Lord

In Englishlaw. <A tribunal instituted for the trial of peers indicted for treason or felony, or for misprision of either, but not for any other offense. The office is very ancient, and was formerly hereditary, or held for life, or dam bene se gesserit; but it has been for many centuries granted pro hae viee only, and always to a lord of partiament. When, therefore, such an indictment is found by a grand jury or freeholders in the queen’s bench, or at the assizes before a judge of oyer and terminer, it is removed by a writ of certioraré into the court of the lord high steward, which alone has power to determine it. A peer may plead a pardon before the queen’s bench, in order to prevent the trouble of appointing a high steward, merely to receive the plea, but he cannot plead any other plea, because it is possible that, in consequence of such plea, judgment of death might be pronounced upon him. Wharton. distinguished from petit or petty treason, which might formerly be committed against a subject. 4 Bl. Comm. 74, 75; 4 Steph. Comm, 188, 184, note.

YEAB OP. See Yeae. Lord's day. See Sunday.