sb. and a. Obs. Also 7 vicondell, viscontiel. β. 6–7 vicountiell, 7–9 -iel. See also VICOUNTILE. [a. AF. vicontiel, f. viconte VISCOUNT. Cf. OF. vicontal, F. vicomtal.]
A. sb. pl. Certain sums regularly payable to the Crown by a sheriff and charged against him in the Exchequer accounts.
1548. Act 2 & 3 Edw. VI., c. 4 § 3. [To] be discharged of all suche Fermes and Sommes of money … excepte onlie of the Vicountielles of their Shires wherewithe they shalbe chardged.
1607. Cowell, Interpr., s.v., There are also certaine fermes called Vicountiels, which the Shyreeue for his time payeth a certaine rent for to the King, and maketh what profit he can of them.
1642. C. Vernon, Consid. Exch., 11. The … Sheriffe … to deliver a book written in parchment, declaring of whom and where he receiveth the vicondells, and other the Rents and Farmes written unto him in the Summons of the Pipe.
1738. Hist. Crt. Excheq., v. 89. This sum was an Item placed after his Vicontiels.
[1819. Statutes of Realm, IV. 43, marg. Allowance to all Sheriffs for Vicountiels out of lands coming into the King’s Hands.]
B. adj. 1. Of or pertaining to a sheriff.
α. 1614. Selden, Titles Honor, 253. Our officiarie Vicecomites or Shirifes, which haue diuers Actions Viscontiel, and inquirie of criminall causes.
1622. Callis, Stat. Sewers (1824), 230. The highest authority that he [the sheriff] hath is but vicontiel.
1647. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. lxi. 191. Other Courts also were in the countrey, and were Vicontiel or Courts of Sheriffs and Lords of Hundreds and corporations.
1670. Act 22 Chas. II., c. 6 § 1. Guild Rents, Pensions, Vicontiel Rents, Assart-Rents [etc.].
1798. Gentl. Mag., Oct., 850/1. Not far from the church of Bromham lies … the chantry-house, to which appertained certain annual vicontiel or fee farm rents.
β. 1630. Doddridge, Hist. Wales, 40. For all the ordinary Ministers and executioners of the processe of the Lawes of England, or which haue Vicountiell iurisdiction, are the Officers of particular Shires.
[1819. Statutes of Realm, IV. 43, marg. Sheriffs taking Tallies shall be chargeable for Vicountiel Farms, &c.]
2. Of writs: (see quots.).
1607. Cowell, Interpr., s.v. Vicountie, Writs vicountiel are such writs as are triable in the countie or Shyreeues court.
a. 1683. Scroggs, Courts-Leet (1714), 84. This Writ is a Vicountiel, and in the Nature of a Justicies in which the Sheriff shall hold Plea.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. 238. This writ of admeasurement … is one of those writs, that are called vicontiel, being directed to the sheriff,… and not to be returned to any superior court, till finally executed by him.
