Also knight’s service.
1. Under the Feudal System: The military service that a knight was bound to render as a condition of holding his lands; hence, the tenure of land under the condition of performing military service.
α. 1439. Rolls of Parlt., V. 31/2. Eny of youre said Comunes, holdyng of you by Knyghtes service.
c. 1500. Corte Barune, in Book of Brome, 155. If they holde be skwage, that is knytes serwyce.
1513. More, in Grafton, Chron. (1568), II. 774. He hath nothing by dissent holden by knightes service, but by socage.
1628. Coke, On Litt., I. 74. Tenure by homage, fealty & Escuage, is to hold by Knights Seruice.
β. c. 1500. Corte Barune, in Book of Brome, 155. The chylde … þat holdith be þat tenuer of knyte serwisse.
1523. Fitzherb., Surv., 11 b. What fees they holde … and wheder it be by socage or by knight seruyce.
1767. Blackstone, Comm., II. v. 63. This tenure of knight-service had all the marks of a strict and regular feud.
1874. Stubbs, Const. Hist., I. x. 305. As a special boon to tenants by knight-service, their demesne lands are freed from all demands except service in the field.
1876. Digby, Real Prop., i. 39. Tenure per militiam, in chivalry or by knight-service.
2. fig. Such service as is rendered by a knight; hence, good service.
α. a. 1716. South, Serm., VI. (1717), 229 (R.). He [the Devil] never Knights any one, but he expects more than Knights Service from him in Return.
β. 1675. trans. Machiavelli’s Prince (1883), 263. I have done you knight-service.
1874. T. Hardy, Far fr. Mad. Crowd, I. xxv. 283. Doing the mistress of the farm real knight-service by this voluntary contribution of his labour.
