Obs. [OE. weardwíte: see WARD sb.2 and WITE sb.] A fine paid to the lord by a tenant who has failed to provide a man to perform castle-guard.
1066. Charter Edw. Conf., in Thorpe, Charters (1865), 411. Nomina consuetudinum … mundbryche, burhbryce, miskænninge,… weardwite, hængewite, hamsokne [etc.].
1227. in Cal. Charter Rolls (1903), I. 6. [Grant to the church of St. Mary, Coventry, and the prior and monks thereof of all their lands and holdings with soc and sac,… ficht-wite, wardwite, and mund-briche].
c. 1250. Gloss. Law Terms, in Rel. Ant., I. 33. Wardwite … Quite de wardein truver.
c. 1290. Fleta, I. xlvii. (1647), 63. Wardwyte quietantiam misericordiæ in casu quo non invenerit hominem ad wardam faciendam in castro, vel alibi.
1381. Cal. Patent Rolls 1381–5 (1897), 54. Granting them exemption from burghbote, brugbote, wardwyte, horngeld, and scot.
c. 1440. John Brompton, in Twysden, Hist. Angl. Script. X. (1652), 957. Wardewithe est sursise de garde.
1579. Expos. Terms Law, 187 b. Warwite (or wardwite as some copies haue it) that is to bee quite of giuing of money for keeping of watches.
