Wapentake

In Saxon Law. A subdivision of a country, used in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

1 Poll. & Maitl. 543.

It was called a wapentake from wapon, arms, and tac, to touch; because when the chief of the hundred entered upon his office he appeared in the field on a certain day, on horseback, with a pike in his hand, and all the principal men met him with lances. Upon this he alighted, and they all touched his pike with their lances, in token of their submission to his authority. In this court causes of great moment were heard and determined, as Mr. Dugdale has shown from several records. Besides which it took cognizance of theft, trials by ordeal, view of frankpledge, and the like; whence after the conquest it was called the sheriff's tourn, and as regarded the examination of the pledges, the court of the view of frankpledge. These pledges were no other than the freemen within the liberty.

See 1 Bla. Com. 116; 4 Bla. Com. 273.

Sir Thomas Smith derives it from the custom of taking away the arms at the muster of each hundred, from those who could not find sureties for good behavior. Rep. Angl. lib.

2, c. 16.