cornage (kor-nij). [fr. Anglo-French corne “horn”] Hist. 1. A type of grand-sergeanty military tenure in which the tenant was bound to blow a horn to alert others whenever an enemy approached. 2. A form of tenure entitling a landowner to rent based on the number of horned cattle owned by the tenant. • Cornage may […]
socage (sok-ij). Hist. A type of lay tenure in which a tenant held lands in exchange for providing the lord husbandry-related (rather than military) service. • Socage, the great residuary tenure, was any free tenure that did not fall within the definition of knight-service, serjeanty, or frankalmoin. Cf. KNIGHT-SERVICE; VILLEINAGE. “If they [the peasant’s duties]
castle-guard, n. Hist. 1. The protection of a castle. 2. A form of knight-service in which a tenant must protect the lord’s castle. 3. The tenure giving rise to this knight-service. 4. A tax once imposed in lieu of this knight-service. 5. The territory that is chargeable with the tax imposed in lieu of the
knight’s fee. Hist. The amount of land that gave rise to the obligation of knight-service. • The amount varied from less than a hide to more than six hides. See HIDE.
base service. Hist. Agricultural work performed by a villein tenant in exchange for the lord’s permission to hold the land. Cf. KNIGHT-SERVICE.
knight-service. Hist. A type of lay tenure in which a knight held land of another person or the Crown in exchange for a pledge of military service. — Also termed knight’s service; (Scots law) ward holding. Cf. BASE SERVICE; SOCAGE; VILLEINAGE. “By far the greater part of England is held of the king by knight’s
scutage (skyoo-tij), n. [fr. Latin scutum “a shield”] Hist. 1. A monetary payment levied by the king on barons as a substitute for some or all of the knights to be supplied to the king by each baron. • This payment seems to date from the 12th century, Henry II (1154–1189) having levied five scutages
A tenure that bears some relation to military service, such as knight-service, grand serjeanty, and cornage. — Also termed tenure in chivalry.
wardship in chivalry. Wardship as incident to the tenure of knight-service.
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Socage in which the services were both certain and honorable. • By the statute 12 Car. 2, ch. 24 (1660), all the tenures by knight-service were, with minor exceptions, converted into free socage. — Also termed free and common socage; liberum socagium.