In fendal law, orlglnally mere benevolences granted by a tenant to his lord, In times of distress; but at length the lords claimed them as of right. They were prin-cipally three: (1) To ransom the lord’s per-son, if taken prisoner; (2) to make the lord's eldest son and heir apparent a knight;. (3) to give a suitable portion to the lord’s eldest daughter on her marriage. Abolished by 12 Car. II. c. 24
Source: Black's Law Dictionary 2nd Ed (1910)
