Mentioned in London in the Laws of Edward the Confessor (Thorpe, Anc. Laws, I. 463). The oldest Court of record in the City.
In early days it had extensive jurisdiction, and is alluded to in 1305 as the Husting of London of the Common Pleas (Cal. L. Bk. C. p. 14). It was at one time the sole court for the settlement of disputes between the citizens. Later a Court of Appeal from the Sheriffs' Courts.
The Hustings' Rolls, preserved in MS. amongst the archives of the Corporation, formed the records of the Court and testify to the variety and extent of its jurisdiction.
To this Court belonged the enrolment of deeds and wills relating to the property of the citizens. There is a most interesting history of the Court in the Introduction to the Ct. Hust. Wills, ed. by Dr. Sharpe, from the records of the Court.
O.E. "hus-ting," from Icelandic, " hus-ping," a council, literally "house-thing" ; a court held in a house, in contradistinction to other "things," or courts, held in the open air. It has also been suggested that "hus" is here used to signify "housemen," "men of the homestead," members of the tribal organization.