Author: spio

Term: Relief
A payment due to the King by an heir on
taking up possession of his estate

Term: Reeve
An administrative officer of a town or district

Term: Recognisance
A bond entered into before court binding
someone to do something

Term: Praecipe
A written royal command instructing that a
tenant return a tenement to a claimant, or have
the case heard in the King’s court

Term: Peer
A person of the same civil rank or standing

Term: Open law
On trial

Term: Novel disseisin
Recent eviction

Term: Mort d’ancestor
A legal action brought by an heir against
someone who wrongfully took his property

Term: Michaelmas
The feast of St Michael (29 September)

Term: Marriage portion
Land brought to a marriage from her father or
other relative, for a wife’s use and upkeep
during her husband’s lifetime.