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.