trailbastont

[ME., also traylbaston, trailebaston, People of good will have made reply to the king How throughout the land is made a great grievance By common quarrellers, who are by oath Bound together to a compact; Those of that company are named Trailbastons. In fairs and markets they offer themselves to make an en gagement, For three shillings or four, or for the worth, To beat a freeman who never did injury To Christian body, by any evidence. If a man offends any one of the confederacy, Or a merchant refuses to give him credit with his wares, In his own house, without other dealing, He should be well beaten, or to make it up He shall give of his money, and take acquittance. If there be not some stop put to this turbulence, A war of the commons will arise by chance. Langtoft , Chronicle (ed. Wright), II. 361. 6421 Court of Trailbaston. See court. - Justices of Trailbaston, "justices whose office was to make inquisition through the realm by the verdict of substantial Juries, upon all officers, as Mayors, Sheriffs, Bailiffs, Escheators, and others, touching Extortion, Bribery, and other such grievances, as intrusions into other men's lands, Barretors, and breakers of the peace, with divers other offenders; by means of which inquisitions many were punished by death, many by ransom, and the rest flying the realm; the land was quiet ed, and the King gained great riches towards the support of his wars." Cowel.