Certiorari: translation
An order or royal writ issued by the king's *exchequer demanding information about an earlier judgement or order. (A corrupt, mispronounced form of the word was 'siserary'.) These would be addressed to a bishop, e.g. concerning monies owed the crown by prebendaries within his diocese. If a prebendary had died owing money, the king's exchequer would demand information about the deceased's executors, issuing an order for his *chattels to be seized. Other complaints via the court of common pleas might concern unpaid pensions. The speed with which responses were expected might be surprising. It was not uncommon for *chancery or the *exchequer to write after 30 days demanding to know why no answer had been made. [< Lat. certioro = to inform, apprise]