MEDIEVAL TERMS
|
A
|
amerce |
to punish with a fine decided arbitrarily by the court |
armiger |
a squire who bears a knights armor or one entitled to bear heraldic arms |
C
|
chantry |
an endowment to cover the cost of masses and prayers or an alter or chapel
endowed for the saying of masses and prayers |
close |
typically a small piece of land surrounded by a wall or fence or hedge |
copyhold |
copyhold tenure was tenure of land under the rules of the manor; these
rules were detailed in the manor court records with the tenant given a copy |
croft |
enclosed land by a house or a garden plot by a village house |
curtilage |
enclosed land around a house or building |
D
|
deforciant |
one who keeps the rightful owner from claiming an estate |
demesne |
the land associated with a manor that was retained by a lord for his own
use and not granted to others |
E
|
enfoeff |
put in possession of land in return for a service |
F
|
fine |
the amicable settlement of a fictious suit enabling the legal transfer
of land |
M
|
mark |
amount of money worth thirteen shillings and four pence |
mesne |
a mesne tenant is one who holds the land of a superior, but grants a part
of it to another person. |
messuage |
a dwelling house with adjoining buildings and land |
Q
|
querent |
claiment, plaintiff |
S
|
seize |
to put someone in legal ownership of property |
suit of court |
obligation to attend the manor court |
T
|
tenement |
an interest in land which may be dependent on the tenent rendering
services |
Y
|
yeoman |
usually a man of lower status than a gentleman who cultivates
his own land |