Middle English Dictionary Entry
eschēte n.
Entry Info
| Forms | eschēte n. Also exschete, ethchete, escaete. |
| Etymology | OF eschete, eschaete; AL excadentia, escaeta, escheta. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. achete, enchete, chete.
1.
(a) Reversion of land or its appurtenances to the king or the lord of a fee, upon failure of heirs to a tenant in fee simple; also, forfeiture of lands and goods to the king upon attainder; escheat; fallen bi (of) eschete; (b) the right to escheat; (c) voluntari eschete, ?a voluntary surrender of property.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.3354 : An Erldom, which thanne of eschete Was late falle into his hond.
- (1430) Indent.Colchester in RC 131410 : Claymyng the seide londes with all the appurtenaunces by eschete as parcell of hys maner.
- ?c1430(?1383) Wycl.Curse (Corp-C 296)307 : Many londis schulde falle into þe kyngis [hands], bi eschet or oþere juste menes.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)141 : [The lord] may not of his tenaunt after ony ded axyn, chalangyn, ne have releeff, warde, ne mariage..but only the payment of the rente, ne of non other profyt save escheet whanne the lawe yeveth.
- (1449) RParl.5.170b : Any right or title that they ought to have by way of Eschete in suche frehold.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)134 : By escheittes þer mey not so muche lande fall to any man as to þe kyng, by cause þat no man hath so many tenantes as he; and also no man mey haue the escheittes off treson but hym selff.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)6963 : A great baronye..was fallyn in perce be eschete, Whanne lucas dyed.
b
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)367 : The king..ȝeueth the avauntagis (as forfetis, eschetis, and mercimentis, and fynys) to tho lordis for her labour.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)226/2 : Gefrey..grauntyd & confirmyd..iij d of yerly rent..by that tenantrie..in wardys, relefys, & eschetes.
- (1475) RParl.6.126b : The Kyng..hath yeven..to..George Duc of Clarence..Escaetes, Liberties, Fraunchises, Forfetures [etc.].
- (c1475) Doc.in Bk.Brome (Brm)143 : Servyes, lyberteys, esementes, exschetes, plegys of corte.
c
- (1451) Paston2.214 : For to indyte Pryntys of a voluntary eschete that where on Symond Hamond..wheche was indyted of felonye, and because of hese goods he lete hym owte of the castell.
2.
(a) Property falling by escheat to the lord of a fee; (b) the possessions consisting of escheated estates.
Associated quotations
a
- [ (1178) in Stubbs Select Chart.226 : Porro escaetae vulgo dicuntur quae decedentibus his qui de rege tenent in capite, cum non exstet ratione sanguinis haeres, ad fiscum relabuntur. ]
- [ (1242) Chart.Cumbwell in Archaeol.Cant.6219 : Dedimus..illam terram..cum omnibus pertinenciis suis..et omnibus eschaetis. ]
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.244 : Ilk castelle & toure To þe kyng is eschete [F al rays est l'escheet], als to chefe of alle.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)5.169 : Thorȝ ȝoure lawe, ich leyue ich lese menye escheytes [vr. chetes].
- c1400 *Trev.Higd.(Tbr D.7)145b : Traianus..dude no þyng wrongfolych for to habbe þe more & þe grettere echeetes [vrr. eþchetes, enchetes].
- (1439) RParl.5.22a : Enheritances, Forfaites, Eschetes..the which Sir John Cornewaill..holdyth terme of his lyve.
b
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.247 : Þe dettes þat men þam auht, þer stedes & þer wonyng, Wer taxed & bitauht to þe eschete of þe kyng.
3.
A writ to recover escheats from the person in possession.
Associated quotations
- [ (c1290) Britton 1 (Lamb 403)54 : Voloms nous qe teles alienaunces soint repellables par les chiefs seignurs des feez par nos brefs de Eschaete. ]
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)69 : An eschete ageinist þe vicari of doningto[n] for þe chaunteri of þe forde.