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VlCENNALlS, in Antiquity, fomething of 20 Years, or that returns after 20 Years.
Among the Romans, Vicennalia was particularly ufed for the Funeral Feafts, held on the 20th Day after a Perfon's de- ceafe.
Vicennalia, or Vicennales Ludi, were alfo the Games, Feafts, and Rejoicings, held every 20th Year of the Reign of a Prince.
On Medals we frequently meet with Vicennalia Vota 5 the Vows put up on that Occafion, for the Safety of the Empe- ror, and Inlargement of the Empire.
Thefe are cxprefs'd by VOX. X & XX, in the Medals of tfacifus, Gallian, and Probus ; VOT. X. M. XX, in thofe of Valerius Maximianus, and Galerius Maximianus ; VOT. X. MUL. XX, in thofe of Conflantine, Valentiman, and Valem ; VOT, X. MULT. XX, in thofe oSTiiocleJian, Confiantine, Julian, Valentinian, Theodofius, Arcadius, Ho- nonus ; VOTIS X. MULT. XX, in thofe of Julian, Va- kntinian, Gratian ; VOT. X. SIC. XX, in thofe of Vale- rias Conflantius 5 VOT. XII. FEL. XX, in the younger Licinms; VOT. XV. FEL. XX, in Confiantine. See Vows.
VICINAGE, and Vicinetum. See Venue, and Visne.
V1CIS & Venellis Mundandis, a Writ lying againft a Mayor, Bailiff, &c. for not taking care that the Streets be well cleans'd.
VICISSITUDE, from the Latin Viciffitudo, a Change or
Turn ; the fucceeding of one thing after another. As the Vi-
cijjitude of Seafons, Fortunes, &G.
VICONTIEL.? c SVicountiel. it c See 5 , r
VlCONTIELS. 3 C VlCOUNTlELS.
VICOUNT, or Viscount, or Vice-comes, in our Law- Books, fignifies the fame with Sheriff - 7 between which two Words, there feems to be no other difference, but that the one came from our Conquerors, the Normans ; the other from our Anceftors, the Saxons. See Sheriff.
Vicount, or Viscount, is alfo ufed for a degree of No- bility next below a Count or Earl, and above a Baron. See Nobility.
Camden obferves, that this is an antient Name of Office, but a new one of Dignity, never heard of among us till Henry Vlth's Days, who, in his 18th Year, created in Par- liament John Lord Seazimont, Vifeount Beaumont .- But it is much more antient in orher Countries.
2)u Cange, indeed, will have the Dignity to have had its firft Rife in England 5 but 'tis much more probable, it was firft brought over hither by the Normans.
The Privileges of a Vicount, are, that he may have a Co- ver of Affay held under his Cup when he drinks, and may
have Travers in his own Houfe. And a Vtcountefs may
have her Gown bore up by a Woman, out of the Prefence of her Superiors ; and in their Prefence by a Man. See Co- ronet, &c.
VlCOUNTlELS, Vicontiels, Vkecomitalia, in our Law-Books, denotes Things belonging to the Vice-Comes, or Sheriff; particularly certain Farms, for which the Sheriff pays a Rent to the King, and makes what Profit he can of them.
Writs Vicountiel, are fuch as are triable in the County or Sheriffs-Court.
Vicountiels, or Vicontiels JurifdibTiion, is that Ju- rifdiciion belonging to the Officers of a County ; as Sheriffs, Coroners, Efcheators, &c.
VICTIM, Victima, a bloody Sacrifice, offer'd to fome Deity, of a living Thing, either a Pcrfon, or a Beaft, which is flain to appeafe his Wrath, or to obtain fome Fa- vour. See Sacrifice.
The Greeks offer'd Ipbigenia at Aalis, for a ViUim to obtain a favourable Wind.
The Gods of the Heathens had each their proper Victims : Thus, the Goat was Ztaccbus's Victim ; the Horfe Nep- tune^s. See God, and Victimarius.
VICTIMARIUS, was a Minift.er, or Servant of the Priefts ; whofe Office was to bind the Victims, and prepare the Water, Knife, Cake, and other things neceffary to the Sacrifice. See Sacrifice.
To the ViBimarii it alfo belonged to knock down and kill the Viftims : In order to which, they flood clofe by the Altar, naked to the Waift, but crown'd with Laurel ; and holding a Hatchet or a Knife up, afk'd the Prieft leave to ftrike ; faying Agone ? Shall I ftrike ? Whence they were alfo called Agones, and Cultellarii.
When the Victim was kill'd, they open'd it, and after viewing the Entrails, took them away, wa/h'd the Carcafe, fprinkled the Floor, &c.
The fame Victimarii lighted the Fire wherein Books were condemn'd to be burnt. See Livy y Lib. XV. cap. 29. and A. Gellius, L. I. c. 1.
VICTORIAN Period, in Chronology. See Period. VICTORY, Victoria, the Overthrow or Defeat of an Enemy, in War, Combat, Duel, or the like. See War, Battle, Combat, Duel, &c.
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Among the Romans, Crowns, Triumphs, fife, were da- creed to their Generals for the Victories they gain'd. See Crown, Triumph, &c.
VICTUALLING Office, an Office kept on Tower-Hill, for the furnifhing his Majefly's Navy with Visuals. See Office.
It is manag'd by feven Commiffioners, who have their inferior Officers ; as Secretaries, Clerks, &c. befide Agents in divers Parts of Great Britain, Ireland, &c. See Navy.
VICTUS Ratio, among Phyficians, a particular manner of living, for the Prefervation of Health, and Prevention of Difeafes. See Diet, Regimen, £-?c.
VIDAME, q. d. Vice-Z)omimis, was antienrly the Bi- fhop's Deputy in Temporals ; as the Comes was the King's.
Vidame is Will a Title of Seignory, or Lordfhip ; attribu- ted to feveral Gentlemen in France : as the Vidame of Chartres, of Amiens, &c.
The Word, according to Nicod, comes from Vicarius ; and according to Pafquier, from Vice-1)omiiius ; dam figni- fying 'Dominus, or Lord.
The original Inttitution of Vidames, was for defence of the Temporalties of Bifhopricks, while the Bifhops them- felves were taken up in Prayer, and other Spiritual Func- tions. They alfo led the Bifhop's Forces, when they were
oblig'd to go to War, either to defend their Temporalties, or for the Arrier-Ban.
They alfo manag'd and pleaded their Caufes in Courts of Juftice ; diftributed Juftice among their Tenants 5 prevent- ed any body's pillaging or damaging the Houfes of deceas'd Bifhops, &c. — In effect, they reprefented the Bifhop, confi- der'd as a Temporal Lord. See Bishop.
Tafquier fays, they were the Bifhop's Temporal Judges; and had the fame Privileges as the Vicounts.
By degrees, the Vidames converted their Office into a Fee ; and the Bifhops their Vidames, or Judges, into Vaf- fals, as Kings did their Counts, Dukes, G?c. See Count, Vassal, &c.
Accordingly, the Vidames of Chartres, &c. fiill hold Lands of the Bifhops of thofe Places.
In fome antient Charters, the Vidames are call'd Advo- cates, or Advowees. See Advocate.
VIDIMUS, in Law, the fame with InnotefcimttS ; being Letters Patent of a Charter of Feoffemenr, or fome orher Inflrument not of Record. See Innotescimus.
VIDUITY. See Widowhood.
Viduitatis Profejfio, the making a folemn Profeflion of living a chafte Widow 5 a Cuftom heretofore obferv'd in England, and attended with divers Ceremonies. See Wi- dow, and Widowhood.
VIEW, in Law, the Aft of Veiors,ov Viewers. SeeViEWER.
When a real Aflion is brought, and the Tenant knows not well what the Land is the Demandant afks ; he may pray the View ; which is, that he may fee the Land which is claim'd.
This Courfe of proceeding we receiv'd from the Normans, as appears by the Grand Cuftomary. — It is ufed in various Cafes ; as in Aflize of Rent-Service, Rent-Charge, Rent- Seek ; in a Writ of Nufance ; in a Writ quo Jure 5 in the Writ de Rationabilibus divifis, &c.
View of Franc-Pledge, is the Office which the Sheriff in his County-Court, or the Bailiff in his Hundred, performs j in looking to the King's Peace, and feeing that every Man be in fome Pledge. See Franc- ( P 'ledge.
This is called by Sratlon, Res qaafi facra quia folam ferfonam Regis refpicit, & intrcdu£ia pro pace, & communi tit Hit ate.
View, in Matters of Opticks, Perfpe&ive, &c. See Vi- sion, Sight, Perspective,^.
View, among Hunters, the print of the Feet of a fallow Deer on the Ground.
To View a Place, in the Military Art, is to ride about it before the laying of a Siege, in order to obferve the Strength or Weaknefs of its Situation and Fortification. See Fortification, &c.
VIEWERS, in Law, are Perfons that are fent by a Court to view a Place or Perfon in quellion 5 as alfo the Situation of a Place where a Fact was committed ; or a Perlon in cafe of Sicknefs, &c.
VIGIL, or Eve, in Church Chronology, the Day before any Feaft, &c. See Feast, and Eve.
Tho the Civil Day begin at Midnight, yet the Ecclefiaf- tical, or Scriptural Day, begins at fix a-Clock in the Even- ing, and holds till fix in the Evening the enfuing Day. See Day.
Hence, the Collect for every Sunday and Holy-Day, by Order of the Church, is to be read at the preceding Evening- Service at fix a-Clock the Day before 5 from which time the Religious Day was fuppofed to begin.
And this firft part of the Holy-day, from fix a-Clock the Day before, was, by the primitive Chrifiians,fpent in Hymns and other Devotions; and being often continu'd till late in the Night, were call'd Vigils.
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