How did the phrase "bring (someone) to book" originate?

Bring someone to book (British & Australian)
to punish someone. A crime has been committed and whoever is responsible must be brought to book.

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/bring+to+book

To bring to book.
(a) To compel to give an account.
(b) To compare with an admitted authority. "To bring it manifestly to book is impossible." --M. Arnold.

http://onlinedictionary.datasegment.com/word/to+bring+to+book

bring to book, to call to account; bring to justice: Someday he will be brought to book for his misdeeds.

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/bring--to--book

That's what it means. But that doesn't say WHY....

To be booked can mean a good thing (a gig) or a bad thing (speeding). In both cases, you are entered in a book somewhere. But why 'brought to book'?

I see a bit of a jump from 'the book' (which is normal speech) to 'to book'. Why is one brought to book, not to the book? Where does it come from?

Well, as usual Baloo -- You are free to provide your own answer with references. In the meantime, I don't see it as much of a stretch from throwing the book at...meaning some form of law book, etc. as I highly doubt anyone would be brought to book on a romance novel.

Throw the book at:

1. To make all possible charges against (a lawbreaker, for example).
2. To reprimand or punish severely.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/brought+to+book

I've also looked under 'brought to book,' but, I'm just not finding anything more than I've posted. Like I said...feel free to do some research.