Blacks Law Dict. 1st ed

MASTERS, ETC.

MAST

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MAST. To fatten with mast, (acorns, etc) I Leon. 186. MAST-SELLING. In old English law. The practice of selling the goods of dead sea men at the mast. Held void. 7 Mod. 141. MASTER. One having authority; one who rules, directs, instructs, or superintends; a head or chief; an instructor; an employer. Applied to several judicial officers. See infra. MASTER AND SERVANT. The re lation of master and servant exists where one person, for pay or other valuable considera tion, enters into the service of another and devotes to him his personal labor for an agreed period. Sweet. MASTER AT COMMON LAW. The title of officers of the English superior courts of common law appointed to record the pro ceedings of the court to which they belong; to superintend the issue of writs and the formal proceedings in an action; to receive and account for the fees charged on legal pro ceedings, and moneys paid into court. There are five to each court. They are appointed under St. 7 Wm. IV. and 1 Viet. c. 30, passed in 1837. Mozley & Whitley. M A S T E R IN CHANCERY. An of ficer of a court of chancery who acts as an assistant to the judge or chancellor. His of fice is to inquire into such matters as may be referred to him by the court, examine causes, take testimony, take accounts, compute dam ages, etc., reporting his findings to the court in such shape that a decree may be made; also to take oaths and affidavits and acknowl edgments of deeds. In modern practice, many of the functions of a master are per formed by clerks, commissioners, auditors, and referees, and in some jurisdictions the office has been superseded. MASTER IN LUNACY. In English law. The masters in lunacy are judicial offi cers appointed by the lord chancellor for the purpose of conducting inquiries into the state of mind of persons alleged to be lunatics. Such inquiries usually take place before a jury. 2 Steph. Gomm. 511-5*£. MASTER OF A SHIP. In maritime law. The commander of a merchant vessel, who has the chief charge of her government and navigation and the command of the crew, as well as the general care and control of the vessel and cargo, as the representative and

confidential agent of the owner. He is com monly called the "captain." MASTER OF THE CROWN OFFICE. The queen's coroner and attorney in the criminal department of the court of queen's bench, who prosecutes at the relation of some private person or common informer, the crown being the nominal prosecutor. St. 6 & 7 Viet c. 20; Wharfcon. MASTER OF THE FACULTIES. In English law. An officer under the arch bishop, who grants licenses and dispensa tions, etc. MASTER OF THE HORSE. In En glish law. The third great officer of the roy al household, being next to the lord steward and lord chamberlain. He has the privilege of making use of any horses, footmen, or pages belonging to the royal stables. MASTER OF THE MINT. In English law. An officer who receives bullion for coinage, and pays for it, and superintends everything belonging to the mint. He is usually called the " warden of the mint." It is provided by St. 33 Viet. c. 10, § 14, that the chancellor of the exchequer for the time be ing shall be the master of the mint. MASTER OF THE ORDNANCE. In English law. A great officer, to whose care all the royal ordnance and artillery were committed. MASTER OF THE ROLLS. In En glish law. An assistant judge of the court of chancery, who holds a separate court rank ing next to that of the lord chancellor, and has the keeping of the rolls and grants which pass the great seal, and the records of the chancery. He was originally appointed only for the superintendence of the writs and rec ords appertaining to the common-law depart ment of the court, and is still properly the chief of the masters in chancery. 3 Steph. Comm. 417. Under the act constituting the supreme court of judicature, the master of the rolls becomes a judge of the high court of justice and ex officio a member of the court of appeal. The same act, however, provides for the ab olition of this office, under certain conditions, when the next vacancy ocean. See 36 & 37 Viet. c. 66, §§ 5, 31, 32. MASTERS OF THE SUPREME COURT. In English law. Officials deriv ing their title from Jud. (Officers') Act 1879, and being, or filling the places of, the sixteen

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