Beneficium

Lat. In early feudal law. A benefice; a permanent stipendiary estate; the same with what was afterwards called ^ fief, feud, or fee (qq. v.) 3 Steph. Com. 11, note (t).

Spelman.

A grant of lands to a retainer or follower* as a return for services to be rendered.

1 Stq>h. Com. 161.

So called, according to some, because it was a gratuitous donation, given out of the mere goodwill {ex mero benefido) and Uberality of the grantor.

Ducange.

1 Robertson's Charles V,, Appendix, note yvi. The better opinion, however, appears to be that the name was adopted from the beneficia of the Roman emperors, which appear to have signified any kind of favors, privi-' leges or emoluments, granted to a subject by the sovereign.

Sueton. Tiber. 12. Id. Tit. 8. F.

Cgclopadia

The term beneficium gave place to that of feudum about the close of the tenth century.

See Feudum.