J

Jacobin. Uncomplimentary word applied to *Dominican friars. – Cf. CAYME

Jacobipeta. A pilgrim going to St James of Compostella, Jacobus being the Latin form of ‘James’. [< L peto = to make for] – Cf. ROMIPETA; THOMIPETA

Jambeau [jamb, jamber]. Protection for a rider’s legs, extending from the saddle. [< OFr. jambe = leg]

Jazerant [jazerine]. Coat of armour made from small, light pieces of metal, which were then attached to a coat of heavy leather to make a complete piece. The word is probably of Saracen origin.

Jess. One of the straps attached to each of a hawk’s legs, with a *varvel to serve as link to a leash.

Jessant. Her. Describes a plant emerging from the ground or from the mouth of an animal. [< Fr gisant = lying down]

Jews, Charter of the. Charter confirmed on 10 April 1201, its first sentence reading: ‘John, by the grace of God, &c. Know that we have granted to all the Jews of England and Normandy to have freely and honourably residence in our land.’ Section VII of the charter reads: ‘And we order that they be free through all England and Normandy of all the customs and tolls and modiation [measurement] of wine just as our own *chattels. And we order you to guard, to defend, and to maintain them.’ This charter was very similar to one granted by Richard I, and another even earlier by Henry I. Like all charters, this one cost money, being confirmed on due payment. Here, 4,000 marks were paid over two years, with 1,000 marks to be paid on succeeding *Michaelmas Days and Easters.

Jews, expulsion of the. 1290. The Jews in Britain, most of whom arrived during the 11c from France, had long acted as bankers to the ruling and business classes (being permitted to lend money at interest whereas Christians were not). In Henry III’s reign, the Jews had provided the king with much needed finance. However, in 1275, a statute was issued by Edward I forbidding this practice. He had developed a new system of banking using Italian cash advances by 1275 and no longer needed to protect the Jews. Strong anti-Semitic feeling continued, many Jews being made scapegoats for England’s difficulties. In 1287, Edward imprisoned and ransomed 3,000 of their number. The ransom was paid, but in 1290 an edict was issued expelling all Jews from England. – Cf. BARDI; USURY

Jinetes. See GINETES

Joculator. A showman or joker who performed at court; the acts were of the kind we associate with a circus. [< L joculor = to joke or jest]

Jointure. Legal term for land held jointly by man and wife. This form of tenure ensured that should the husband die first his wife could enjoy the estate until her death, rather than being subject to the whims of the heir. This could mean a long-lived widow frustrating the heir for many years. A further advantage of jointure was that it delayed, at least, the superior lord’s right of *wardship. – Cf. DOWER

Journeyman. A craftsman, no longer an apprentice, not yet a master; one qualified to work on his own and to be paid by the day. [< Fr jour = day; journey = a day’s travel 13c; a day’s work 14c]

Joust. The joust was the familiar fight between knights on horseback with lance and shield. It evolved from the *hastilude and *mêlée, becoming an exhibition but one using real skills, with a genuine threat of serious injury or death. Unlike the mêlée, the joust was an individual affair and much of the elaborate stage setting was as much influenced by chivalric literature and romance as it was by the real world. These emerged in the late 13c. [< OFr. juster = to bring together < L juxta = close to, near] – Cf. next

Joust of peace. Some tournaments took place with the intention of limiting the threat of serious injury or death. For example, in 1278, a Tournament of Peace was held at Windsor. None of the weapons were made of metal: swords were bone, shields wooden, the armour cuir-bouilli. – Cf. next; BATON 1

Joust of war. In the 13c and 14c England was frequently at war with both France and Scotland. Such wars rarely involved full-scale pitched battles; rather, there were skirmishes and much plundering of the countryside. From this came a variation of the sport of jousting: hostile combat or jousts of war. On these occasions men were killed. However, afterwards a *herald announced winners, or those who had jousted best on each side. During sieges, which could be very tedious, knights from the two sides used convenient open spaces for hostile jousting. They are known as ‘tourneys à outrance’ = to the bitter end, or to the death. – Cf. previous

Jubilee. Year in which the penalties of sin may be remitted for those going to Rome under conditions set by the pope. Such years were usually granted every 25 years. The term is from Mosaic law, where the interval was set at 50 years. – Cf. INDULGENCES

Judicium. Lit. ‘judgement’. A legislative act, of the kind given by a *county court.

Jugum. Measure of land equiv. to c.60 acres. Four juga = one *sulong, approx. two hides. – Cf. WAND

Jupon. Short padded garment worn under a *surcoat and *hauberk. The jupon was also worn over the suit of armour, being decorated with its wearer’s coat of *arms. – Cf. GIPON

Jurat. Lit. ‘a sworn man’. Someone sworn to do something, i.e. carry out a duty on oath; someone sworn to give information at a court. The term was also used of the *burgess in English towns who swore to advise faithfully. In Sark, a jurat was one of the island’s magistrates, elected for life. The Latin form is juratus. [< L juro = to swear] – Cf. next

Jurati ad arma. Lit. ‘sworn to arms’. Armed townsmen. Although in social terms the jurati ranked below the ordinary foot-soldier, they were not much use in battle, being best suited for guarding the coast and keeping watch for hostile shipping. Anything more military than police work, e.g. supporting bailiffs, or as part of a *hue and cry, was beyond their skills. – Cf. previous

Jus. Latin law term referring to custom which became the basis of common law. – Cf. LEX

Jus gentium. Lit. ‘law of the people’. Bracton said: ‘the authority of … lords [is] sanctioned by the jus gentium; it once extended to life and death but is now restricted by the civil law … life and member are in the king’s *potestas’.

Justice-in-eyre. One of the justices, i.e. judges, on the *county circuit, hearing cases at local courts. These justices ensured that criminals with local influence and able to intimidate local courts were subject to the king’s justice, which was not to be imposed upon. The Latin for justice-in-eyre is justicarius in itinere. – Cf. EYRE

Justice of the Peace. These officials emerged from the keepers of the peace in the 14c. Local knights and lords of the *manor, they held courts in place of the *eyre. Four times a year they held quarter sessions with jury trials and these courts had capital powers. The justices largely replaced sheriffs and also the old *hundred courts.

Justiciar. The officer who acted as king’s regent or viceroy. He presided at the king’s court, during the time of the Norman and early Plantagenet monarchs, when the king was in France or Normandy. The office lapsed in 1261. Its Latin form is justitiarius.

Juvenes. Young men at tournaments, often the younger sons, for whom a father could not provide; young men who would become squires. [< L juvenis = a young man]