Secta

In old English law. Suit; attendance at court; the plaintiff's suit or following, i. e., the witnesses whom he was required, in the ancient practice, to bring with him and produce in court, for the purpose of confirming his claim, before the defendant was put to the necessity of answering the declaration. See 3 Bl. Comm. 295, 344; Bract, fol. 214a. A survival from this proceeding is seen in the formula still used at the end of declarations, "and therefore he brings his suit," (et inde producit sectam.) This word, In its secondary meaning, signifies suit in the courts; lawsuit

— Seeta ad curiam. A writ that lay against him who refused to perform his suit either to the county court or the court-baron. Cowell.

— Secta ad furnum. In old English law. Suit due to a man's public oven or bake-house. 3 Bl. Comm. 235.

— Seeta ad justieiam faciendam. In old English law. A service which a man is bound to perform by his fee.

— Seota ad molendinum. A writ which lay for the owner of a mill against the inhabitants of a place where such mill is situated, for not doing suit to the plaintiff's mill; that is, for not having their com ground at it. Brown.

— Seeta ad torrale. In old English law. Suit due to a man's kiln or malthouse. 3 Bl. Comm. 235.

— Seeta cnrise. In old English law. Suit of court; attendance at court. The service, incumbent upon feudal tenants, of attending the lord at his court, both to form a j'ury when required, and also to answer for their own actions when complained of.
—Secta facienda per illam quæ habet eniciam partem. A writ to compel the heir, who has the elder's part of the co-heirs, to perform suit and services' for all the coparceners. Reg. Orig. 177.

— Secta regalis. A suit so called by which all persons were bound twice in the year to attend in the sheriff's tourn, in order that they might be informed of things relating to the public peace. It was so called because the sheriff's tourn was the king's leet, and it was held in order that the people might be bound by oath to bear true allegiance to the king. Cowell.

— Secta unica tantum facienda pro pluribus hæredita,tibus. A writ for an heir who was distrained by the lord to do more suits than one, that he should be allowed to do one suit only in respect of the land of divers heirs descended to him. Cowell.