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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Declinatory plea

Declinatory \De*clin"a*to*ry\ (?; 277), a. [LL. declinatorius, fr. L. declinare: cf. F. d['e]clinatoire.] Containing or involving a declination or refusal, as of submission to a charge or sentence.
--Blackstone.

Declinatory plea (O. Eng. Law), the plea of sanctuary or of benefit of clergy, before trial or conviction; -- now abolished.

Wiktionary
declinatory plea

n. (context UK legal obsolete English) The plea of sanctuary or of benefit of clergy, before trial or conviction.