Fealty
loyalty; faithful adherence; true service or duty to a superior lord, especially in feudal times.
Fealty, suit of court, and rent, are duties and services usually issuing and arising ratione tenuræ, being the conditions upon which the ancient lords granted out their lands to their feudatories; whereby it was stipulated that they and their heirs should take the oath of fealty or fidelity to their lord, which was the feudal bond (commune cinculum) between lord and tenant; that they should do suit, or duly attend and follow the lord's courts, and there from time to time give their assistance, by serving on juries either to decide the property of their neighbors in the court baron, or correct their misdemeanors in the court leet; and lastly, that they should yield to the lord certain annual stated returns, in military attendance, in provisions, in arms, in matters of ornament or pleasure, in rustic employments (prædial labors), or (which is instar omnium), in money, which will provide all the rest; all which are comprised under the one general name of reditus, return or rent.