Festing Man
Defined in 2 dictionaries — Cyclopedic (1922), Black's (1910)
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
A bondsman; a surety; a pledge; a frank pledge. It was one privilege of monasteries that they should be free from festing men, which Cowell explains to mean not to be bound for any man's forthcoming who should transgress the law. Cowell.
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
In old English law. A frank-pledge or one who was surety for the good behavior of another. Monasteries enjoyed the privilege of being "free from festing-men," which means that they were "not bound for any man's forthcoming who should transgress the law." Cowell. See Frank Pled ge.