4 
; 
) 
. 
ON SOME ANCIENT BURTON MANUSCRIPTS. 99 
those whom it judged would be strong and powerful enough to 
retain control of it, and who would remain loyal and faithful to 
itself, and these persons were styled “tenants-in-chief of the 
Crown.” ‘These were the two leading considerations—ability to 
retain and control, and loyalty. Of course the land was not 
divided by means of a surveyor and valuer, as we do such things 
now. Certain tracts or districts, with boundaries more or less 
defined, were handed over to certain persons, according to their 
supposed capacity for governing and keeping in order; some 
would have a large and difficult district, others smaller and easier 
ones, according to their ability. And what did they render to the 
Crown in return for this privilege? Not so much money a year, 
according to the acreage, as now-a-days. No; there was but 
little cash circulating in those days, and, as you will have under- 
stood, a money payment would not have met the circumstances. 
The tenant of a fief, fee, feu, or feud in those days, on being 
invested with his fief or fee, took an oath of fealty or fidelity to the 
Crown, or to whomsoever was his immediate overlord. He also 
made a declaration of homage—that is to say, he declared he was 
the man, the Zomo of his overlord. Having gone through these 
two ceremonies, which were by no means empty forms, the tenant 
or vassal became liable to assist the Crown, or whomsoever was 
his overlord, in war, both personally and also by bringing with 
him all his armed retainers. This was called “tenure by knight 
service,’ and the service to be rendered was called rent-service. 
The above formed what I may call the active part of the tenure as 
regards the tenant or vassal. But the tenure also carried with it 
certain incidents, as they were called ; or, in our modern language, 
we should say, involved certain liabilities on the tenant’s part. 
These liabilities or incidents may be enumerated as four. 1st.— 
Aid. The tenant was liable to render to his lord pecuniary aid, 
to ransom him if taken prisoner, to contribute to the expense of 
making his eldest son a knight, and to contribute to his eldest 
daughter’s marriage portion. 2nd.—fe/ief. On the death of a 
tenant his heir had to pay a sum of money, called a relief, on 
taking possession of his ancestor’s estate. This is somewhat 
