Clameur de haro

Asselin objects to the burial of William the Conqueror in a church he claims was built on his unlawfully obtained land: "the ground upon which you are standing, was the site of my father's dwelling. This man, for whom you ask our prayers, took it by force from my parent; by violence he seized, by violence he retained it; and, contrary to all law and justice, he built upon it this church, where we are assembled. Publicly, therefore, in the sight of God and man, do I claim my inheritance, and protest against the body of the plunderer being covered with my turf."[1]

The Clameur de Haro (French pronunciation: ​[klamœʁ də aʁo]) is an ancient legal injunction of restraint employed by a person who believes they are being wronged by another at that moment. It survives as a fully enforceable law to this day in the legal systems of Jersey and Guernsey, and is used, albeit infrequently, for matters affecting land.

History

Based in Norman law, it is often thought to be a plea for justice to Rollo, the 10th century founder of the Duchy of Normandy, interpreted as a contraction of "Ha-Rollo". The view that it is a plea to Rollo is now believed to be incorrect. 'Harrow' meaning 'give 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.[2] It survives in English hunting parlance as 'Halloo' and possibly in the word 'harrier' as a name for a runner.

Procedure

The procedure is performed on one's knees before at least two witnesses, in the presence of the wrong-doer, and in the location of the offence. The "Criant" with his hand in the air must call out —

Haro! Haro! Haro! A l'aide, mon Prince, on me fait tort.

(Hear me! Hear me! Hear me! Come to my aid, my Prince, for someone does me wrong.)

Following this, the Criant must recite the Lord's Prayer in French.

Notre Père qui est aux cieux. Ton nom soit sanctifié. Ton règne vienne. Ta volonté soit faite sur la terre comme au ciel. Donne-nous aujourd'hui notre pain quotidien. Et nous pardonne nos offenses, comme nous pardonnons à ceux qui nous ont offensés. Et ne nous induis point en tentation, mais délivre-nous du mal.

On hearing this, the alleged wrong-doer must cease their challenged activities until the matter is adjudicated in court. Failure to stop will 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 a valid reason, they in turn must pay a penalty.

The Clameur in Guernsey requires that a Grace be said after the Lord's Prayer:

La Grâce de Notre Seigneur Jésus Christ,

la dilection de Dieu et la sanctification de Saint Esprit
soit avec nous tous éternellement. Amen.[3]

Furthermore, the grievance must be put in writing and lodged at the Greffier within 24 hours.[4]

Limitations

Clameur de Haro can be overruled. For instance, in 1778 the States of Guernsey decided to erect 15 loophole towers at various points on the coast to impede any French incursion on the island. Although most of the towers were built on the Commons, or on public land above the high-water mark, three towers were to be built on private land. The States were of the opinion that the project was of such importance that if necessary they would exercise eminent domain, "...notwithstanding any Clameur de Haro or any opposition whatsoever...".[4]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Turner Account of a Tour in Normandy p. 200
  2. ↑ http://www.clameur.gg/history.html
  3. ↑ Appendix, Laws of Guernsey
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Grimsley (1988), pp. 19-21.

References

External links