Bill

or ORIGINAL BILL. In old English practice. The ancient and most usual mode of commencing actions in the English Court of King's Bench. It was otherwise called a plaint, and was a written statement of the plaintiff's cause of action, always alleging a trespass as the ground of it; in order to enable the court to entertain the action.

Boote's Suit at Law, 13, 14. 1 Arch. Pr. 337. 1 Crompt, Pr, Introd.

Ixxxi, (xxxv). It resembled the modem declaration, which was probably copied from it, and is frequently termed on the record, the plaintiff's bill. Actions commenced in this way, not bemg founded upon an original writ, were said to be by bill, or by bill, without writ. See Breve, Original writ. Both modes of proceeding, by bill and by writ, are now abolished by the effect of the statute 2 Will. IV. c. 39, and a new method substituted.

3 Steph. Com. 404, 406, note (/).