Frank-pledge, a custom prevailing in England before the Norman Conquest, whereby the freemen of a neighbourhood were responsible for the good-conduct of each other. Ten men formed an association called a tithing, in which the ten were answerable each for the others, so that, if one committed an offence, the other nine were liable for his appearance to make reparation. Should the offender abscond, the tithing, if unable to clear themselves from participation in the crime, were compelled to make good the penalty. The custom seems to have arisen out of the old family obligations, a man's relations being called upon to become securities for payment of the compensation and other fines to which he was liable. A law of Edgar compels every man to find a surety who shall be responsible for his appearance when judicially summoned; and the laws of Canute insist on every one belonging to some hundred and tithing, as well as on his providing sureties.
The View of Pledge, or ascertaining to what tithing a man belonged, was an important part of the business of the local courts, and ultimately fell to the Court leet or Court of Frank Pledge, a court of record held once in the year, and not oftener, within a particular hundred, lordship, or manor, before the steward of the leet: being the king's court granted by charter to the lords of those hundreds or manors. See MANOR.