Legal Definitions - warrantia diei

Definition: Warrantia Diei is a legal term that refers to a writ that orders a judge not to default a party for nonappearance because the Crown warranted that the party was busy in its service.

Example: In medieval England, if a person failed to appear in court, they could be held in default and lose their case. However, if the Crown had given them a warrantia diei, they would be excused from appearing in court because they were serving the Crown.

Explanation: The example illustrates how warrantia diei was used in medieval England to protect individuals who were serving the Crown from being held in default for not appearing in court. The writ was a way for the Crown to vouch for the person's absence and ensure that they were not unfairly penalized for their service.