Law. Obs. Also 5–6 exigend. [In 15th c. exigend, a. AF. exigende, ad. med.L. exigenda, gerundial pple. of exigĕre: see prec.] A writ commanding the sheriff to summon the defendant to appear and deliver up himself upon pain of outlawry; also called writ of exigent.
[1292. Britton, I. ii. § 8. Et si le pleyntif face defaute a nuli Counté, adunc cessent les exigendes jekes a nostre venue en le pays.]
1464. Paston Lett., No. 491, II. 161. He hath taken suerte that ye schall appere in the crastino animarum upon the exigents returnable.
1491. Act 7 Hen. VII., c. 24. By reason of eny processe or exigend made within the same Countie.
1502–3. Plumpton Corr., 173. On tewsday last was the court … and then was ther none exegent called agaynst you. Ibid. (c. 1508), 204. If I wold suffer the exigend, which I had agaynst you, not to goe out agaynst you.
1670. Vaughan, Bushell’s Case, in Phenix (1721), I. 429. The Party came into Court and demanded Oyer of the Exigent.
1678. Butler, Hudibras, III. i. 1036. What Charms [must that Lady have], that can … null Decree and Exigent.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. 283. If a non est inventus is returned upon all of them, then a writ of exigent or exigi facias may be sued out.
1848. in Wharton, Law Lex.
b. Phrases: Clerk of the Exigents; to put in exigent; to sue to (an) exigent.
a. 1577. Sir T. Smith, Commw. Eng., II. xiv. (1609), 61. The Clarke of the Exigent is to frame all manner of Processes of Exigi facias.
1628. Coke, On Litt., 114 a. Goods and chattels of … those that be put in exigent.
1657. Burton’s Diary (1828), II. 146. This Beavor, in Michaelmas term, had caused him to be sued to exigent.
1677. Lond. Gaz., No. 1209/4. Benjamin Hill, late Clerk of the Exigents.
1690. in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1883), I. 300. John Hodgson is sued to an Exigent by one John Brier … (in Trespasse).
