villenage

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As a villein might be enfeoffed of freeholds, though they lay at the mercy of his lord, so a freeman might hold tenements in villenage.

From View of the State of Europe during the Middle Ages, Vol. 3 by Hallam, Henry

The purchasers under these alienations had occasion for labourers; and these would be free servants in respect of such employers, though in villenage to their original lord.

From View of the State of Europe during the Middle Ages, Vol. 3 by Hallam, Henry

In the reign of Edward IV., however, it was held that a tenant in villenage had an action of trespass against the lord.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 3 "Convention" to "Copyright" by Various

He said: 'If the statute of Charles II. ever be repealed, the law of villenage revives in its full force.'

From Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 448 Volume 18, New Series, July 31, 1852 by Chambers, William

And even the peasants themselves, though later than other orders of the state, made their escape from those bonds of villenage or slavery in which they had formerly been retained.

From The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.I., Part B. From Henry III. to Richard III. by Hume, David