Legal Definitions - hostelagium

Definition: Hostelagium (hos-tə-lay-jee-əm), n.[Law Latin] Hist. A right to receive lodging and entertainment, anciently reserved by lords in their tenants' houses.

Explanation: Hostelagium is a legal term that was used in the past. It refers to the right of a lord to receive lodging and entertainment from their tenants. This means that if a lord owned a property, they could stay there and be provided with food and a place to sleep by the tenant who lived there.

Example: In medieval times, lords would often travel around their estates and stay in the homes of their tenants. They would exercise their hostelagium rights and be provided with a place to stay and food to eat. This was seen as a way for the lord to maintain control over their lands and to ensure that their tenants were loyal to them.

Another example: A lord who owned a large estate might have several properties that were rented out to tenants. If the lord wanted to visit one of these properties, they could exercise their hostelagium rights and stay there for a period of time. The tenant would be expected to provide them with food and lodging during their stay.

Explanation of examples: The examples illustrate how hostelagium was used in the past. It was a way for lords to maintain control over their lands and to ensure that their tenants were loyal to them. The examples show how lords would exercise their hostelagium rights by staying in the homes of their tenants and being provided with food and lodging. This was seen as a duty that tenants owed to their lord in exchange for the right to live on their land.