A relief was a payment made to the lord by an heir before entering upon possession of his fief. The history of reliefs goes back to the time when benefices were not hereditary and when, if a son succeeded his father in the usufruct of a piece of property, it was regarded as an unusual thing—a special favor on the part of the owner to be paid for by the new tenant. Later, when fiefs had become almost everywhere hereditary, the custom of requiring reliefs still survived. The amount was at first arbitrary, being arranged by individual bargains; but in every community, especially in France, the tendency was toward a fixed custom regarding it. Below are given some brief extracts from English Treasury records which show how men in England between the years 1140 and 1230 paid the king for the privilege of retaining the fiefs held by their fathers.
Source—Thomas Madox, History and Antiquities of the Exchequer of the Kings of England (London, 1769), Vol. I., pp. 312-322 passim.
Walter Hait renders an account of 5 marks of silver for the relief of the land of his father.
Walter Brito renders an account of £66, 13s. and 4d. for the relief of his land.
Richard of Estre renders an account of £15 for the relief for 3 knights' fees which he holds from the honor of Mortain.
Walter Fitz Thomas, of Newington, owes 28s. 4d. for having a fourth part of one knight's fee which had been seized into the hand of the king for default of relief.
John of Venetia renders an account of 300 marks for the fine of his land and for the relief of the land which was his father's which he held from the king in capite.[333]
John de Balliol owes £150 for the relief of 30 knights' fees which Hugh de Balliol, his father, held from the king in capite, that is 100s. for each fee.
Peter de Bruce renders an account of £100 for his relief for the barony which was of Peter his father.
(e) Forfeiture