ASSIZE

1. An ancient species of court, consisting ot a certain nam• 6 ber of men, usually twelve, who were summoned together to try a disput-ed cause, performing the functions ot a jury, except that they gave a verdict from their own invest!• gation and knowledge and not upon evidence H adduced. From the fact that they sat together, (a iMo,) they were called tb.e "usise." See Bract. 4, 1, 6; Co. Litt. 153b, 159b..A court composed of an a embly ot knights and other substantial men, with the I baron or justice, in a certain place, at an appointed time. Grand Cou. cc. 24, 25. 2. The verdict or judgment ot the jurors or recognitors Qf a ise. 8 BI. Comm.' 57, 59. 3-. In modern English law, the name "as- J siS'es" or "a izes" is given to the court, time, or ·place where the judges of!lSsise and nf.si prius, who are sent by special commi ion from the crown on ·circuits thrnugh the kingdom, proceed to take indictments, K and to try such disputed ea.uses i uing out of the courts at Westminster as are then ready for trial, with the a istance ot a jury fr-om the particular county; the regt•• lar se ions ot the jud.ges at nisi prius. 4. Anything reduced to a certainty in rel spect to time, number, quantity, quality, weight, measure, etc. Spelman. 5..An ordinance, statute, or regulation. Spelman gives this meaning ot the word the ll fin it place among his definltlona, obsenlng [s. 103]