Trailbaston
Originally a class of violent evil-doers in the reign of Edward I, who, as brigands or hired ruffians, bludgeoned, maltreated, and robbed the king’s lieges, during his absence or absorption in foreign wars.
It was also applied to their system of violence, for the suppression of which special justices were instituted in 1304–5. And thence the term was applied to the ordinances issued against said brigands, and to the inquisitions, trials, courts, and justices appointed for their suppression.
So trailbaston was a special type of itinerant judicial commission first created during the reign of Edward I and used many times thereafter during the reigns of Edward II and Edward III, primarily to punish felonies and trespass at the king’s suit.
The declared intention of the trailbaston commissions was to combat increasing levels of violence and public disorder, but an added bonus for the crown was the revenues brought by forfeiture, which was the punishment for conspiracy.
The first trailbaston commissions date back to 1305, when Edward I directed several teams of justices to visit each English county and seek presentments for felonies and certain trespasses. This was extended in late 1305 and revamped and it’s scope widened considerably in 1307.
The term was in living use from 1304 to about 1390 and has survived only as an often misunderstood historical expression.
Trailbaston ultimately derives from the Old French traille, to trail + baston, a stick, club or cudgel; so literally “one who trails or carries a club or cudgel”.