escuage

When the custom of escuage arose is a matter which no antiquarian researches have settled.

Amid the obligations was that of escuage, by which the price of a knight's fee should be paid every year.

In this yeare the king tooke escuage, fortie shillings of euerie knights fée, towards the charges of his last wars in Wales.

Soone after whose arriuall, escuage was gathered through the realme towards the bearing of the kings charges.

Their feudal service was now commuted for an escuage, which fell very short of the expenses incurred in a protracted campaign.