- 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 herchastity . 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 awhore 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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