A lawful excuse for failing to attend a court or legal proceeding.
An essoin was a formal excuse accepted for a person’s failure to appear before a court.
In manorial courts, a tenant who could not attend might provide a recognised reason for absence, such as illness or another accepted circumstance.
Essoins were recorded because attendance at court could be an important obligation attached to a person’s status as a tenant.
See also:
Suit
Court Baron
Tenant