from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
GAOL-DELIVERY, Eng. law. To insure the trial, within a certain time, of all
prisoners, a patent in the nature of a letter is issued from the king to
certain persons, appointing them his justices, and authorizing them to
deliver his goals. Cromp. Jurisd. 125; 4 Inst. 168; 4 Bl. Com. 269; 2 Hale,
P. C. 22, 32; 2 Hawk. P. C. 14, 28. In the United States, the judges of the
criminal courts are required to cause the accused to be tried within the
times prescribed by the local statutes, and the constitutions require a
speedy trial.