Conventicle

A private assembly of a few folks under pretense of exercise of religion. The name was first given to the meetings of Wickliffe, but afterwards applied to the meetings of the nonconformists.

Cowell.

The meetings were made illegal by 16 Car. II. c. 4, and the term, in its later signification, came to denote an unlawful religious assembly. CONVENTIO (Lat. a coming together). In Canon Law. The act of summoning or calling together the parties by summoning the defendant. When the defendant was brought to answer, he was said to be convened, which the canonists called conventio, because the plaintiff and defendant met to contest. Story, Eq. PI.

402; 4 Bouv. Inst, note 4117.

In Contracts. An agreement; a covenant.

Cowell.

Often used in the maxim conventio vincit legem, the express agreement of the parties supersedes the law.

Story, Ag. § 368.

But this maxim does not apply, it is said, to prevent the application of the general rule of law.

Broom, Leg. Max. 308.

CONVENTIO PRIVATORUM NON POtest publico juri derogare. An agreement of private persons cannot derogate from public right. Wingate, Max. p.

746, max. 201; Co. Litt. 166a; Dig. 50. 17. 45. 1.