COMMISSION OF REBELLION

commission of rebellion.Hist. An attaching process that empowered a layperson to arrest and bring a defendant to Chancery to enforce obedience to a writ of subpoena or decree. • The commission of rebellion was abolished in 1841. — Also termed writ of rebellion; commissio rebellionis; breve rebellionis.

“Commission of rebellion (Commissio rebellionis) is otherwise called a writte of rebellion, (breve rebellionis) and it hath use, when a man after proclamation made by the Shyreeve upon an order of the channcerie, or court of Starre chamber, under penaltie of his allegance, to present himselfe to the court by a certaine day, appeareth not. And this commission is directed by way of command to certain persons, to this end, that they … apprehend, or cause to be apprehended, the party as a rebell and contemner of the kings lawes.” John Cowell, The Interpreter (1607). [Blacks Law 8th]