A writ from William the Conqueror to
the citizens
of London, 1066
(The writ is in the Old English
language
and in the writ style of the Anglo-Saxons. Use of English--which
William did not speak--was meant to reinforce William's claims to be
the
legitimate English king, rather than merely a foreign conqueror.
Use of English in such legal documents died out in another decade or
two,
when the Norman rule was firmly established.)
A writ by Queen Matilda while the
king is
abroad, around 1116
Early subpoena writ (1388)
(This is essentially a writ to appear before
the king and his council, under penalty of (sub pena) a fine of 100 pounds)
An injunction in
Chancery, 1670 (photo)
A writ of covenant, 1748
(this was a writ used to enforce a
covenant or contract, largely superseded by assumpsit)
A writ of assumpsit
(until fairly recently this was the main way
of enforcing contracts)
A writ of execution (by
hanging and dissection), 1760
A writ to Constable of London (Vagrant
Pass), 1797 (photo)
AMERICAN WRITS, ORDERS, SUMMONS, ETC.
A summons from
the colony of Massachussets Bay, 1726
(a writ to the sheriff commanding
him to have the defendant appear in court)
Summons used in impeachment cases
(including
President Clinton's)
(note
the very archaic language)
