Old Law. [a. OF. cape sb. fem., ad. L. cape imperat. of capĕre to take.] A judicial writ (now abolished) relative to a plea of lands or tenements; so named from its first word. Divided into cape magnum, or the grand cape, and cape parvum, or petit cape.
[1292. Britton, III. i. § 4. A respouns par le graunt Cape et par le petit. transl. To answer by the great and little Cape.]
1588. Fraunce, Lawiers Log., I. xii. 55. Replevyne of land upon a grand cape in olde time.
1641. Termes de la Ley, s.v., Grand Cape lyeth before apparance, and petit Cape after … By the grand Cape the tenant is summoned to answer to the default, and over to the demandant: Petit Cape summoneth the tenant to answer to the default onely.
1706. in Phillips.
