Peer

* An equal in rank or condition: as, in " trial by one's peers.'' In early times the lord was legislator and judge over all his feudatories; and, therefore, the vassals of inferior lords were bound by their fealty to attend their domestic court barons (in.stituted in every manor for doing speedy and effectual justice to all the tenants) in order to form a jury or homage for the>trial of their fellow-tenants; Upon this account they are distinguished as the "peers " of the court, pares curtis, or pares curiae. In like manner, the barons themselves, or the lords of inferior districts, were denominated -peers" of the king's court, and bound to attend him upon summons.* Compare Sdit, 1. By Magna Charta, ch. 29, no freeman shall be affected in his person or property " nisi per legale judicium parium suorum vel per legem terrcB," except by lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land.' " Judgment of his peers " means " trial per pais," by the country, that is, by a jury.'

Peerage.

See PAELtAMEST.

See PAELtAMEST.