Legal Definitions - bederepre

The term bederepre is an archaic legal term that refers to a feudal service, more commonly known as bedrip. It describes a customary obligation where a tenant was required to provide a specific day's labor to their lord, typically during the harvest season. This service was part of the rent or duties owed for holding land under the feudal system.

• Example 1: Agricultural Harvest Duty

  Imagine a medieval peasant farmer named Elara who holds a small plot of land from the local baron. As part of her tenancy agreement, Elara is obligated to spend one full day each summer helping the baron's reapers gather the wheat from his personal fields. This specific day of mandatory harvest labor, crucial for the lord's estate, is Elara's bederepre.

• Example 2: Customary Maintenance Service

  Consider a historical manor where a tenant named Thomas lives on land granted by the lord. Beyond paying a small monetary rent, Thomas's duties include providing a day of labor to assist in mending the lord's fences or clearing a specific section of his forest, especially when called upon during a busy period. This customary day of service, though not strictly harvest-related, falls under the broader historical understanding of bederepre as a required day of work for the lord.

• Example 3: Specific Annual Labor Obligation

  In a 14th-century village, various tenants might have different obligations. John, a particular tenant, is specifically required to contribute one day of labor during the haymaking season on the lord's personal estate. This particular obligation, distinct from other services like military duty or regular weekly work, is known as his bederepre, highlighting a specific, often annual, day of service owed to the lord.