Legal Definitions - mendicatorie

Mendicatorie is a historical legal term describing an action or manner that is like that of a beggar or a humble supplicant. It refers to behaving in a pleading, begging, or desperately requesting way, often from a position of need or subservience.

• Example 1: In a medieval village facing a severe famine, a group of impoverished peasants might approach the local lord. They would kneel, hands clasped, and speak in a low, desperate tone, making a mendicatorie plea for a small allowance of grain to prevent their families from starving.

  Explanation: This illustrates "mendicatorie" because the peasants are acting as humble supplicants, making a desperate, begging request for essential resources from someone in a position of power, mirroring the behavior of a beggar.

• Example 2: Historically, a defendant found guilty of a minor offense but facing a disproportionately harsh penalty might address the judge. They might bow deeply, express profound remorse, and in a mendicatorie fashion, implore the court for leniency, perhaps asking for a lighter sentence or a chance to make restitution instead of imprisonment.

  Explanation: Here, the defendant's actions and words are "mendicatorie" as they adopt the posture and tone of a supplicant, humbly begging for mercy or a less severe outcome from the authority of the court.

• Example 3: During a period of severe economic hardship in a historical context, representatives from a struggling town might travel to the royal court. They would present their case to the monarch, describing the widespread suffering and lack of resources, and in a very humble and mendicatorie manner, request royal intervention or financial aid to prevent starvation among their populace.

  Explanation: This scenario demonstrates "mendicatorie" because the town's representatives are acting as supplicants, making a desperate and humble appeal for assistance from a higher authority due to extreme need, much like a beggar seeking alms.