A fact from Robert of Lexinton appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know column on 10 September 2008, and was viewed approximately 623 times (disclaimer) (check views). The text of the entry was as follows:
Did you know... that between 1221 and 1244, Robert of Lexinton served as a justice on Eyre on 64 occasions, acting as senior justice for 31?
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My knowledge of this sort of thing is very shaky, but I have never seen 'justice on Eyre' before. Justice in Eyre is much more common, and indeed has a wiki page of its own -- though it doesn't mention de Lexinton. Should this be changed? Mhardcastle (talk) 12:14, 10 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]
I dont believe so. A Justice in Eyre is a justice who's specific job is the circuits of forests. A justice on Eyre is a justice on the Eyre circuits. it's meant to be taken as "a justice who is currently on Eyre" not justice-on-eyre as a position. Ironholds12:41, 10 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Hmm. I am not convinced that 'Justice in Eyre' is restricted to forests. The OED (under Eyre) says "1. Itineration, circuit: in the phrase justices in eyre (= L. in itinere on a journey), also L. justitiæ itinerantes, AF. justisis errauntz: itinerant judges who rode the circuit to hold courts in the different counties [...] These justices were usually members of the superior courts [...] In the year 1176, under Henry II, eighteen justices were appointed to six circuits; the practice continued with considerable irregularity as to number, period, and the matters dealt with, until the judges of ASSIZE n. (q.v. 12) and Nisi Prius were appointed in the year 1285 ..." Later it mentions the 'Eyre of the Forest' as a specific sort of eyre. Mhardcastle (talk) 13:03, 10 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]
