FRANK-LAW

frank-law.Hist. The rights and privileges of a citizen or freeman; specif., the condition of

being legally capable of giving an oath (esp. as a juror or witness). See LEGALIS HOMO.

“Frank law … may be understood from Bracton’s description of the consequences of losing it,

among which the principal one was, that the parties incurred perpetual infamy, so that they were

never afterwards to be admitted to oath, because they were not deemed to be othesworth, (that is,

not worthy of making oath,) nor allowed to give testimony.” 1 Alexander M. Burrill, A Law

Dictionary and Glossary 657–58 (2d ed. 1867).[Blacks Law 8th]