CRAVEN

In old English law. A word of disgrace and obloquy, pronounced on either champion, in the ancient trial by battle, proving recreant, t. e., yielding. Glanville (alls it “infestum et inverecundum verbum” His condemnation was amittere liberam legem, i.e.t to become infamous, and not to be accounted liber et legalis homo, being suprised by the event to have been proved forsworn, and not fit to be put upon a jury or admitted as a witness. Wharton.