Legal Definitions - volumus

volumus

In history, volumus was a Latin word used in royal writs of protection and letters patent. It means "we will; it is our will." Monarchs traditionally used the royal "we" to refer to themselves in the plural first person.

• When the king issued a writ of protection, he would start the clause with "volumus" to indicate that it was his will to protect the person named in the writ.
• In a letter patent, the king might use "volumus" to express his will to grant a certain privilege or right to a person or group.

These examples show how "volumus" was used to express the will of the monarch in official documents. By using the royal "we," the king was emphasizing his authority and power as the ruler of the kingdom.