Middle English Dictionary Entry
frith n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | frith n.(1) Also freth(e, firth, ferth, fright. |
| Etymology | OE friþ, friþo, freoþo. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Peace of the nation, general peace (later, the King's peace); peace, i.e. a state of society resulting from the observance of the customary rights of the King, the lord, and the commoner in medieval society, or from the observance of the 'divine law' or Christian doctrine; law and order; (b) frith and grith, (general) peace and prosperity, peace (orig., peace of the nation and its constituant parts). [See W. Stubbs Constitutional Hist.of England 1.198-202.] (c) refuge, place of peace; friþ-stōl [OE].
Associated quotations
a
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)101 : Ure louerd..bed hem frið and sehtnesse; Frið for þat he hadde maked hem fre of þe deules þralsipe [etc.].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)28758 : Her wæs grið, her wes frið, and freoȝ laȝen mid folke.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)31598 : Ich hehte alle cumen mid griðe, mid friðe, and mid lufe.
- a1300(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Jes-O 29)91 : Þat þe chireche habbe gryþ And þe cheorl beo in fryþ [Trin-C: frit],his sedes to sowen.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)789 : Ðor wunede abram in welðe and in frið.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.90 : Þat bataile was hard, fo men has no frith.
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)pref.87 : He [Christ] sette griþþ & friþþ Bitwenenn heffne & erþe.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)3380 : Si Drihhtin upp inn heoffness ærd Wurrþminnt..& upponn eorþe griþþ & friþþ.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)13 : Gif ȝe mine bibode healded..murðhe sculen wunian on londe þet biþ on griðe and on friðe under mire onwalde.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)480 : Þat heo moten wonien..inne griðe & in friðe [Otho: in pais and in griþe].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)22723 : Arðure..wuneden here inne griðe & inne friðe..Na man..makede nan un-frið.
c
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)134/4 : We beoð ihatene & ilaðode to þam haliȝe hame & to þam kynelice friðstole, þær Almihtiȝ Drihten leofæð ant rixæð.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.108r : [The 'skemours' (pirates)] were constreyned to tourne ayene to hure owne contre and also into Engelond aye, that euermore in Engelond the skemours -- robbores -- hadde here ferthe and refuyt of tyrannye.
2.
(a) Customary law within a manor or township; also, the area in which such laws are in force; (b) the right or liberty to administer such laws.
Associated quotations
a
- (1345) Halmote R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.8217 : Praeceptum est omnibus villae quod servent frithes in bladis, pratis, pasturis, et semitis.
- (1366) Halmote R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.8250 : Uxor ejus fecit recursum pundero de vitulis captis infra le frithis de villa..De Thoma Schephird qui deffecit de lege, de freth' fractis succidendo les balkes de poena 40 d.
- (1370) Halmote R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.82102 : De Willelmo Vssher..pro freth' fractis per bov' de poena 658 d.
b
- c1400 Wycl.Dominion (Dub 244)289 : So ȝif þes poscessioneris toke freþis in here lond and allegede here chartris, and trewe men goddis lawe, þanne schulde men se whiche were goddis children & whiche þe fendis children by maynteynge of þes lawis.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)173/124 : Ȝe xul haue stedys to ȝour medys, londys and ledys, ffryth and ffe.
3.
(a) frith-fin, fritfen, ~ peni, ~ net(te, ~ silver, a customary fee paid by the tenants to the lord of the manor, ?tithing penny; also, the right of the lord of a manor to receive such a fee; (b) frith-wite, frid-, (AL frit-wita), a fine for breaking the peace, or the right to impose such a fine.
Associated quotations
a
- (1259) Doc.Manor in MP 3447 : [Payments to the Lord of the Manor:] fritfen.
- (1271) Inquis.PM Hen.III1.246 : Le frithenette.
- (1274) Inquis.PM Edw.I2.20 : Frithpeni..wardpeni.
- (1276) Hundred R.Tower 141 : Dimidium feodum militis in villa de Bruchton quod solet esse geldabile & dare per annum xij d. de frithpeny & xij den. de beaupleyder.
- (1294) Inquis.PM Edw.I3.116 : Fryth sealver.
- (1362) Inquis.PM Edw.III11.83 : [A custom of 13s 4d called] frythsylver.
- (a1443) *Pet.Chanc.PRO ser.CP 1 file 12no.198 : That the Quene is tenauntez mowe not rere..thaire quantite of knyghtez pens, frith & comen fyn.
- (1461) Pat.R.Edw.IV82 : [Pardon to the citizens of Carlisle..and grant to them of the the king's fishery of Carlisle..alias the fishery of] Frithnet [in the river Eden].
- (1468) RParl.5.582a : Provided..that this Acte of Resumption..extend not, nor be prejudiciall..to..eny..Courtes Letes, Viewis of Frankplegges..Frithsilver, Hedesylver.
b
- (1197) Chart.R.PRO3.481 : Predicti canonici..omnes terras et possessiones..suas habeant et teneant cum..liberas et quietas..de blotwitha et frethwita.
- (1247) Chart.B.Borough168 : Fridwite, frichtwite, heyngwite, et leyrwite.
- (1173-75) Chart.R.PRO1.430 : Liberas et quietas..de fritwita.
- a1400 Legal Gloss.Higd.(1) (Cai 82/164)94 fn. : Frithwite [Cmb: Fihtwite, id est, ferir per melle].
- 1662(?1350) Bk.Vale Royal in LCRS 68 (Hrl 2064)135 : [By] frythwyt [he claims to have the fines and amercements of all persons fighting or coming to agreement thereupon in the liberty aforesaid.]