Craven

CRAVENT, or CRAVANT (from Saxon crafan, to crave, beg, or implore).

In old English law. A word of obloquy and disgrace, in the ancient trial by battel, on the uttering of which by either champion, he was considered as jrielding the victory tc his opponent, and was condemned, as a recreant, amittere liberam legem, to lose his frank law, that is, to become infamous, and not to be accounted a free and lawful man, liber et legalis homo, being supposed by the court to be proved forsworn, and therefore never to be put on a jury or admitted as a witness in any cause. 3 Bl. Comm. 340; 4 Bl. Comm. 348; 4 Steph. Comm. 415. Called verbum recreantisae, the word of recreancy. Fleta, lib. 1, c. 38, § 18. The word is still popularly used in the same dishonorable sense. See "Battel;" "Champion;" "Recreant."

A word denoting defeat, and begging the mercy of the conqueror. It was used (when used) by the vanquished party In trial by battle. Victory was obtained by the death of one of the combatants, or if either champion proved recreant,— that is, yielded, and pronounced the horrible word "craven." Such a person became infamous, and was thenceforth unfit to be believed on oath. 3 Bla. Com. 340. See Wageb of Battel.

cravent, cravant.

In old English law. A word of disgrace, in the trial by battel, on the uttering of which by either champion he demned, as a recreant, to become infamous, and not to be accounted a free and lawful man. v. Battel; Champion; Recreant.

Inold Englishlaw. A word of dliserace and obloquy, pronounced on either champion, in the ancient trial by battle, proving recreant, 7. e., yielding. Glanville calls it “infestum et invereeundum verbum.” His condemnation was amittere liberam legem, t. e., to become infamous, and not tu be accounted liber et iegalis homo, being supposed by the event to have been proved forsworn, and not fit to be put upon a jury or admitted asa witness. Wharton.

sax. To beg. v.

Craventy Cravant, [from Sax. crafian^ to crave, beg or implorej In old English law. A word of obloquy and disgrace, in the ancient trial by battel, on the uttering of which by either champion, he was considered as yielding the victory to his opponent, and was condemned, as a recreant, amiltere liberam legem, [to lose his frank-law,] that is, to become infamous, and not to be accounted a free and lawful man, {liber et legalis homo,) being supposed by the court to be proved forsworn, and therefore never to be put upon a jury or admitted as a witness in any cause. 3 Bl, Com. 340. 4 Id, 348. 4 Steph, Com, 415. The word is still popularly used in the same dishonorable sense. See Battel, Champion, Recreant.