O. E. Law. Obs. exc. Hist. Forms: 5 fraunciplegge, 6 frankepledge, 6–8 fran(c)(k)ple(d)ge, 6– frankpledge, [a. AF. franc-plege (Latinized franciplegium), f. franc FRANK a.2, + plege PLEDGE; app. a Norman mistranslation of OE. friþ-borh peace-pledge (see FRITHBORH), friþ having been supposed to be connected with free.]
1. The system by which every member of a tithing was answerable for the good conduct of, or the damage done by, any one of the other members.
16[?]. Act, in Stow, Surv. (1633), 671. You shall diligently inquire if any Man be received to dwell or abide within your Ward that is not put under frank pledge.
1817. T. J. Pettigrew, Lettsom, II. 247. Every place must of course be a free-settlement, wherever frank-pledge … is properly maintained.
1874. Green, Short Hist., iv. § 4. 190. The system known at a later time as ‘frank-pledge,’ or free engagement of neighbour for neighbour, was accepted after the Danish wars as the base of social order.
transf. 1796. Burke, Lett. Noble Ld., Wks. VIII. 50. The solemn, sworn, constitutional frank-pledge of this nation.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. 13. The servants of the Crown were not, as now, bound in frankpledge for each other.
b. View of frankpledge: a court held periodically for the production of the members of a tithing, later of a hundred or manor. Cf. COURT-LEET. Obs. exc. in formal notices.
[1292. Britton, I. i. § 13. En cyteez et en burgs et en fraunchises, et en tourns des viscountes, et en vewe de fraung plege.]
1495. Act 11 Hen. VII., c. 29 § 1. Viewe of fraunciplegge within the purcynct of the seid Manoir.
1588. Fraunce, Lawiers Log., I. xii. 52 b. A generall assembly, yet called the view of Frankepledge, visus Franciplegij, or the Leete court.
c. 1630. Risdon, Surv. Devon, § 91 (1810), 88. The town hath a weekly market, and yearly fairs, with toll and view of frank pledge.
1747. Carte, Hist. Eng., I. 311. Once a year (and if necessary, twice) there was held an extraordinary assembly of the hundred, called a view of frankpledge or court leet.
1818. [see 2].
1864. Notice on Kirkby (Yorks.) Church Door. A Court Leet or Law Day, with view of Frankpledge … will be holden.
2. One of the mutually responsible members of a tithing, etc. Occas. the tithing or decenary itself.
1502. Arnolde, Chron., 93. Francpledge.
1523. Fitzherb., Surv., xi. (1539), 25. True reue, true frank plege.
1754. Hume, Hist. Eng., I. ii. 50. These decennaries received the name of the frank-pledges.
1765. Blackstone, Comm., I. 114. Entire vills sir Henry Spelman conjectures to have consisted often freemen, or frank-pledges.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), III. 266. The view of frankpledge, which means the examination or survey of the frankpledges.
