Frank Almoigne

Frank-almoigne, free alms. A spiritual tenure whereby religious corporations, aggregate or sole, held lands of the donor to them and their successors for ever. They were discharged of all other except religious services, and the trinoda necessitas. It differs from tenure by divine service, in that the latter required the performance of certain divine services, whereas the former, as its name imports, is free. This tenure was expressly excepted in the 12 Car. 2, c. 24, s. 7, and therefore still subsisted in some few instances until 1926, when by repeal of the exception in 12 Car. 2, c. 24, s. 7, under the Administration of Estates Act, 1925, 2nd Sched., the tenure became converted into free and common socage.