Seneschal - earlier reference to that cited - SHERIFFS ACT 1293 (Ireland - Dublin)

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1293/en/act/pub/0001/print.html

SHERIFFS ACT 1293

Headnote to the Act

EDWARD by the grace of God, king of England, lord of Ireland and duke of Aquitaine, to his Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer of Dublin, greeting: We send you certain ordinances enclosed in these presents, which we will to be observed in our land of Ireland, commanding you that you cause the said ordinances to be performed and observed according to their tenor in all their articles; and that this you in no wise neglect. Witness myself at Canterbury on the twelfth day of July in the twenty-first year of our reign.


These are the ordinances that the King has commanded to be performed and observed in his land of Ireland.


No seneschal to be Justice where franchises to be tried.

III. It is agreed that no seneschal of a liberty be a Justice Itinerant or of the Bench, or elsewhere where franchises ought to be tried.



Implicit is that the term was in general use / usage in 'England' & Acquitane before this date - Ireland was invaded in 1169 and Dublin in 1172 - this Act coming quickly thereafter is obviously to correct an anomaly in Irish law, wrt 'Norman law'.

Suggest an amendment

The term, first attested in 1293 ([1] In Ireland the Norman invasion began May 1169), which appears to be in general usage in England by that time, was borrowed from ...

Johannis baptistae (talk) 15:17, 26 November 2013 (UTC)JB