Clarendon

CONSTITUTIONS OF. The constitutions of Clarendon were certain statutes made in the reign of Henry II., of England, at a parliament held at Clarendon, by which the king checked the. power of the pope and his clergy, and greatly narrowed the exemption they claimed from secular jurisdiction. Previous to this time, there had been an entire separation between the clergy and laity, as members of the same commonwealth. The clergy, having emancipated themselves from the laws as administered by the courts of law, had assumed powers and exemptions quite inconsistent with the good government of the country. CLARIFICATIO (Lat.)

In old Scotch law. A making clear; the purging or clearing (clenging) of an assize. Skene de Verb. Sign. Clarificatio debiti, the clearness of a debt which is sufficiently proved and verified.

ASSIZE OF. A statute (1166) the principal feature of which was an improvement of judicial procedure in the case of criminals. It was a part of the same scheme of reform as the Constitution of Clarendon. See James C. Carter, The Law, etc., 65.

constitutions of. Statutes made at Clarendon in the reign of Henry II. by which the usurpations of the pope and the clergy and their immunity from the secular jurisdiction were limited.

CONSTITUTIONS OF. The constitutions of Clarendon were certain statutes made in the reign of Henry If. of England, at a parliament held at Clarendon, (A, D. 1164,) by which the king checked the power of the pope and his clergy, and greatly narrowed the exemption they claimed from secular jurisdiction. 4 BI. Comm. 422.

Constitutions of. Statutes made at Clarendon in the reign of Henry II., whereby the power of the Pope and clergy was checked, and their immunity from secular jurisdiction limited.

Constitutions of. Certain declaratory ordinances, in sixteen articles, brought forward by King Henry II. at a great council held at Clarendon, A. D. 1164; and confirmed, A. D. 1170, at a council held at Northampton. 1 Reeves* Hist. Eng. Law, 75 — 79. Their object was to define the limits between civil and ecclesiastical jurisdiction; to prevent the further encroachments of the clergy; and to abolish the abuses which had arisen from the gradual and increasing usurpations of the pope.* 4 BL C(m, 422. P, Cyclopcedia. 1 Beeves* Hist. ub. sup, Crabb*s Hist. Eng. Law, 110, 111.

The constitutions of Clarendon were certain statutes made in the reign of Henry the Second, of England, in a parliament holden at Clarendon, by which the king checked the power of the pope and his clergy. 4 Bl. Com. 415.