Childwite

{{Short description|Fine paid to the lord in medieval England}}

{{One source|date=May 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}

{{Use British English|date=November 2022}}

In medieval England, {{lang|en-emodeng|childwite}} (or {{lang|en-emodeng|childwit}}), was a fine levied by the feudal lord on the reputed father when an unmarried unfree woman gave birth to a child. The Oxford English Dictionary cites the following use of the term from 1672: {{lang|en-emodeng|"Within the Mannor of Writtle in Com. Essex, every reputed Father of a Bastard gotten there, pays to the Lord for a Fine three shillings four pence, and the custome is there also called Childwit."}}{{Cite OED |childwite |access-date= 20 November 2022}}