Note 722 — Chapter XIV

According to Mr. Hudson the Norwich Leet Juries were solely a “police” organization. They existed to make “presentments” which involved a certain amount of previous keeping of the peace in their own little neighbourhood. In their individual capacity the capital pledges were the precursors of the “petty constable” [see Selden Soc. v. lxii. no. 1, and cf. pages there cited]; in their collective capacity as juries they preceded the local “Justice of the Peace,” a function usurped to a small extent between (say) 1360 and 1420 by the “twenty-four citizens,” and afterwards wholly usurped by the “Court of Aldermen,” who were the borough magistrates.