Law Dictionary

exchequer

English law

1. An ancient court of record set up by William the Conqueror. It is called exchequer from the chequered cloth, resembling a chessboard, which covers the table there. It consists of two divisions; the receipt of the exchequer, which manages the royal revenue; and the court, or judicial part of it, which is again divided into a court of equity, and a court of common law.

2. In this court all personal actions may be brought, and suits in equity commenced, the plaintiff in both (fictitiously for the most part) alleging himself to be the king's debtor, in order to give the court jurisdiction of the cause.

Source : Bouvier 1856

Language : English

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