Middle English Dictionary Entry
flẹ̄men(e fremth, flẹ̄men-fremth, flẹ̄menes-fremth phr. & n.
Entry Info
| Forms | flẹ̄men(e fremth, flẹ̄men-fremth, flẹ̄menes-fremth phr. & n. Also ~ fermth, ~ frimth, ~ firmth, ~ freme, ~ firme, ~ frith, ~ vrith, ~ furth. |
| Etymology | WS phrase flȳmena fyrmþ harboring of fugitives. The ME var. flẹ̄mens- prob. results from the analysis of the orig. gen. pl. flẹ̄men(e into flẹ̄-men 'fleeing men'. The earlier -fremth is in part replaced by -frith, a familiar law term. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. fleme (1), ferm provision, & frith.
1.
(a) Law The right of jurisdiction over cases involving the harboring of fugitives or outlaws, the right to collect fines in such cases [orig. prob., the offence of entertaining an outlaw]; (b) in later usage (chiefly antiquarian): the property of a fugitive, the right to seize the goods of an outlaw or a felon, the right to collect fines from fugitives, etc.
Associated quotations
a
- c1120(OE) Leges Hen.I in Liebermann Gesetze 1556 : Hec sunt iura que rex Anglie solus et super omnes homines habet in terra sua..flemenfyrme.
- c1120(OE) Leges Hen.I in Liebermann Gesetze 11.558 : Flymonfirma.
- (a1135) in Madox Form.Angl.(1702)291 : Volo & concedo..cum Saca & Soca..& Flemenefyrmthe.
- (1155) Chart.Hen.II in Hall EME (Hrl Charter 3.B.49)12 : Ic hebbe heom geunnon þat hi beon ælc þare lande wurþa þe hi eafdon en Edwardes kinges deȝe..infangenesthiafes & fleamene frimtha ofer heore agene men, binnan Burgan & butan.
- (a1189) in Rymer's Foedera (1816-69)1.46 : Ego Henricus..concedo & confirmo..infanȝeneðives ond flemenefremðe super suos homines..sicut umquam melius habuit ecclesia Christi Cantuariens'.
- (1199) Chart.R.PRO1.147 : Flemenfrith.
- (1199) Chart.R.PRO1.425 : Flemenefyrmid.
- (1208) Chart.R.PRO1.29 : Fithwite et gridbriche et flemenesfrith.
- (1210) Chart.R.PRO1.384 : Flemenwrith.
- (1227) Chart.R.PRO1.28 : Flemenesfreud.
- (1235) Chart.R.PRO1.208 : Flemenesfremth.
- (1403) Inquis.Hen.IV in BGAS 18604 : Et quod predicti canonici et successores sui predictum manerium de Cirencestre..haberent..cum soka et saka..et murdre et forestal et flemensfrith.
b
- ?1241 Legal Gloss.St.Paul's (StP 11)60 : Flemenes freme vel Flemenes fremthe: Chateaus a futhifs.
- a1275 Legal Gloss.Rothley127 : Flemenefurth. Hoc est quod habeantis catalla sive americiamenta hominis vestri fugitivi.
- a1315 Legal Gloss.Glb.(Glb E.4)207 : Flemenefremthe. Auer chatels des futifs et de felouns.
- c1325 Legal Gloss.Gldh.(Gldh Liber Memorandum)454 : Flemenfreme: Chateux a futifs.
- ?c1350 Legal Gloss.Jul.(Jul D.7)33 : Flemenfremthe, Chatel de futif.
- 1662(c1350) Bk.Vale Royal in LCRS 68 (Hrl 2064)135 : [And by] flemenesfryth [he claims that, if any person comes into the said liberty..he shall dwell there upon giving something..And by] flemenesfremth [he claims that, if any person flee into the said liberty..he shall dwell in peace there as though in a church].