BENEFICE, Beneficium, is used for a fee, which is sometimes denominated more peculiarly beneficium militare. In this sense benefice was an estate in land, at first granted for life only, and 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 aftertimes, as these tenures became perpetual and hereditary, they transferred their name of beneficia to the livings of the clergy, and retained that of feus.