Legal Definitions - monstraverunt

monstraverunt

Monstraverunt is a legal term that comes from Latin. It means "they have showed". It was a writ of relief for tenants of ancient demesne who were distrained by their lord to do more than the tenure required. This writ protected the tenants from any increase of their services.

For example, if a lord of a manor tried to make his tenants do more work than they were supposed to, the tenants could go to the royal chancery and obtain a writ against him. This writ would begin with the word Monstraverunt. The king would address the lord and command him to cease from such exactions, otherwise the sheriff would interfere.

Another example is if a tenant claimed land according to the custom of the manor, but the lord of the manor tried to take it away. The tenant could use the writ of Monstraverunt to protect their rights and prevent the lord from taking their land.