Lawless Court [so called, because held at an unlawful hour]

a court held at King’s Hall at Rochford in Essex, on the Wednesday next after every Michaelmas day, at the cock crowing, by the lord of the manour of Raleigh. The steward and suitors whisper to each other, and have no candles, or any pen and ink, but supply that office with a coal. And he that owes suit and service to this court, and appears not, forfeits to the lord double his rent, every hour he is absent.