FREE Bench, signifies that estate in copyhold which the wife, being espoused a virgin, has after the decease of her husband for her dower, according to the custom of the manor.
In regard to this free bench, different manors have different customs: and in the manor of East and West Enbourne in the county of Berks, and in other parts of England, there is a custom, that when a copyhold tenant dies, the widow shall have her free bench in all the deceased husband's lands, dum sola et casta fuerit, "while she lives single and chaste;" but if she is found to be guilty of incontinency, she shall forfeit her estate. Nevertheless, upon her coming into the court of the manor riding backwards on a black ram, with his tail in her hand, rehearsing a certain form of words, the steward is bound by custom to restore her to her free bench. The words are,
Here I am,
Riding on a black Ram,
Like a whore as I am;
And for my crinum crancum
Have lost my bincum bancum,
And for my tail's game
Have done this wordly shame:
Therefore, pray Mr Steward, let me have my land again.
FREE or Imperial Cities in Germany, are those not subject to any particular prince; but governed, like republics, by their own magistrates.
There were free cities (libera civitates) even under the ancient Roman empire: such were those to whom the emperor, by the advice or consent of the senate, gave the privilege of appointing their own magistrates, and governing themselves by their own laws. See CITY.