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berlaings

Glossary entry

Dutch term or phrase:

Schepenbank

English translation:

Bench of Aldermen

Added to glossary by Marie-Helene Dubois
Jan 20, 2012 15:49
12 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Dutch term

Schepenbank

Dutch to English Law/Patents History
I am translating a text on language and how it has evolved and been affected by the period in history in which it was used.
I have this term which I understand the principle of. There is a description here:
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schepenbank

I'm not sure if there is already an established term in English for this.

I hope someone who has seen this before can help.

Thanks
Proposed translations (English)
3 Bench of Aldermen
3 Sherriff's Court

Discussion

Marie-Helene Dubois (asker) Jan 21, 2012:
Thanks everyone! I've used Bench of Aldermen in the end and then gave the name in Dutch as a note to avoid confusion. I feel that it fits in with the time element and is as close as possible to the meaning. I get the sense that sherriff is more common in US English than UK.
When I looked it up on google, it gave me ship's banks which just goes to show that you can't be using machines doesn't it?..
Kirsten Bodart Jan 20, 2012:
A magistrate is mainly a justice of the peace, i.e. in charge of the law. Maybe not in their original Classic meaning, but what reader of this document is going to consider that at first sight. Not to mention that a magistrate over the Channel has the connotation of 'judge' or 'prosecutor' (at any rate high up in the ministry of Justice). 'Aldermen' pretty much sums it up.
I know that some places had multiple sheriffs (probably down to sheer size), but I doubt that any place ever had 12.
I think maybe because of historic flavour 'Bench' would not be a bad choice.
Frank van Thienen (X) Jan 20, 2012:
magistrate? Yes, it seems that Sherriff is not be the best choice here (the google book in my link below does refer to TWO sherriffs in London, though).
The English Wikipedia page for "schepenen" says this: "One of the functions of the schepenbank was to pass judgment on criminals, thereby functioning as a jury or magistrates' bench. As a result, the word schepen is often translated into English as "magistrate" in this Dutch historical context."
Using the bench option, which is the closest to the original, you end up with Magistrate's Bench.
sindy cremer Jan 20, 2012:
agree with Kirsten but why not use 'Bench'? 'Bench' from old English 'benc' ... If your text involves the evolution of language it might fit the bill?
Kirsten Bodart Jan 20, 2012:
I would stay away from anything to do with 'court' for the simple fact that a 'schepenbank' had the function of governing a local community subject to a lord (heer). As in the Ancien Régime the local lord also had kind of judicial rights, these aldermen also had a kind of court function, but restricted (under a certain monetary value). This was not their main function though. So I woul opt for 'Council' as that was their main role. As the Belgian 'schepencollege' is still just the council.
By the way, I thought the sheriff was only one. As it is still the case in the USA but also in the stories of Robin Hood for example. He enforced the law in name of the lord. Similar to a 'baljuw'.
Frank van Thienen (X) Jan 20, 2012:
schepenbank - more info zie ook: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schepenbank ;
Schepen hadden een zeer brede rol: rechtzaken, gemeentelijke besluiten, politie, en registreren van burgerlijke DTB gegevens.
Frank van Thienen (X) Jan 20, 2012:
sherriff's court About 9 years ago I wrote my own family history books, Dutch and English, and used "Sherriff's Court" as the translation.
Now I can find very little on Google to substantiate that,but it may be an option . . . If my petrifying memory serves me right, historically these "sherriffs" acted like aldermen, but they were appointed, rather than elected.
FWIW :-)
Marie-Helene Dubois (asker) Jan 20, 2012:
I like The Court of aldermen suggestion. I was toying with something along the lines of 'civic office' but I think that aldermen possibly fits in better....
Roy vd Heijden Jan 20, 2012:
Court of aldermen?

Proposed translations

11 mins
Selected

Bench of Aldermen

http://www.google.co.uk/search?num=50&hl=en&q="Bench of alde...

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Note added at 58 mins (2012-01-20 16:48:02 GMT)
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a few examples from UK history:
http://www.hrionline.ac.uk/strype/TransformServlet?page=book...

"In consideration whereof, by these Presents, it is for an infallible Truth, to be holden with all Men, which shall hear or see this present Writing, That Robert Flower, Taylor and Hosier, dwelling within the Precinct and Liberties of the late Black Friers, near Ludgate in London; was by Commandment of the whole Bench of Aldermen, committed into one of the Compters of London, the 20th day of May, 1582."

http://www.machadoink.com/The Guildhall.htm

"Canterbury being a county in itself, its magistrates have authority to determine all disputes at law between the citizens, and to try for capital offences, committed within the city liberty, the mayor sitting as judge, and pronouncing sentence, assisted by the recorder and bench of aldermen above the chair, who are all justices of the peace."The Kentish Traveller's Companion 1776."

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42274

That is underlined in particular by the composition of the town's inner governing body, the twelve-strong bench of aldermen, which at that period included almost all the most wealthy men. (fn. 122) Between 1483 and 1547 the occupations of roughly half of all the men who attained the bench of aldermen are known: they were 9 mercers, 8 drapers, 4 merchants, 4 cappers, 3 tanners, 2 clothiers, a dyer, a brewer, a cutler, a wiredrawer, a goldsmith, a bellfounder, and a lawyer. (fn. 123)

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=VNAMjuMw_5kC&pg=PA127&dq=...
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
2 hrs

Sherriff's Court

may as well offer this as a possible solution :-)
see also discussion above
Example sentence:

“The Sherriff’s Court, empowered by the 10 and 11 Vict. Cap. 71, and 15 Vict. Cap. 77, to try all pleas on personal actions for the recovery of …”

Reference:

http://tinyurl.com/7u8crww

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