Legal Definitions - proclamation of exigents

The proclamation of exigents was a historical legal procedure, primarily used in medieval England, involving a series of formal public announcements made by a sheriff. Its purpose was to compel an individual to appear in court to answer charges or face severe legal consequences, specifically being declared an outlaw.

Essentially, if a person was required to appear in court but could not be found or refused to come forward, the sheriff of the county where that person lived would issue repeated public notices. These notices served as a final warning, stating that if the individual did not present themselves by a certain deadline, they would be declared an outlaw. Being declared an outlaw meant losing all legal protection and rights, effectively placing the person outside the law.

• Example 1: Accused of a Crime

  Imagine a scenario in 14th-century England where a man named John is accused of stealing livestock from a neighboring village. John, fearing severe punishment, flees his home and goes into hiding. After initial attempts to locate him fail, the local court issues an order for his appearance. The sheriff of the county where John resided would then begin a proclamation of exigents. This would involve the sheriff making several public announcements, perhaps at market squares or church doors over successive court sessions, declaring that John was legally required to present himself to answer the theft charges. Each proclamation would serve as a warning that if John continued to evade the court, he would eventually be declared an outlaw, losing all legal rights and protections, making him vulnerable to capture or worse without legal recourse.

• Example 2: Evading Debt

  Consider a merchant named Sarah in the 15th century who borrowed a substantial sum from a moneylender but then disappeared without repaying the debt. The moneylender obtains a court order demanding Sarah's appearance to settle the matter, but she cannot be found. To compel her to come forward, the sheriff of the county where Sarah was last known to live would initiate a proclamation of exigents. This process would involve the sheriff publicly announcing, on multiple occasions and in various prominent locations within that county, that Sarah was legally required to present herself to the court to address the outstanding debt. If Sarah continued to evade the court after these repeated public notices, she would eventually be declared an outlaw, stripped of her legal rights and protections, which would allow the moneylender to pursue her or seize her assets more easily.