New conditions of holding superior to that of "socage" were introduced.
A third part he divided among husbandmen, to hold of him in socage.
But did any hold of the king in socage, except on his demesne lands?
It speaks of three species of socage—free, ancient demesne, and base.
It is a stepping-stone from villainage to socage, or rather to socman's tenure.
Thus, relief and heriot will still be paid for land in socage.
He had just got to the bit about Raptu Haeredis, which—as of course you know, is a writ for taking away an heir holding in socage.
Those few coerls whose land was not taken by a baron remained free and held their land "in socage" and became known as sokemen.
The socage land of a free sokeman goes by its ancient custom before the Norman Conquest.
Nor will we have the custody of such fee farm, socage, or burgage unless such fee farm owe knight's service.
