D
DCE
Diem clausit extremum (he has closed his last day ie dead) - a writ issued by chancery to the county escheator to hold a 'inquisition post mortem' to determine the person's heir or what if anything was due to the crown
DEMESNE
The manor house & ajoining lands which the lord of the manor kept for his own purposes
DISTRAIN
To enforce the performance of a duty
DONJON
The keep of a castle in which the lord had his private rooms
DOSSER
An ornamental cloth on a chair
DOWER
Financial settlement provided by a husband or his family at the time of marriage as support for his wife should she become a widow.
E
ELL
A measure of cloth - roughly one & a quarter yards ( 110cms)
ENCEINTE
An area enclosed by castle or other walls. Later used as an euphemism for being pregnant.
ESCHEAT
In common law - the transfer of the property of a person ( usually a tenant-in-chief) who dies without heirs, to the crown
ESCHEATOR
The officer appointed by the crown to manage escheats - usually one escheator per county.
ESSOIN
An excuse of exemption from attending court
ESSOIN ROLLS
Record of excuses offered for failure to attend court when summoned
EWERER
A servant who assists in the washing of hands before & after a meal - using an ewer
F
FEMME SOLE
A women who had sole control of her property and was responsible for her own actions as opposed to Couvert de Baron, a women whose husband has control of her property and herself
FIEF
An estate which is held by homage & service to a lord, could vary from a plot of land to a country
FLETCHER
A maker of an arrow shaft including the application of the feathers
FLUMMERY or FRUMENTY
A dish made from wheat boiled with wateer or milk and seasoned
FREEHOLD
An estate held without any feudal obligation as opposed to Copyhold where land is held at the will of the lord
FRIPPER
A dealer in frippery one who deals with old clothes
FULLER
One who prepares wool by combing it to thicken it