Force. In old English law. Force used by an accessary, to enable the principal to commit a crime, as by binding or holding a person while another killed him, or by aiding or counseling in any way, or commanding the act to be done. Bract fols. 138, 138b. According to Lord Coke, fortlu was a word of art, and properly signified the furnishing of a weapon of force to do the fact, and by force whereof the fact was committed, and he that furnished it was not present when the fact was done. 2 Inst. 182. Fortia frisoa. Fresh force, (g. v.)
FORTIA
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