Legal Definitions - outfangthief

Outfangthief is a historical legal term from medieval England. It refers to the right of a lord of a manor to pursue a thief who had committed a crime within the lord's territory, even if the thief had fled beyond the manor's boundaries or immediate jurisdiction. Once apprehended, the thief could be brought back to the lord's court for trial and punishment. Essentially, it was a lord's authority to ensure justice for crimes committed on his land, regardless of where the perpetrator was ultimately caught.

• Imagine a scenario where a thief steals a valuable horse from Lord Alaric's stables, located within his manor. The thief then flees across the river into the lands controlled by a neighboring, independent baron, hoping to escape Lord Alaric's justice.

  Under the right of outfangthief, Lord Alaric would be legally entitled to send his guards across the river into the baron's territory to pursue and apprehend the horse thief. Once caught, the thief would be brought back to Lord Alaric's court to face trial and punishment for the theft committed within Alaric's domain, even though the capture occurred outside his immediate jurisdiction.

• Consider a group of bandits who raid a merchant caravan traveling through the forest roads that fall under the broader feudal authority of Duke Gareth. After stealing the goods, the bandits retreat deep into a remote, unpopulated wilderness that is technically outside the direct administrative control of any specific manor court, but still considered part of the Duke's overall territory.

  Duke Gareth, exercising his right of outfangthief, could dispatch his knights to track the bandits into this remote wilderness. Upon their capture, the bandits would be brought back to Duke Gareth's central court for justice, demonstrating his power to punish crimes committed within his lands, regardless of how far the perpetrators had fled or where they were ultimately found.

• Picture a serf from Lady Eleanor's manor who commits a theft of tools from the manor's blacksmith. Fearing severe punishment, the serf escapes and travels several days' journey to a bustling town that falls under the jurisdiction of a different, more powerful count, hoping to disappear among the crowds.

  Despite the serf having fled to another lord's territory, Lady Eleanor, by virtue of her right of outfangthief, could send her bailiffs to the distant town to reclaim the serf. The serf would then be returned to Lady Eleanor's manor court to face trial and punishment for the theft committed within her domain, asserting her jurisdiction over her subjects and crimes committed on her land, even when the culprit had left her immediate control.