Essoin day

Formerly the first general return-day of the term, on which the courts sat to receive essoins, i. e., excuses for parties who did not appear in court, according to the summons of write. 3 Bl. Comm. 278; Boote, Suit at Law, 130; Gills Com. Pi. 13; 1 Tidd, Pr. 107. But, by St 11 Geo. IV. and 1 Wm. IV. c. 70, § 6, these days were done away with, as a part of the term.

— Essoin de malo villæ. when the defendant is in court the first day ; but gone without pleading, and being afterwards surprised by sickness, etc., cannot attend, but sends two essoiners, who openly protest in court that he is detained by sickness in such a village, that he cannot come pro luorari and pro perdere; and this will be admitted, for it Iieth on the plaintiff to prove whether the essoin is true or not. Jacob.

Defined under Essoin in Black's Law Dictionary.