(Relevans; but, in Domesday, Relevatio, Relevium), signifies a certain sum of money, which the tenant, holding by knight's service, grand serjeanty, or other tenure (for which homage or legal service is due), and being at full age at the death of his ancestor, paid unto his lord at his entrance. See PRIMER.

Though reliefs had their original while fees were only life estates, yet they continued after fees became hereditary; and were therefore looked upon, very justly, as one of the greatest grievances of tenure: especially when, at the first, they were merely arbitrary and at the will of the lord; so that, if he pleased to demand an exorbitant relief, it was in effect to disfranchise the heir. The English ill brooked this consequence of their newly adopted policy; and therefore William the Conqueror by his laws assured the relief, by directing (in imitation of the Danish heriots), that a certain quantity of arms, and habiliments of war, should be paid by the earls, barons, and vavasours respectively; and, if the latter had no arms, they should pay 100 shillings. William Rufus broke through this composition, and again demanded arbitrary uncertain reliefs, as due by the feudal laws; thereby in effect obliging every heir to new-purchase or redeem his land: but his brother Henry I. by the charter before mentioned, reformed his father's law; and ordained, that the relief to be paid should be according to the law so established, and not an arbitrary redemption.—But afterwards, when, by an ordinance in 27 Hen. II. called the office of arms, it was provided, that every man's armour should descend to his heir, for defence of the realm, and it thereby became impracticable. cable to pay these acknowledgements in arms according to the laws of the Conqueror, the composition was universally accepted of 100 shillings for every knight's fee, as we find it ever after established. But it must be remembered, that this relief was only then payable, if the heir at the death of his ancestor had attained his full age of 21 years.

To RELIEVE the Guard, is to put fresh men upon guard, which is generally every 24 hours.

To RELIEVE the Trenches, is to relieve the guard of the trenches, by appointing those for that duty who have been there before.

To RELIEVE the Sentries, is to put fresh men upon that duty from the guard, which is generally done every two hours, by a corporal who attends the relief, to see that the proper orders are delivered to the soldier who relieves.