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Abjuration of the realm, an oath taken by a person accused of crime who had claimed sanctuary to forsake the realm for ever.

Actions mixed, suits at common law partaking of the nature of real and personal actions, by which some real property was demanded, and also personal damages for a wrong sustained.

Actions personal, brought to claim debts, goods, and chattels, and for wrongs done to the person.

Actions real, actions brought for the specific recovery of lands, tenements, and hereditaments.

Advocarii, see Avowry, men of the

Affere, to appertain, to be proper or meet.

Amerciament, or amercement, the imposition of a penalty left to the "mercy" of the lord; arbitrary fines imposed by Courts not of record, such as Courts-Leet.

Amobragium, or Amobr, the fee paid to the lord by the tenant upon the marriage of the latter's daughter; it was also a fine for incontinence. It was a similar payment to the "merchetum" in English tenures.

Arthelmen, see Avowry, men of the,

Assize of bread and water, ordinances fixing the price of bread, &c.

Attaint, the conviction of a jury for giving a false verdict; a legal process instituted for reversing a false verdict and convicting the jurors.

Aulnager, a King's officer, whose business it was to measure all woollen cloth made for sale, so that the Crown might not be defrauded of customs and duties.

Avowry, men of the, persons born out of the manor or commote, who on coming into the manor or commote put themselves under the protection of the lord, who in return for certain rents and payments undertook to defend and "avow" them.

B

Base court, an inferior court, not of record, as a court baron or court-leet.

Benefit of clergy, an arrest of judgment in criminal cases granted to clergy, but afterwards extended to all who had any kind of subordinate ministration in the Church. It was applied in civil as well as criminal causes. These exemptions grew so burdensome and scandalous that the legislature interfered and finally abolished benefit of clergy altogether in 1827. 283