SERVITIUM

Latin: In feudal and old English law. The duty of obedience and performance which a tenant was bound to render to his lord, by reason of his fee. Spelman. Servitium feodale et prodiale. A personal service, but due only by reason of lands which were held in fee. Bract. 1. 2, c. 16. Servitium forinseeum. Forinsec, foreign, or extra service; a kind of service that was due to the king, over and above (forii) the service due to the lord. Servitium intrinsecun. Intrinsic or ordinary service; the ordinary service due the chief lord, from tenants within the fee. Bract fols. 36, 366. Servitium liberum. A service to be done by feudatory tenants, who were called “liberi homines, and distinguished from vassals, as was their service, for they were not bound to any of the base services of plowing the lord’s land, etc., but were to find a man and horse, or go with the lord into the army, or to attend the court, etc. Cowell. Servitiiim mllitare. Knight-service; military service. 2 Bl. Comm. 62. Servitiiim resale. Royal service, or the rights and prerogatives of manors which belong to the king as lord of the same, and which were generally reckoned to be six, viz.: Power of judicature, in matters of property; power of life and death, in felonies ana murder; a right to waifs and strays; assessments ; minting of money; and assise of bread, beer, weights, and measures. Cowell. Servitiiim souti. Service of the shield; that is. knight-service. Servitiam sokse. Service ot the plow; that is, socage. Servitiam, in lege Anglian, regnlariter aeoipitur pro servitio quod per tenentes dominis sols debetur ratione food! Co. Litt 65. Service, by the law of England, means the service which is due from the tenants to the lords, by reason of their fee.