in Law, the person sued in an action personal; as tenant is he who is sued in an action real. See ACTION.

DEFENDER of the Faith (Fidei Defensor), a peculiar title belonging to the king of England; as Catholicus to the king of Spain, and Christianissimus to the king of France, &c. These titles were given by the popes of Rome. That of Fidei Defensor was first conferred by Leo X. on King Henry VIII. for writing against Martin Luther; and the bull for it bears date quinto idus Octob. 1521. It was afterwards confirmed by Clement VII. But the pope, on Henry's suppreffing the houses of religion at the time of the Reformation, not only deprived him of his title, but deposed him from his crown also: though in the 35th year of his reign, his title, &c. was confirmed by parliament; and hath continued to be used by all succeeding kings to this day. Chamberlayne says, the title belonged to the kings of England before that time; and for proof hereof appeals to several charters granted to the university of Oxford. So that Pope Leo's bull was only a renovation of an ancient right.