Jurator

And this courſe was uſed by the Four and twenty Jurators in Kent in Rumney Marſh, who always upon their Oaths ſet down every particular mans ground in certain, and their juſt quantities, and accordingly were the parties ſeverally taxed.

It was an improvement on this ancient cuſtom, that the jurators were named by the court instead of being selected by the parties. It was a further progreſs towards our preſent mode of jury, that the jurators were to hear the ſtatements of both parties before they gave their deciding veredictum, or oath of the truth. While the ordeals were popular, the trials by jurators were little uſed;

This was indeed the second stage of trial by jury, the first being that of jurators, or compurgators.

Compurgator.[…]2. A jurator who, together with the accused and eleven others, swore to his innocence.

These jurators for a long time combined the functions of accusers and triers.

But we learn from Bracton, who wrote in the reign of Henry II, that the system of compurgators was extended after a short time so as to submit the final decision of the case to what was called jurators. These jurators were charged with the preliminary inquiry as to the guilt of any person charged with certain crimes, and upon their finding him guilty he was put to the ordeal of compurgation as he might elect.

The same author dwells much on the fact, that these jurators were of the number of twelve.