Legal Definitions - senage

Senage refers to a historical payment, typically a form of tribute or tax, made to an ecclesiastical (church) authority. It was often associated with synods, which were councils or assemblies of clergy convened to discuss church matters and doctrine. Essentially, senage was money paid by lower-ranking clergy or church entities to their superiors, often to support the activities or administration of these church councils.

• Example 1: In medieval England, a local parish priest might have been required to pay a sum of money to his bishop when attending a regional synod. This payment, known as senage, contributed to the operational costs of the synod and the administrative expenses of the diocese.

  Explanation: This illustrates senage as a mandatory financial contribution from a lower-ranking cleric (the parish priest) to a higher ecclesiastical authority (the bishop), specifically tied to the context of a church council or synod.

• Example 2: A historical document from a 14th-century monastery might record annual payments made to the archdiocese for the upkeep of the cathedral and the funding of regular provincial synods. These recurring payments would be classified as senage.

  Explanation: Here, senage is shown as a regular, institutional payment from a church entity (the monastery) to a superior church body (the archdiocese), supporting the broader ecclesiastical structure and its councils.

• Example 3: During a period of significant church reform, a decree might have been issued requiring all abbots and abbesses within a certain region to contribute a specific amount to fund an upcoming general synod aimed at addressing doctrinal disputes. These mandated contributions would be considered senage.

  Explanation: This example highlights senage as a compulsory payment levied by a higher church authority upon various religious leaders to finance a specific, large-scale ecclesiastical assembly.