Latitat

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Latitat is a historical English legal writ (a type of summons) used when the person named was believed to be hiding. The Latin word latitat means “he lurks.” It came from the civil King’s Bench, a common-law court. Although the writ is no longer used, a few examples survive from 1579 and 1791. In a notable 16th‑century case, a latitat was issued to the Star Chamber, a court outside the normal system. The King’s Bench ordered the Sheriff to arrest the named person and bring them before the court at a set time and place. The arrest was resisted, the Under-Sheriff was assaulted, and a subpoena was requested. The latitat may have appeared in Parliament around 1566 in a Bill for Latitat for Vexation out of the King’s Bench, with another bill in 1802. Today, the equivalent would be a subpoena. If the person does not appear, the High Court can issue a bench warrant for arrest, and the person may be brought before the court for contempt, under the old authority of the Tipstaff.