MERCHELET (MERCHELETUM), a fine or composition
paid by inferior tenants to the lord, for liberty to dis-
pose of their daughters in marriage. No baron, or mi-
litary tenant, could marry his sole daughter and heir,
without such leave purchased from the king, pro mar-
tanda filia. And many of our servile tenants could nei-
ther send their sons to school, nor give their daughters
in marriage, without express leave from the superior
lord. See Kennet's Glossary in Maritagium. See also
MARCHET, under which word it is stated, and very ge-
nerally understood, that this was a right claimed by the
lord of the manor in the time of the feudal system of
passing the first night after marriage with his female vil-
lain. According to Mr Aisle, the mercheta was a com-
pact between the lord and his vassal for the redemption
of an offence committed by the vassal's unmarried
daughter; and also a fine paid by a yokeman or a vil-
lain to his lord for permission to marry his daughter to a
free man; and in cases where the vassal gave away his
daughter without having obtained this license, he sub-
jected himself to a heavier fine.