Simple English definitions for legal terms
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LIBERUM SOCAGIUM: A type of land tenure where a tenant held lands in exchange for providing the lord with husbandry-related service instead of military service. It was a form of free socage, which meant that the services were certain and honorable. Villein socage was a similar type of tenure, but the services provided were of a baser nature. In 1660, all tenures by knight-service were converted into free socage by statute.
Definition: Liberum socagium is a type of lay tenure in which a tenant held lands in exchange for providing the lord husbandry-related (rather than military) service.
Example: If a peasant had to help the lord with sowing or reaping at specified times, the tenure was usually called socage. This was originally the tenure of socmen; but it became a generic term for all free services other than knight-service, serjeanty, or spiritual service.
Explanation: The example illustrates how a tenant could hold lands in exchange for providing husbandry-related services to the lord. The tenant's duties were fixed and usually involved helping the lord with farming tasks. This type of tenure was called socage and was a generic term for all free services other than knight-service, serjeanty, or spiritual service.
Related Term: Free socage is socage in which the services were both certain and honorable.
Related Term: Villein socage is socage in which the services, though certain, were of a baser nature than those provided under free socage.