CHAP. V.
When any one complains[44] to the King, or his Justices, concerning his Fee, or his Freehold, if the complaint be such as be proper for the determination of the King’s Court, or the King is pleased that it should be decided there, then the party complaining shall have the following Writ of summons.
CHAP. VI.
“The King to the Sheriff, Health.[45] Command A. that, without delay, he render to B. one Hyde of Land, in such a Vill, of which the said B. complains, that the aforesaid A. hath deforced him; and, unless he does so, summon him by good summoners, that he be there, before me, or my Justices, in crastino post octabas clausi Paschæ at such a place, to show wherefore he has failed; and have there the Summoners and this Writ. Witness Ranulph de Glanville, at Clarendon.”
CHAP. VII.
The party who is thus summoned either appears at the day appointed, or makes default, or sends a Messenger, or Essoin,[46] or neither. If he neither appear, nor send an Essoin, his adversary, the Demandant, should, on the day appointed, appear before the Justices, and offer to proceed against him in the suit; and he shall thus await in Court during three days. If the Tenant appear not on the fourth day, the summoners being present, and alledging that they had duly cited him, and offering to prove it, according to the course of the Court, another Writ shall Issue to summon the Tenant to appear at the distance of fifteen days[47] at least, in which Writ he shall be required as well to answer to the original Suit, as for his default in disobeying the first summons.[48] In this manner, three Summonses shall issue; and, if the Tenant neither appear at the third summons, nor send, the Tenement shall be taken into the King’s hands, and shall so remain, during fifteen days.
And, if, within that period, he appear not, the Seisin[49] shall be adjudged to his adversary, so that from thenceforth the Tenant shall not be heard, unless in a suit concerning the propriety, and that authorised by the King’s Writ of Right.[50] If, however, he appear within the fifteen days, and be desirous of replevying the Tenement, he shall be commanded to appear on the fourth day, and he shall have that which he is legally entitled unto; and thus, if he appear, he may recover the Seisin. Should he, however, appear at the third Summons, and confess the former Summonses, he shall instantly lose the Seisin, unless he can excuse his default by the King’s Warrant, and by the Writ, which he should instantly produce.