In consequence of Shaftsbury's violent opposition to the Duke, and the court party, there was a Bill of Indictment of High Treason, read before his Majesty's Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer in the Sessions-House at the Old Bailey, but the Jury found it Ignoramus; upon which, all the party rejoiced at the deliverance of their head.

senate house, town hall, theater; House of Commons, House of Lords; statehouse [U.S.], townhouse. assize, eyre; wardmote^, burghmote^; barmote^; superior courts of Westminster; court of record, court oyer and terminer

This was because interest in the book had been heightened by the Great Oyer of Poisoning, the trial in May 1616 of the Earl and Countess of Somerset for Overbury's murder, of which both were found guilty, though the Countess took all guilt upon herself.

They refused to interfere; and he was arraigned[a] at the sessions, where, instead of pleading, he kept his prosecutors at bay during five successive days, appealing to Magna Charta and the rights of Englishmen, producing exceptions against the indictment, and demanding his oyer, or the specification of the act for his banishment, of the judgment on which the act was founded, and of the charge which led to that judgment.

After an adjournment[b] to the next sessions, two days were spent in arguing the exceptions of the prisoner, and his right to the oyer.

The rôtisseurs (Fig. 94) had hardly anything in their shops but geese, and, therefore, when they were united in a company, they received the name of oyers, or oyeurs.

The street in which they were established, with their spits always loaded with juicy roasts, was called Rue des Oues (geese), and this street, when it ceased to be frequented by the oyers, became by corruption Rue Auxours.

Terminer on the * till his Majesties *erein be * nor any * fail as yo* uttmost * and for y'r soe doing this sh* Given under my and * Seale the 26th dayof Apri* EFFINGHAM To his Majesties Justices of Oyer and Terminer.

And afterwards, under a commission of Oyer and Terminer, the commission ordered that all who had "contumaceously" disobeyed the proclamation, should be punished by "pecuniary mulcts."

'We shall have many unhappy persons to take their trials for their life next Oyer court,' wrote a North Carolina patriot.

A WARRANT FOR THE EXECUTION OF A WITCH[A] AND THE SHERIFF'S RETURN THEREON To George Corwin Gentlm high Sheriff of the County of Essex Greeting Whereas Bridgett Bishop als Olliver the wife of Edward Bishop of Salem in the County of Essex Sawyer at a special Court of Oyer and Terminer (held at?)[B]

c. 2, bishops could at pleasure associate themselves to justices of oyer and terminer or of assize.

OYER AND TERMINER, an English Court Commission to hear and determine special causes.