Note 43 — Book I.
John Beames translation
Breve, a Writ. When causes became so frequent that the king was unable to attend to them, says Craig, he remitted them to the Judge, by means of Instruments containing a brief summary of the chief points. Hence the name Breve. (Craig Jus Feud. L. 2. Dieg. 17, s. 24.) So early as Henry the first we find, that contemptus Brevium was an offence, subjecting the person guilty of it to be amerced to the king. (LL. Hen. 1. c. 14.)