BENEFICE (beneficium), in middle-age writers, is used for a fee, sometimes denominated more peculiarly beneficium militare. In this sense, benefice was an estate in land, at first granted for life only; so called, because it was held ex mero beneficio of the donor: and the tenants were bound to swear fealty to the lord, and to serve him in the wars. In after-times, as these tenures became perpetual and hereditary, they left their name of beneficia to the livings of the clergy; and retained to themselves the name of feuds.