Quadragesms

The third volume of the Year Books of the reign of Edward IIL So called, because beginning with the fortieth year of the reign.

Crabb, Hist. Eng. Law, 327; Hale, Hist. Com. Law, c. 8.

QUADRANS (Lat.) In Civil Law. The fourth part of the whole. Hence the heir ex quadrante; that is to say, of the fourth part of the whole. Before the reign of Edward I. the smallest coin was a sterling or silver penny marked with a cross or traverse strokes, by the guidance of which a penny, upon occasion, might be cut in halves for a half penny, or into quarters for farthings or fourth parts, till, to avoid the fraud of unequally cutting, King Edward I., A. D. 1279, coined half pence and farthings in round distinct pieces. Cowell; Spelman, voc. "Denarius," citing Stow, p. 306, where some curious old verses are given.