ˈfrank-pledge O.E. Law. Obs. exc. Hist.
Forms: 5 fraunciplegge, 6 frankepledge, 6–8 fran(c)(k)ple(d)ge, 6– frankpledge.
[a. AF. franc-plege (Latinized franciplegium), f. franc frank a.2 + plege pledge; app. a Norman mistranslation of OE. friþ-borh peace-pledge (see frithborh), friþ having been supposed to be connected with free.]
1. The system by which every member of a tithing was answerable for the good conduct of, or the damage done by, any one of the other members.
| 16.. Act in Stow Surv. (1633) 671 You shall..inquire if any man..abide within your Ward that is not put under frank pledge. 1817 T. J. Pettigrew Lettsom II. 247 Every place must..be a free settlement, where frank-pledge is properly maintained. 1874 Green Short HIst. iv. §4. 190 The system of ‘frank-pledge’, or free engagement of neighbour for neighbour, was accepted after the Danish wars. |
| transf. 1796 Burke Let. Noble Ld. Wks. VIII. 50 The solemn, sworn, constitutional frank-pledge of this nation. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 13 The servants of the Crown were not, as now, bound in frankpledge for each other. |
b. view of frankpledge: a court held periodically for the production of the members of a tithing, later of a hundred or manor.
Cf. court-leet.
Obs. exc. in formal notices.
| [1292 Britton i. i. §13 En cyteez et en burgs et en fraunchises, et en tourns des viscountes, et en vewe de fraung plege.] 1495 Act 11 Hen. VII, c. 29 §1 Viewe of fraunciplegge within the purcynct of the seid Manoir. 1588 Fraunce Lawiers Log. i. xii. 52 b, A generall assembly, yet called the view of Frankepledge..or the Leete court. c 1630 Risdon Surv. Devon §91 (1810) 88 The town hath a weekly market, and yearly fairs, with toll and view of frank pledge. 1747 Carte Hist. Eng. I. 311 Once a year, (and if necessary twice) there was held an extraordinary assembly of the hundred, called a view of frankpledge or court leet. 1818 [see 2]. 1864 Notice on Kirkby (Yorks.) Church Door, A Court Leet or Law Day, with view of Frankpledge..will be holden. |
2. One of the mutually responsible members of a tithing, etc.
Occas. the tithing or decenary itself.
| 1502 Arnolde Chron. 93 Francpledge. 1523 Fitzherb. Surv. xi. (1539) 25 True reue, true frank plege. 1754 Hume Hist. Eng. I. ii. 50 These decennaries received the name of the frank-pledge. 1765 Blackstone Comm. I. 114 Entire vills sir Henry Spelman conjectures to have consisted of ten freemen, or frank-pledges. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) III. 266 The view of frankpledge..means the examination or survey of the frankpledges. |