A servile kind of tenure belonging to lands or tenements, whereby the tenant was bound to do all such services as the lord commanded, or were fit for a vil-lein to do. Cowell. See VILLEIN. Pure villenage A base tenure, where a man holds upon terms of doing whatsoever is commanded of him, nor knows in the evening what is to be done in the morning, and is always bound to an … [Read more...]
VIGIL
In ecclesiastical law. The eve or next day before any solemn feast. … [Read more...]
VILLENOUS JUDGMENT
A judgment which deprived one of his libera lex, whereby he was discredited and disabled as a juror or witness; forfeited his goods and chattels and lands for life; wasted the lands, razed the houses, rooted up the trees, and committed his body to prison. It has become obsolete. Vim vi repellere licet, modo flat mode ramine inculpatse tutelse, non ad sumen dam vindictam, sed ad … [Read more...]
VIGILANCE
1. Proper attention in proper time. 2. The law requires a man who has a claim to enforce it in proper time, while the adverse party has it in his power to defend himself; and if by his neglect to do so, he cannot afterwards establish such claim, the maxim vigilantibus non dormientibus leges subserviunt, acquires full force in such case. For example, a claim not sued for within … [Read more...]
VIN
Vehicle Identification Number. … [Read more...]