Friday 24th August, 2007

During the feudal era peasants held their land from a superior lord. In return they were obliged to provide occasional labour on the lord's land as well as making customary payments. In some circumstances military service was an added requirement.

Before accepting tenancy of their land the tenants were obliged to swear an oath of homage and fealty to their lord.

The following article, apparently dated 1491, is a copy of the commendation ceremony performed in the manor of Warrington.

We may assume that similar procedures would have taken place in neighbouring Wigan.

Homage Roll of the Manor of Warrington

1491

When the tenn'te shall make homage to his lord he shall descende and his hedde vncouryd his Lorde shall sitte And the tenn'te shall kneele before hym coyntetye togethere byewene the hande of his Lorde and shall say thus:

"I be come yor man from this daye forwards of lif and lime and of erthlye worshippe vnto you shal be true and faythfull and Bere you faith of the lande and tenement that I clayme to hold of you Saving the faith that I do oughe to our sovraigne lady Quene and to other the Lorde that I do hold of."

And then you sittyng lett kysse you.

"Here you this my Lorde: that I vnto you shall be faithfull and true: And shall bere you faith of the lande and tente that I clayme to hold of you. And trulye shall do vnto you the duties customes and sruives due for the same at temes assigned as helpe me godd and all saynts".

And this done lett hym kysse the boke.

Modern Translation

(oath of homage)

When the tenant makes homage to his lord, he shall descend with his head uncovered. His lord shall sit and the tenant shall kneel before him, his hands held between those of his lord.

He shall say the following:

"I become your man, and from this day forwards be completely true and faithful to you and the land and tenement that I claim to hold from you, except for the faith that I owe to our sovereign lady, the queen and the other Lord (God?)."

Then let him kiss you.

(oath of fealty)

"Hear this my lord: I shall be faithful and true to you and the land and tenement that I claim to hold from you. I promise to do the duties, customs and services due to you under the assigned terms."

"So help me God and all the saints."

After this has been done, let him kiss the book (Bible).

Problems

I have a problem with the above script.

A "sovereign lady" is mentioned; but in 1491, the date of the script, there was no "sovereign lady" as Henry vii was the monarch.

Perhaps the given date is when the document was first written, and in later times, during the reign of a queen, it was amended to fit the circumstances.

Well before the late 15th century the feudal system had broken down. Services and obligations had been commuted to payments of money. The above document, therefore, must have been merely a historic curiosity at this time.

Feudal Tenure was not officially abolished until 1660, although it had not worked in practice for more than 200 years before this time.