Legal Definitions - letters of horning

Definition: Letters of horning were a legal process in Scottish law where a creditor holding a decree obtained royal letters commanding the debtor to either perform their obligation or be outlawed.

For example, if a person owed money to another person and refused to pay, the creditor could obtain letters of horning from the court. These letters would be sent to the debtor, commanding them to pay the debt within a certain period of time. If the debtor failed to pay, they would be declared an outlaw and could be arrested or have their property seized.

Another example would be if a tenant refused to vacate a property after their lease had expired. The landlord could obtain letters of horning, commanding the tenant to leave the property. If the tenant failed to comply, they would be declared an outlaw and could be forcibly removed from the property.

Overall, letters of horning were a powerful tool for creditors to enforce their rights and ensure that debtors fulfilled their obligations.