fee estate (feestat")

In Eng. law, a tenure of lands or tenements for which some service or acknowledgment is paid to the chief lord. fee-farm (fe'färm), n. [ Fee farm, feod i firm a, or fee farm rent, is when the lord, upon the creation of the tenancy, reserves to himself and his heirs either the rent for which it was before let to farm, or was reasonably worth, or at least a fourth part of the value; without homage, fealty, or other services beyond what are especially comprised in the feoffment. S. Dowell , Taxes in England, I. 151, note. fee-farm 2. The estate of the tenant in land so held. His Maty renewed us our lease of Says Court pastures for 99 yeares, but ought, according to his solemn promise (as I hope he will still perform), have pa ed them to us in fee-far me. Evelyn, Diary, Jan. 12, 1672. Fee-farm rent, the rent payable by the tenant of a feefarm. The Duke of Bucking ham.. hath about 19,600l. ayear, of which he pays away about 7000l, a-year in interest, about 2000l. in fee - farm rents to the King, about 60001. in wages and pensions, and the rest to live upon, and pay taxes for the whole. Pepys , Diary, IV. 102. fee-farmer (fē'färmer), n. One who holds land from a superior lord in fee-farm. As when bright Phebus (Landlord of the Light) And his fee - farmer Luna most are parted, He sets no sooner but shee comes in sight. Davies, Holy Roode, p. 13. fee-farming (fē'fär"ming), n. The act or practice of conveying in fee-farm. He hath invented fee - farming of benefices. Latimer , 6th Sermon bef. Edw. VI., 1549.