Note 99 — Book II.

Recreantisæ. “Now the ancient law was, that the victory should be proclaimed, that he that was vanquished should acknowledge his fault in the audience of the people, or pronounce the horrible word of cravent, in the name of recreantise &c. and presently judgment was to be given, and the recreant should amittere legem &c.” (2 Inst. 247) “And the vanquished is to acknowledge his offence, in the hearing of the people, or speak the horrible word of cravent, in the name of cowardice, or his left foot to be disarmed and uncovered, in sign of Cowardice.” (Mirror, 162 Ed. 1768.) “If he become recreant, that is a crying coward, or craven, he shall for his perjury lose liberam legem. Craven is derived from the Greek word κραυην, a vociferatione: others nearer home of crying and craving forgiveness. And recreantisa is devised of the French recreance, or giving back or cowardice; and sometimes it is called creantia, per antiphrasen, because he that useth it is not faithful but breaketh his oath.” (3 Inst. 221.)