ɪt wʌz tə hˈɪɹ ˈɔːl sˈuːts, sˈɪvəl ænd kɹˈɪmɪnəl, wˌɪtʃ wɜː bɹˈɔːt baɪ ˌɪndᵻvˈɪdʒuːəlz tˈuː pˈʊɹ tə sˈuː æt kˈɑːmən lˈɔː; ɪt wʌz tə tɹˈaɪ ˈɔːl kˈeɪsᵻz ʌv mˈɜːdɚ, fˈɛləni, pˈaɪɚɹəsi, ɹˈɛkɪŋ, ænd sˈʌtʃ kɹˈaɪmz æz wɜː lˈaɪkli tə dɪstˈɜːb ðə pˈiːs; ɪt wʌz tʊ ɪnvˈɛstᵻɡˌeɪt tʃˈɑːɹdʒᵻz ʌv mɪsɡˈʌvɚnmənt baɪ əfˈɪʃəlz ænd ðə fˈɔls vˈɜːdɪkts ʌv dʒˈʊɹɹiz; ɪt wʌz tʊ ɛnfˈoːɹs ðə lˈɔːz ɐɡˈɛnst lˈɪvɚɹi ænd mˈeɪntənəns, tə pˈʌnɪʃ ɹˈuːmɚ mˈɔndʒɚz ænd ɐdˈʌltɚɹɚz, ænd tə dˈiːl wɪð dɪspjˈuːts kənsˈɜːnɪŋ ɛŋklˈoʊʒɚz, vˈɪlaɪn sˈɜːvɪs, ænd mænˈoːɹɪəl kwˈɛstʃənz; ɪt hˈɜːd ɐpˈiːlz fɹʌmðə kˈɑːmən lˈɔː kˈoːɹts; ænd ɪt wʌz ɹᵻspˈɑːnsᵻbəl fɔːɹ ɐdmˈɪnɪstɚɹɪŋ ðə lˌɛdʒɪslˈeɪʃən dˈiːlɪŋ wɪð ɹᵻlˈɪdʒən.
It was to hear all suits, civil and criminal, which were brought by individuals too poor to sue at common law; it was to try all cases of murder, felony, piracy, wrecking, and such crimes as were likely to disturb the peace; it was to investigate charges of misgovernment by officials and the false verdicts of juries; it was to enforce the laws against livery and maintenance, to punish rumour mongers and adulterers, and to deal with disputes concerning enclosures, villein service, and manorial questions; it heard appeals from the common law courts; and it was responsible for administering the legislation dealing with religion.