English court of common pleas was one of the four superior courts at Westminster, and existed up to the passing of the judicature acts. It was also styled the “Common Bench.” It was one of the courts derived from the breaking up of the aula regis, and had exclusive jurisdiction of all real actions and of communia placita, or common pleas, 4. c., between subject and subject. It was presided over by a chief justice with four puisne judges. Appeals lay anciently to the king’s bench, but afterwards to the exchequer chamber. See 3 Bl. Comm. 37, et seq.