Justices of trail-bas- ton were justices appointed by King Edward I., during his absence in the Scotch and French wars, about the year 1305. They were so styled, says Ilollingshed, for trailing or drawing the staff of justice. Their office was to make inquisition , throughout the kingdom, of all officers and others, touching extortion, bribery, and such like grievances, of intruders into other men’s lands, barrators, robbers, breakers of the peace, and divers other offenders. Cowell; Tomlins.
Black’s Law Online Dictionary
