Free Bench

Free Bench

"Free bench" is a legal term relating to an ancient manorial custom in England whereby a widow could retain tenure of the land until she remarried.

"Free Bench (francus bancus). The widow's right to a copyhold. It is not a dower or gift, but a free right independent of the will of the husband. Called bench because, upon acceding to the estate, she becomes a tenant of the manor, and one of the benchers, i.e. persons who sit on the bench occupied by the pares curiæ. (Peers of Court)"

The Widow of a tenant was allowed her free bench, so long as she preserved her chastity. But if any evidence appeared against her she was immediately deprived of her lands, unless she submitted to the penalty of riding into court upon a black ram holding its tail in her hand repeating the following lines as recorded in No. 614 of the " The Spectator" "Here I am,
Riding upon a black ram,
Like a whore as I am;
And for my crincum crancum
Have lost my bincum bancum,
And for my tail's game
Have done this worldly shame;
Therefore I pray you, Mr Steward,
Let me have my land again."

Manors where this custom is recorded

*Chaddleworth, Berkshire.
*Enboure, Berkshire
*Talskiddy, Cornwall.
*Cardinham, Cornwall.
*Torre, Devon.

References

*"The Dictionary of Phrase and Fable"
*Richard Carew's "Survey of Cornwall".
*http://www.exclassics.com/newgate/ng281.htm
*http://www.luc.edu/publications/medieval/vol12/12ch6n.html#4
*http://www.btinternet.com/~coppinhomepage/
* [http://www.berkshirehistory.com/legends/oldcustoms.html Berkshire History]


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  • Free bench — ( francus bancus ), in English law, is the interest which a widow has in the copyhold lands of her husband, corresponding to dower in the case of freeholds. It depends upon the custom of the manor, but as a general rule the widow takes a third… …   Wikipedia

  • Free bench — Free Free (fr[=e]), a. [Compar. {Freer} ( [ e]r); superl. {Freest} ( [e^]st).] [OE. fre, freo, AS. fre[ o], fr[=i]; akin to D. vrij, OS. & OHG. fr[=i], G. frei, Icel. fr[=i], Sw. & Dan. fri, Goth. freis, and also to Skr. prija beloved, dear, fr.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • free-bench — freeˈ bench noun (historical) A widow s right to an endowment out of her husband s lands • • • Main Entry: ↑free …   Useful english dictionary

  • Free-Bench —    In the will of Anketin de Betteville occurs the expression saving to Matilda his wife her free bench out of his mansion in Bradstreet according to the custom of the City, 1290 1 (Ct. H.W. I. 96).    Robert de Wyrcestre gave to his wife for… …   Dictionary of London

  • free bench — noun or free bank Etymology: translation of Medieval Latin francus bancus : the interest formerly held in English law by a widow or sometimes a widower in the copyhold or customary lands of the deceased spouse compare dower 1 …   Useful english dictionary

  • Free Bench — ♦ Dower lands assigned for a widow s maintenance. (Bennett, Judith M. Women in the Medieval English Countryside, 234) …   Medieval glossary

  • free-bench — In old English law, a widow s dower out of copyholds to which she was entitled by the custom of some manors. It was regarded as an excrescence growing out of the husband s interest, and was a continuance of his estate …   Black's law dictionary

  • free-bench — In old English law, a widow s dower out of copyholds to which she was entitled by the custom of some manors. It was regarded as an excrescence growing out of the husband s interest, and was a continuance of his estate …   Black's law dictionary

  • free bench — A widow s dower in copyhold lands, which she usually held subject to the condition that she should remain chaste and unmarried. See 2 Bl Comm 129 …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • Free — (fr[=e]), a. [Compar. {Freer} ( [ e]r); superl. {Freest} ( [e^]st).] [OE. fre, freo, AS. fre[ o], fr[=i]; akin to D. vrij, OS. & OHG. fr[=i], G. frei, Icel. fr[=i], Sw. & Dan. fri, Goth. freis, and also to Skr. prija beloved, dear, fr. pr[=i] to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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