Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: FRANKALMOIN
Definition: Frankalmoign, also known as free alms, was a way for religious institutions to hold land by promising to pray for the donor's soul. This was different from the tenure by divine service, which required specific church services. Frankalmoign was a survival of Anglo-Saxon law and implied an indefinite promise to pray for the donor's soul. The tenant promised a definite number of prayers in the case of Divine Service, which was much less frequently met with.
Definition: Frankalmoin (frangk-al-moyn) is a spiritual tenure that allowed a religious institution to hold land with the general duty of praying for the donor. It was a type of land tenure that differed from the tenure by divine service, which required specific church services.
Example: In medieval England, a wealthy landowner might donate land to a monastery or church in exchange for the promise that the religious institution would pray for the donor's soul. This type of land tenure was known as frankalmoin.
Explanation: The example illustrates how frankalmoin worked in practice. The landowner would give the land to the religious institution, which would then hold the land in frankalmoin. The religious institution would be responsible for praying for the donor's soul, but would not be required to perform specific church services. This type of land tenure was common in medieval England and was a way for landowners to ensure that their souls would be prayed for after their death.