sb. and a. Obs. exc. arch. Forms: 4–9 feodary, 5–7 -ie, (5 feudory, 6 feodarry), 6–7 feudary, (7 -ie), (7 feodar, feadary, fæd-, foedery). [ad. med.L. feodāri-us, f. feodum, feudum: see FEUD sb.2 and -ARY.]
A. sb.
1. One who holds lands of an overlord on condition of homage and service; a feudal tenant, a vassal.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VIII. 191. So þat after þat tyme he [Iohn] and his heires schulde be feodaries to þe chirche of Rome.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VII. 319. To holde it euer after … as feodaries of ye pope.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 222. The King of Scottes bound himselfe and them to be Feodaries to the Crowne of England.
1613–8. S. Daniel, The Collection of the Historie of England, 134. He [Henry III.] seemed absolutely the Popes Feudarie, which wounded the hearts of his people.
1631. Massinger, Beleeve as you list, II. ii.
| Our confœderates and freindes | |
| Founde it as firme as fate, and seaventeene Kinges, | |
| Our fædaries. |
1650. Fuller, A Pisgah-sight of Palestine, I. ii. 5. Accepted of the Jewish King to be honourary feodaries unto him.
1836. M. J. Chapman, Judith, in Fraser’s Mag., XIV. July, 26.
| Earth and all that is | |
| On earth shall to the despot homage yield. | |
| All power and all dominion shall be his | |
| By thee, his feodary. |
b. A subject, dependant, retainer, servant.
1620. Ford, A Line of Life, Ded. Where the sacrifice is a thriftie loue, the patron a great man good … and the Presentor’s feodarie to such as are maisters, not more of their own fortunes, then their owne affections.
a. 1656. Ussher, Ann., VI. (1658), 459. The Senate was ready to do him all friendly offices, provided, that he became their feadary, as formerly he had been.
1871. R. Ellis, Catullus, lxiii. 68.
| O am I to live the god’s slave? feodary be to Cybele? | |
| Or a Maenad I, an eunuch? or a part of a body slain? |
† 2. An officer of the ancient Court of Wards (see quot. 1641). Obs.
1495. Act 11 Hen. VII., c. 32, Preamb. The Office of Feodarie in the Countie of Essex.
1540. Act 32 Hen. VIII., c. 46. Al surveiors and feodaries, that shalbe appoyncted by … the said court.
c. 1630. Risdon, Surv. Devon (1714), II. 77. It became Mr. Eveleigh’s Feodary of his County, who made his dwelling there.
1641. Termes de la Ley, 160. Feodary is an Office in the Court of Wards, appointed to … receive all the rents of the Wards lands within his circuit, etc.
1736. Carte, Ormonde, II. 249. The Inquisitions post mortem, taken by Escheators and Feodaries, the homages, liveries and other instruments preserved upon Record will easily prove the descent of Gentlemen, who held lands of the Crown before 1641.
¶ 3. A confederate. (See FEDARIE.)
B. adj. Feudally subject. Const to.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron., III. 1166/1. His kingdome made feodarie to Rome.
1648. Milton, Observations on the Articles of Peace, Wks. 1738, I. 351. And what greater dividing than by a pernicious and hostile peace to disalliege a whole feudary kingdom from the ancient dominion of England?
1651. W. G., trans. Cowel’s The Institutes of the Lawes of England, 74. A Subiect although he may have others who hold of him in Fee, from whom he may exact Fealty, yet himself is either mediately or immediately Feodary to the King.
1655. Fuller, The Church-History of Britain, III. iv. § 16. Iohn after that day not being King in the same sense, and Soveraignty as before; not free, but feodary; not absolute, but dependent on the Pope, whose Legate possess’d the Crown for the time being.
