Rebel
Dictionary of Terms and Phrases Used in American or English Jurisprudence · Benjamin Vaughan Abbott · 1879
Dictionary of Terms and Phrases Used in American or English Jurisprudence
1.
In modern public and criminal law, one who engages in war, or rises in armed resistance against his government; one who forcibly resists the execution of the laws, or of lawful process. Rebellion: deliberate, organized resistance, by force and arms, to the laws or operations of the government, committed by a subject.
2.
In old English law, rebellion also signified disobedience to a writ of attachment, issued under the practice of the court of chancery; and if a defendant was summoned, upon his allegiance, personally to appear and answer, and he neglected to do so, a " commission of rebellion" was awarded against him, for not obeying the king's proclamation, according to his allegiance.
3 Bl. Com. 444.
Disobedience to "letters of horning," in Scotland, is called by the same name.
Bell.