Define: Festing-Man

Festing-man: An individual who pledges to oversee the good conduct of another person. In historical times, groups of ten individuals would make this commitment to the king to guarantee the good behaviour of everyone in their group. Known as frankpledges, they were accountable for presenting any member of their group who committed a wrongdoing in court. This system was a means of maintaining peace and ensuring accountability for one’s actions.

The term “Festing-man” refers to a bondsman or surety in medieval England. It was commonly used during that time. Frankpledge, on the other hand, was a promise made by a group of ten freeholders, also known as a tithing, to the sovereign. This promise ensured that the group would behave well. Although the system originated from the Saxons, it continued even after the Norman Conquest. The members of the group were not held responsible for any harm caused by an offending member, but they did act as bail to ensure that the culprit would appear in court. Their duty was to present the wrongdoer for trial. For instance, if someone was accused of a crime, their frankpledge group would be responsible for bringing them to court. Failure to do so would result in a fine for the group. Another example is when someone needed to be released from prison on bail, their frankpledge group would act as surety for them. These examples demonstrate how the frankpledge system worked to promote good behaviour and accountability in medieval England.

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This glossary post was last updated: 16th April 2024.