The law of England, whereby the first person named in bonds, as coprincipal, is understood as principal, and the rest as cautioners, found probable by the attestation of the Judges of the common pleas.
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Andrew Cuninghame pursued Brown as heir to his father, for fulfilling a bond of his father's, obliging him to relieve the pursuer of all cautionries for which he was obliged for Robert Cuninghame, and particularly of a bond granted by the said Robert and Andrew Cuninghames to Captain Lavrock in England, after the English form of a double bond. The defender alleged, That this English bond did not prove Andrew Cuninghame to be cautioner for Robert, because they are thereby bound as conjunct principals. It was answered, That in English bonds, the person first exprest is always understood principal, and the others but as cautioners.
The Lords found the allegeance relevant, and for proving thereof, granted commission to the Judges of the Common Pleas, to declare what was their law in the case.
