COURTS, criminal courts of justice., established in Germany during the middle ages. These courts are com monly said to have originated in those held by the Nissi Dominic', or imperial legates, sent by Charlemagne into the provinces of his empire ; hut many cir cumstances denote their descent from the more ancient tribunals of the German tribes, held in the open air in the primi tive periods of their history. But the character under which these institutions became formidable and important, about the beginning of the 13th century, arose from the disordered state of northern Germany' after the dissolution of the duchy of Saxony. The Vellinie, or as they were called, free courts, were then modelled on a secret system of organiza tion. The president was usually a prince or count of the empire ; his assistants were persons affiliated to the society by secret initiation, to the number, it is said, at one time of 100,000. All these were
bound to attend the secret meetings of the courts when summoned, and to execute their decrees, if necessary, by taking the life of persons condemned. Westphalia, styled, in the language of the free courts, the Red Land, was the district in which their central authority was seated. These courts exercised a great power, which was occasionally serviceable in repressing the lawless violence of the nobles of that period, but which was also liable to be perverted to the gratification of private malice and tyranny. Various leagues were formed in the fifteenth century, by the nobles of the empire, for the purpose of destroying their influence ; which was at last effected, chiefly by the introduc tion of a better system of public judica ture and police in the several states.