court of audience

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

1.The act of hearing; attention to sounds. [1913 Webster]

Thou, therefore, give due audience, and attend.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

2.Admittance to a hearing; a formal interview, esp. with a sovereign or the head of a government, for conference or the transaction of business. [1913 Webster]

According to the fair play of the world, Let me have audience: I am sent to speak.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

3.An auditory; an assembly of hearers. Also applied by authors to their readers. [1913 Webster]

Fit audience find, though few.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

He drew his audience upward to the sky.— Dryden.[1913 Webster]

Court of audience, or Audience court (Eng.), a court long since disused, belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury; also, one belonging to the Archbishop of York. --Mozley & W.

In general (or open) audience, publicly.

To give audience, to listen; to admit to an interview. [1913 Webster]