The Lord, or his Steward always presided, no one else could hold it. The freehold tenants were the judges of fact, just as jurors are in ordinary Courts ; thus no

1 (.'iteii in Cruise on Dignities, 24. 2 Ibid.

man could be tried except by bis peers. It was an absolute necessity that it should be held within the Manor limits, for if held outside, its proceedings were null and void. Hence it was usually held in or near the Manor House.

5. The right to hold a Court-Leet. This Court was not necessary to the existence of a manor as a Court-Baron was. It was simply one of the general franchises given in and by a Manor Grant. It was not given to all manors, but in those in New York it was usually one of the franchises granted. All the manors in Westchester County possessed this franchise. The Court-Leet was a Court of Record having a similar jurisdiction to the old Sheriff's " Tourns" or migratory courts held by the Sheriff' in the difl'erent districts, or 'hundreds' of his County, for the punishment of minor off"ences and the preservation of the peace, but had. more extended powers. It was a criminal Court only and took cognizance of all crimes from the smallest misdemeanors, up to, but excluding, treason. It was granted to lords of manors " in order that they might administer justice to their tenants at home." All the people in the district of the Court- Leet were bound to attend under penalty of a small fine. The Steward of the M.anor was the judge, and the people of the manor alone could be the jurors. " Anciently," said Lord Mansfield, " the Tourn and the Leet (derived out of it) were the principal Courts of Criminal Jurisdiction ; coeval with the establishment of the Saxons here.