Subinfeudation

In feudal times, tenants manifested a disposition to carve smaller estates out of those which they held of their lords, to be held of themselves, as inferior lords; and this system began to be extended, proceeding downwards indefinitely, and deprived the lords of their feudal profits of wardships, marriages, and escheats, which fell into the hands of these mesne or middle lords, who were the immediate superiors of him who occupied the land. It was restricted by Magna Charta, and substantially suppressed by the statute of quia emptores, or Westminster third (18 Edw. I.); and a system of alienation, by which the alienee should hold of the same lord as the alienor, was introduced in its place.