in the Law of England, implies the taking or apprehending a person by virtue of a writ or precept. It is distinguished from an arrest, by proceeding out of a higher court by precept or writ; whereas the latter proceeds out of an inferior court by precept only. An arrest lies only on the body of a man; whereas an attachment lies often on the goods only, and sometimes on the body and goods. An attachment by writ differs from diffret, in not extending to lands, as the latter does; nor does a diffret touch the body, as an attachment does.

ATTACHMENT out of the Chancery, is obtained upon an affidavit made, that the defendant was served with a subpoena, and made no appearance; or it issues upon not performing some order or decree. Upon the return of this attachment by the sheriff, quod non est inventus in ballica sua, another attachment, with a proclamation, issues; and if he still refuses to appear, a commission of rebellion.

ATTACHMENT of the Forest, is one of the three courts held in the forest. The lowest court is called the court of attachment, or wood-mote court; the mean, swanmote, and the highest, the justice in eyre's seat. The court of attachments has its name from the verdurers of the forest having no other authority in it, but to receive the attachments of offenders against vert and venison taken by the foresters, and to enroll them, that they may be prefented or punished at the next justice in eyre's seat. This attachment is by three means: by goods and chattels; by body, pledges, or main-prize; or by the body only. This court is held every 40 days throughout the year; and is thence called Forty days court.

Foreign ATTACHMENT, is an attachment of money or goods found within a liberty or city, to satisfy some creditor within such liberty or city. By the custom of London, and several other places, a man can attach money or goods in the hands of a stranger, to satisfy himself.