entitled, "Lay of Gascoigne Justice," prefaced by an "Extract from a
Manuscript of a Late Reporter," who says, "I had observed numerous
traces, in the old reports and entries, of the use of _Rhythm_ in the
enunciation of legal doctrines; and, pursuing the investigation, I at
length persuaded myself that, in the infancy of English law, the
business of the court was transacted _in verse_, or, at least, rhythm,
sometimes without, but on grand and solemn occasions with, the aid of
music; a practice which seems to have been introduced by the
ecclesiastical advocates." After a humorous argument in support of this
notion, he concludes: "The following attempt to restore certain of these
_Lays of Ancient Law_ is conceived, as the original lays themselves
probably were, partly in bad English, partly in Dog-Latin." Then follows
the "Lay of Gascoigne Justice, Chanted by Cooke and Coke, Serjeants, and
Plowden, Apprentice in the Hall of Serjeants' Inn, A.D., 15--." The
subject of the Lay was a certain highway exploit of Prince Harry, Poins,
and Peto. Poins gets into trouble, being brought incontinently before
Gascoigne Justice, "presiding at the Bailey." The concluding verses
contain a just satire on certain gross defects in the administration of
criminal justice, which have been only very recently remedied.

[10] "Law Magazine," N.S. Vol. lxx. p. 183.

"When Poins he spied, ho, ho! he cried,
The caitiff hither bring!
We'll have a quick deliverance,
Betwixt him and the King:

And sooth he said, for justice sped
In those days at a rate
Which _now_ 'twere vain to seek to gain,