Clameur de haro
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The Clameur De Haro is an ancient legal injunction of restraint employed by a person that believes they are being wronged by another at that moment.
Based in Norman law, it is often thought to be a plea for justice to Rollo of Normandy, the 10th century founder of the Duchy of Normandy. It survives as a fully enforceable law to this day, but only in the Channel Islands and is still used, though infrequently, and nowadays only for civil matters.
The view that it is a plea to Rollo is now believed to be incorrect. 'Harrow' meaning 'chase' was commonly used in medieval England and France as a cry to others to drop what they were doing and assist in the apprehension of a miscreant. It survives in English hunting parlance as 'Halloo'.
The procedure is performed on one's knees before witnesses, in the presence of the wrong-doer and in the location of the offense. The "Criant" with his hand in the air must call out -
- "Haro! Haro! Haro! À l'aide, mon Prince, on me fait tort."
- (Hear me! Hear me! Hear me! Help me, my Prince for I am being wronged.)
Following this, the Criant must recite the Lord's Prayer in French.
On hearing this, the alleged wrong-doer must cease their challenged activities until the matter is adjudicated in court. Failure to stop may lead to the imposition of a fine, whether they were in the right or not. If the Criant is found to have called Haro without valid reason, they in turn may pay a penalty.
External link
- Jersey Legal Information Board (http://www.jerseylegalinfo.je/Judgments/JerseyLawReports/SubjectMatter/default.asp?SubjInjunctions.asp#Clameur_de_Haro)
Categories: Jersey | Guernsey | Normandy