a dictionary of medieval terms and phrases Magna garderoba. Lit. ‘the great wardrobe’. In fact, the phrase was used of the network of castles and depots in which the king stored his weapons strategically around the kingdom. The term was used by the royal clerks in their records. – Cf. Custos armorum regis Mail 1. Shirt-like piece of armour made from linked metal chains or rings. It was very flexible, unlike the suit of armour, but was vulnerable to a sharp thrust, being best at deflecting a slashing sword. [< L macula = mesh] Mail 2 [mal]. A rent or other money payment or tax; e.g. rent for a farm. From this we have today ‘blackmail’, a 16c formation, referring to money which was extorted by way of protection. – Cf. Malman Mail 3. A trunk of the kind used by merchants in their travels; also a travelling bag. [< OFr. malle = trunk] Maindefer. Lit. ‘hand of iron’. A plate gauntlet; a piece of special armour for use at a *tournament only; being rigid, its use in a real battle was limited. [< Fr. main = hand + de fer = of iron] Mainour. Something found in the hands of a thief when caught. [< AN main = hand + AN our < oeuvre = work, thing] – Cf. Infangen-theof Mainpernor. The person who guaranteed an elected knight’s attendance at parliament, the guarantee being provided in the sheriff’s *county court; also, a person who assured a criminal’s attendance at court on the due date. [< OFr. main = hand + prendre = take; thus to take in hand] – Cf. next Mainprize. To make oneself legally responsible for another person’s completing an undertaking; to stand surety. [< OFr. mainpris < mainprendre] – Cf. previous Maison dieu. Lit. ‘house of God’. An alms house; a house of refuge for the poor. Major orders. The higher ranks of the *clergy were the three orders: bishop, priest and deacon. – Cf. Minor orders Maletolt. A burdensome and/or unjust (export) tax; applied esp. to exports of wool during the reign of Edward III. There were frequent occurrences of conflict and bad feeling in the Commons concerning the imposition of this tax, largely needed to finance Edward’s wars. [< L mala = bad; tolt = tax] Malman. A tenant who was exempt from services to his lord because he paid a money rent. [< OE mal = rent] – Cf. Ad malam; Mail 2 Malmsey. Sweet wine from Spain, of a kind originally from Greece. [< Gr. Monemvasia, town in the Peloponnese]
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