Countor

Counter, Countour, L. Fr. and Eng. [L. Fr. contour, from counter or conter, to relate, recite or state orally; L. Lat. narrator. 1 In old English practice. An advocate or professional pleader; one who counted for his client, that is, related his case, recited his count, or orally pleaded his cause.* See To count. A term applied in the old books to Serjeants at law, who are sometimes termed Serjeant countors. 2 Inst, 214. 2 Reeees* Hist. Eng. Law, 284, 285. 1 BL Com. 24, note (t). Countors sont Serjeants sachents la ley del royalme, que servent al common del people a pronouncier et de/endre les actions en jugement; countors are Serjeants learned in the law of the realm, who serve the common people to prosecute and defend actions in court. Mirr. c. 2, sect. 5. 9 Co, pref. StaL Mod, Lev. Fines, Conse Ulers ou countours, Britt. c. 52. The hand narratores (countors of the bench) mentioned by Matthew Paris {Hist. p. 1077) appear to have been Serjeants of the Common Pleas; Serjeants having always had the exclusive privilege of practising in that court, which was anciently termed '* the Bench." Steph. PL Appendix, Note (8), 1 Bl, Com, ub, sup. See Bench, Bancus, Serjeant at law, Narrator, That counting was the peculiar province of Serjeants is shown by the fact of its having so long survived as one of the ceremonies observed on taking that degree. See To count. The word countour occurs in Chaucer's description of the Frankelein: — A shereve hadde he ben, and a eountour. Was no wher swiche a worthy vavasour. Some copies, according to Selden, have coronour in this passage instead of countour, and coronour is preferred by the author of the note on 2 Bl. Com. 347, for the singular reason that the office of an accountant was inconsistent with the character.

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