It
may, therefore, be omitted. It was anciently punished with death, as
it has been latterly. Ll. Aelfrid. 31. and 25. H. 8. c. 6. see
Beccaria. 31. Montesq.
(* 21) Bracton, Fleta, &c.
(* 22) 22. 23. Car. 2. c. 1. Maiming was felony at the Common
law. Britton, c. 25. `Mahemium autem dici poteri, aubia aliquis in
aliqua parte sui corporis laesionem acceperit, per quam affectus sit
inutilis ad pugnandum: ut si manus amputetur, vel pes, oculus
privetur, vel scerda de osse capitis laveter, vel si quis dentes
praecisores amiserit, vel castratus fuerit, et talis pro mahemiato
poterit adjudicari.' Fleta L. 1. c. 40. `Et volons que nul maheme ne
soit tenus forsque de membre tollet dount home es plus feble a
combatre, sicome del oyl, ou de la mayn, ou del pie, ou de la tete
debruse, ou de les dentz devant.' Britton, c. 25. For further
definitions, see Bracton, L. 3. c. 24 3. 4. Finch L. B. 3. c. 12.
Co. L. 126. a. b. 288. a. 3. Bl. 121. 4. Bl. 205. Stamf. P. C. L. 1.
c. 41. I do not find any of these definitions confine the offence to
wilful and malicious perpetrations of it. 22. 23. Car. 2. c. 1.
called the Coventry act, has the words `on purpose and of malice
forethought.' Nor does the Common law prescribe the same punishment
for disfiguring, as for maiming.
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