official name is the "Court without Law" (Curia Sine Lege) or the "Lawless Court." The origin of this description of it, is said by some to be the lawless hour at which it is held; but the authority already referred to more than once has a

* Jurati in the rhyming title of the Court; jurata is a reading suggested by W. H. Black Esq., F.S.A., since the former is hardly intelligible.

different and more elaborate reason to suggest : "I consider," he says, "the term 'Lawless' in the proper sense of the Latin term Sine lege,' to mean a Court Baron (or Court of Knights' Fees) without a Leet or Lawday, although it is a King's Court; for a Leet-perhaps derived from the British Llys (a court)-is the King's Court, and was commonly holden at the same time as the Court Baron in other manors. The Court Leet is required by Magna Charta to be holden at Michaelmas. So is is the Lawless Court of King's Hill holden to the . present time."

In the study of the customs and the folk-lore of our forefathers, nothing is more interesting than a comparison of them with the manners and myths of other lands. This paper may therefore well conclude with a foreign parallel to this anomalous Court, which Camden of old pointed

out.

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It seemeth," he writes, "to be a remainder of the old feodary custom, used by the emperor of Almain and Kings of France, who when they passed into Italy to receive the imperial crown at Roncalia, near to Placentia, encamped, and, hanging up a shield upon an high pole, summoned

with a low voice all that held in fee of them to be present and answer to their names, at midnight, which whosoever neglected was answered with the loss of his landes. Of this you may reade Gunther, the old Germane poet, in his secund booke."

The Dunmow Flitch.

`AR back in the middle ages was instituted at

FAR

the Priory of Dunmow, Essex, a custom of presenting a flitch or gammon of bacon to any married couple who could swear that neither of them in twelve month and a day from their marriage had ever repented of his or her union. The Priory was founded in the year 1104 by the Lady Juga, sister of Ralph Baynard, who held the manor at the time of Domesday Survey. The priory buildings have long been demolished. A little of the Priory Church remains, and forms part of the present Parish Church of Little Dunmow. Some ancient monuments may here be seen, including one to Lady Juga, and another placed to the memory of "fair Matilda," daughter of second Walter Fitzwalter, who figures in legendary lore as the wife of bold Robin Hood. King John is reputed to have caused her to be poisoned for rejecting his addresses.

Sir William Dugdale, who was born in 1605, and died in 1686, furnishes in his "Monasticon" the