Legal Definitions - de secta ad molendinum

Definition: De secta ad molendinum (dee sek-tə ad mə-len-di-nəm) is a legal term that refers to a writ that forces a person to continue grinding corn at a particular mill, as was customary, or to give a good reason why the custom should not be continued.

Example: In medieval England, it was customary for people living in a particular area to grind their corn at a certain mill. If someone decided to go to another mill and withdraw their suit, it was considered an injury to the owner of the original mill. The owner could then use a writ de secta ad molendinum to force the person to continue grinding corn at their mill or show a good reason why they should not.

Explanation: The example illustrates how de secta ad molendinum was used in medieval England to enforce the custom of grinding corn at a particular mill. The writ was used to protect the owner of the mill from losing business and to ensure that the custom was continued. If the person could not provide a good reason for withdrawing their suit, they would be forced to continue grinding corn at the original mill.