Heriot

Heriot, in English law, is a kind of fine due to the lord of a manor on the death of a person holding land of the manor, and consists of the best beast, jewel, or chattel that belonged to the deceased. The lord can enforce this right by action, or seize it brevi manu. Heriots probably originated in the return of the horse and arms lent by a feudal lord to his tenant; they are now seldom paid in respect of freehold lands, and they are regarded as one of the most vexatious incidents of copyhold tenure. See COPYHOLD.