Respondera Son Soveraigne
Defined in 2 dictionaries — Cyclopedic (1922), Black's (1910)
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
His superior or master shall answer. Articuli sup. Charta, c. 18. RESPONDERE NON DEBET (Lat. ought ought not to answer, as, when he claims a privilege; for example, as being a member of congress or a foreign ambassador. 1 Chit. PL *433. RESPONSA PRUDENTUM (Lat.)
In Roman law. Opinions given by Roman lawyers. Before the time of Augustus, every lawyer was authorized, de jure, to answer questions put to him; and all such answers, responsa prudentum, had equal authority, which had not the force of law, but the opinion of a lawyer. Augustus was the first prince who gave to certain distinguished jurisconsults the particular privilege of answering in his name, and from that period their answers required greater authority. Adrian determined in a more precise manner the degree of authority which these answers should have, by enacting that the opinions of such authorized jurisconsults, when unanimously given, should have the force of law (legis vicem), and should be followed by the judges, and that when they were divided, the judge was allowed to adopt that which to him appeared the most equitable. The opinions of other lawyers held the same place they had before — they were considered merely as the opinions of learned men. Mackeld. Man. Introd. § 43; Mackeld. Hist. Dr. Rom. §§ 40, 49; Hugo, Hist. Dr. Rom. § 313; Inst. 1. 2. 8; Inst. Expl. note 39. RESPONSALIS (Law Lat.) In Old English Law. One who answered or gave answer for another (qui responsum defert). The term seems to be used by Glanville in the sense of "attorney." Glanv. lib. 12, c. 1; Steph. PI. Append, note (5). But Bracton makes a clear distinction between the two offices, and is followed by Fleta. Bracton, fol. 212b. But see Id. foL 361b; Fleta, lib. 4, c. 6. Lord Coke defines responsalis to be "he that was appointed by the tenant or defendant, in case of extremity and necessity, to allege the cause of the party's absence, and to certify the court upon what trial he will put himself, viz., the combat or the country." Co. Litt. 128a. in the Canon Law. A proctor; one who excuses an absent party. Cowell. RESPONSALIS AD LUCRANDUM VEL petendum. He who appears and answers for another in court at a day assigned; a proctor, attorney, or deputy. 1 Reeve, Hist. Eng. Law, 169.
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910