Four Seas
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary · Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
The seas surrounding England. These were divided into the western, including the Scotch and Irish; the northern, or North Sea; the eastern, being the German Ocean; the southern, being the British Channel. Selden, Mare Clausum, lib.
2, c.
1. "Within the four seas" means within the Jurisdiction of England.
4 Coke, 125; 2 Inst. 253.
See "Beyond Sea." FOURCHER (Fr. to fork).
In English law
A method of delaying an action formerly practised by defendants. When an action was brought against two, who, being jointly concerned, were not bound to answer till both appeared, and they agreed not to appear both in one day, the appearance of one excused the other's default, who had a day given him to appear with the other. The defaulter, on the day appointed, appeared; but the first then made default. In this manner they forked each other, and practised this for delay.
See 2 Inst. 250; Booth, Real Actions, 16.