SCIRE FACIAS, in English law, is a judicial writ founded upon some record dire,cting the sheriff to make it known (scire facias) to the party against whom it is brought, and requiring the latter to show cause why the party bringing the writ should not have the advantage of such record, or why (in the case of letters patent and grants) the record should not be annulled and vacated. Proceedings in scire facias are regarded as an action, and the defendant may plead his defence as in an action. The writ is now of little practical importance ; its principal uses are t,o compel the appearance of corporations aggregate in revenue suits, and to enforce judgments against share-holders in such companies as are regulated by the Com-panies Clauses Act, 1845, or similar private Acts, and against garnishees in proceedings in foreign attachment in the lord mayor's court. Proceedings by scire facias to repeal letters patent for inventions were abolished by the Patents, Designs, and Trademarks Act, 1883, and a petition to the court substituted.