Heriot
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia · John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
In English Law. A customary tribute of goods and chattels, payable to the lord of the fee on the decease of the owner of the land. If a man fell before his lord in battle, no heriot was demanded; 1 Poll. & Maitl. 293. It was the arms of the thegn, the stock of the peasant and the return to the lord of the capital he had advanced to the tenant.
3 Holdsw. Hist. E. L. 51.
See a late case in 1 C. B. 402. Heriot service is such as is due upon a special reservation in the grant or lease of lands, and therefore amounts to little more than a mere rent. Heriot custom arises upon no special reservation whatsoever, but depends merely upon immemorial usage and custom.
See 2 Bla. Com. 97, 422; Comyns, Dig. Copyhold (K 18); Bacon, Abr.; 2 Saund.; 1 Vern. 441.
It was claimed as late as [1907] 1 Ch. 366.
See 23 L. Q. R. 251.