Legal Definitions - Circumspecte agatis

Term: Circumspecte agatis
Definition: Circumspecte agatis is a directive from the king to his justices that tells them to act carefully and thoughtfully. It was originally written in Latin and was used to define the boundaries of ecclesiastical jurisdiction. The directive was issued around 1285 and became a law over time. The title Circumspecte agatis comes from the first few words of the writ: “Rex talibus judicibus salutem; Circumspecte agatis....”
Examples: When the king issued a Circumspecte agatis, he was telling his justices to be careful and thoughtful when making decisions about religious matters. For example, if there was a dispute between two churches, the justices would need to consider the boundaries of each church's jurisdiction before making a ruling. The directive helped ensure that decisions were made fairly and with consideration for all parties involved.