But in former times, in England, from whence we have
derived much of our law as well as our methods of
municipal administration, there was some reason for
terming certain cases " equity cases " as distinguished
from " suits at law." In those days there were definite
forms in accordance with which alone disputes could
be considered and determined by the courts. But in
time, owing to changed conditions, these forms became
inappropriate to many new controversies which arose,
and in order to administer justice in these new causes,
new courts were established and new methods gradually
adopted. Inasmuch as these courts were created for the
purpose of securing equity or justice in those matters
in which it could not be obtained in the old law courts,
they gained the name of courts of equity, and the laws
which they enforced were called equity laws. Thus
in our time we still retain the old names "law" and
"equity" in distinguishing the two systems of courts
and procedures, although there is no longer any dis-
tinction as to the amount of equity, i,e, justice, granted ;
nor does one enforce law any more or less than the
other.
Besides law courts and equity courts, there are two
other classes of courts. First, maritime or admiralty
courts, which apply the rules governing property or
transactions relating to the sea or navigable rivers;
and secondly, probate and orphans' courts, which have



94 INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE

to do with the proving and execution of wills and the
protection of the property of orphans.
