Lat. The peace of the king; that is, the peace, good order, and security for life and property which it is one of the objects of government to maintain, and which the king, as the personification of the power of the state, is supposed to guaranty to all persons within the protection of the law. This name was also given, in ancient times, to a certain privileged district or sanctuary. The pax 7-egis, or verge of the court, as it was afterwards called, extended from the palace- gate to the distance of three miles, three furlongs, three acres, nine feet, nine palms, and nine barleycorns. Crabb, Eng. Law, 41.
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