Editing Knight's fee (section)

==Creation==
A knight's fee could be created by the king himself or by one of his [[Tenant-in-chief|tenants-in-chief]] by separating off an area of land from his own [[demesne]] (land held in-hand), which process when performed by the latter was  known as [[subinfeudation]], and establishing therein a new [[Manorialism|manor]] for the use of a knight who would by the process of [[Feoffment|enfeoffment]] become his tenant by paying [[Homage (feudal)|homage]] and fealty to his new overlord. This homage and fealty was a vow of loyalty to his overlord, with corresponding vow of protection received, and an undertaking to provide a specified form of service commonly due under [[feudal land tenure in England]]. Broadly speaking such service was either military ([[knight-service]]) or non-military ([[serjeanty]], etc.). Military service was generally to a maximum of 40 days per annum, signifying that he would have to fight for his overlord in battle. No cash rent was payable, although military service was later transformable into [[scutage]]. A knight was required to maintain the dignity of knighthood, which meant that he should live in suitable style and be well-turned out in battle, with the required number of [[Squire|esquires]] to serve him and with horses, arms and armour for all.