The word praecipe moved from the Roman Empire into the medieval Latin of the English Chancery, and so reached English law. In the twelfth century, writs praecipe, addressed to sheriffs, emerged as the swiftest way to bring legal disputes to the royal courts.
The word praecipe transferred from the Roman Empire to the medieval Latin of the English Chancery, eventually reaching English law. In the twelfth century, writs praecipe, directed to sheriffs, became the fastest method to bring legal disputes before royal courts.