from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
DE MERCATORIBUS. This is the name of a statute passed in the 11 Edw. I.; it
is usually called the statute of Acton Burnell De Mercatoribus. It was
passed in consequence of the complaints of foreign merchants, who could not
recover the claims, because the lands of the debtors could not be sold for
their debts. It enacted that the chattels and devisable burgages of the
debtor might be sold for the payment of their debts. Cruise, Dig. t. 14, s.
6.
D.E NOVO. Anew. afresh. When a judgment upon an issue in part is reversed on
error, for some mistake made by the court, in the course of the trial, a
venire de novo is awarded in order that the case may again be submitted to
the jury.