DE SECTA AD MOLENDINUM

de  secta  ad  molendinum  (dee  sek-t<<schwa>>  ad  m<<schwa>>-len-di-n<<schwa>>m),

n.[Law  Latin  “of  suit  at  mill”]  Hist.  A  writ  forcing  a  person  to  continue  grinding  corn  at  a

particular  mill,  as  was  customary,  or  to  give  a  good  reason  why  the  custom  should  not  be

“There are also other services, due by ancient custom and prescription  only. Such is that of

doing suit to another’s mill: where the persons, resident in a particular place, by usage time out of

mind have been accustomed to grind their corn at a certain mill; and afterwards any of them go to

another  mill, and withdraw their suit … from the ancient  mill. This is not only a damage, but an

injury, to the  owner ….  And for this injury the  owner shall have a writ de secta ad  molendinum

commanding  the  defendant  to  do  his suit at  that  mill  …  or  show  good  cause  to  the  contrary: in

which action the validity of the prescription may be tried, and if it be found for the owner, he shall

recover  damages  against  the  defendant.”  3  William  Blackstone,  Commentaries  on  the  Laws  of

England 234–35 (1768). [Blacks Law 8th]