Chap. XI
It follows that we speak concerning Purprestures. A Purpresture, or more properly speaking, a Porpresture,362 is when any thing is unjustly encroached upon;363 against the King; as in the Royal Demesnes, or in obstructing public ways, or in turning public waters from their right course; or when any one has built an Edifice in a City upon the King’s Street. And, generally speaking, whenever a Nuisance is committed affecting the King’s Lands, or the King’s High Way, or a City, the suit concerning it belongs to the King’s Crown. But Purprestures of this description are enquired after, either in the King’s Chief Court, or before his Justices sent into the different parts of the Kingdom364 for the purpose of making such Inquisitions, by a Jury of the Place,365 or Vicinage. And if, by such Jury, a man be convicted of having made any Purpresture of this kind, he shall be amerced to the King to the extent of the whole Fee that he holds of him, and shall restore that which he has encroached upon; and, if convicted of having encroached by building in a City upon the King’s Street, the Edifices shall belong to the King; those, at least, which are found to be constructed within the Royal District; and, notwithstanding, he shall be amerced to the King.
An Amercement366 to the King is, when any one has been so far amerced, by the oaths of lawful Men of the Vicinage, as not to lose any part of his Honorable Contenement.367 When a person has made a purpresture against any other than the King, he will either have made it against his own Lord, or against another. In the former Case, if the offence come not within the Assise,368 then, the offender shall be distrained to appear in the Lord’s Court, to answer concerning it—I mean, if he holds any other Tenement of the Lord. For this purpose the following Writ shall issue——