GRAND COUTIIMIER OF NORMANDY is a collection of the ancient laws of Normandy, and is said to have been compiled in the third yetir of Henry III. It contains the laws and customs which were in use in England during the reigns of Henry II., Richard I., and John, and such also as were in force in Normandy after time separation of that duchy from England. it is therefore a collection of the laws of Normandy as they stood subsequent to the union with England. The customs of Normandy were to a grtat extent adopted in England after the Conquest: and the laws of this country, particularly during the reigns of the Norman sovereigns, present. a great similarity to those of Nor. mandy. Sir M. Hale. jealous for the honor of England. contends that this similarity arosl! from the introduction of English customs into Normandy. In the rules of descent, of writs, of process, and of trial, the laws of England and Normandy were at first almost identical. It appears from the grand coutumier, that though the verdict of twelve men was always required on a trial by jury, yet in case of a difference of opinion among the original jurors, the minority were set aside and fresh jurors chosen, until twelve men could be found to forme in a verdict. By the custom of Normandy, where a married woman died possessed of land, her husband was entitled to hold the lands, but only while he remained a widower. By the courtesy of England, on the othdr hand,
the widower held the hinds for his life. Lands held by knights' service (q.v.)and grand sergeancy (q v i descended, to Norman custom, to the eldest son; but lands held on an divided among the y,.here a man had cohabited before marriage with the woman who afterwards became his wife, a son born before marriage inherited the land to the.exclusion of children born in wedlock. See Hale's history of the common Law. The islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, and Sark were originally part of the duchy of Normandy, and were united to the crown of England by the first of the Norman line. Though still attached to England, they arc governed by the old feudal laws, or coutumier of Normandy. They have their own independent courts; and a writ from the courts at Westminster does not run in these islands. A royal commission under the great seal of course has force, but the commissioners must judge according*to the law of the islands. All causes are originally determined by their own officers, the bailiffs and jurats of the island, who administer a code of laws based upon the grand coutumier. From their decision, an appeal lies to the privy council. Acts of the British parliament are not in force in these islands unless they are specially named,'