In old English law, an essoin (/ɪˈsɔɪn/, /ɛˈsɔɪn/, Old French essoignier, "to excuse"[1]) is an excuse for nonappearance in court. Essoining is the seeking of the same. The person sent to deliver the excuse to the court is an essoiner or essoineur.[2]
There were several kinds of essoins in common law in the Middle Ages:[3]
Essoins were originally received at court on essoin day, the first day of the term of the court. However, by 11 Geo. IV and 1 Wil. IV, essoin days were abolished. Essoins, and the day to which proceedings had as a result been adjourned, would be entered on an essoin roll.[2]