This writ was directed to the sheriff, instructing him to command the defendant to permit the plaintiff to present an appropriate candidate, or else to show "why he hinders" (Latin: quare impedit) the plaintiff in the exercise of his rights.
It was abolished by the Common Law Procedure Act 1860, and proceedings in quare impedit were changed to make them as similar as possible to those in other real actions.
The action would not be barred till the expiration of sixty years, or of three successive incumbencies adverse to the plaintiff's right, whichever period was the longer (Real Property Limitation Act 1833, 29).
By 13 Anne c. 13 (1714), during the pendency of a quare impedit to which either of the universities was a party, the court had power to administer an oath for the discovery of any secret trust, and to order the cestui que trust to repeat and subscribe a declaration against transubstantiation.
In Scotland, the effect of a quare impedit could be attained by action of declarator.