younger son, or to some dependant for past services, or a purchase with a gross sum. There were no wardship or marriage or other fees associated with a tenure in free socage. Tenure in frankalmoin ["free alms" for the poor to relieve the king of this burden] was land held by ecclesiastics in right of their churches and of God. This service was spiritual, often for saying prayers for the deceased donor so that he could go from purgatory to heaven, and it was an indefinite service. In general, land could be alienated or subinfeudated without the lord's consent and thus come to be held in another tenure. Land escheated [returned] to the lord if there were no heirs, or in case of felony after the king has possessed and taken the profits of the land for year and day. In case of treason, a tenant's lands were all forfeited to the king. The tenure of socage obligated the tenant to fixed agricultural services, for which a nominal payment called a "quit rent" could be substituted. Socage did not entail rights of wardship or marriage. Socage grew at the expense of the other tenures. The unfree tenure was villein tenure. Villeins were tied to a piece of land and were bound to perform for their lord indefinite agricultural services and could be physically recovered in case they left the land. Villeins were subject to a lord's court and were not protected by the king's court. The major types of freemen were: nobles, knights, ecclesiastics, Jews, and women. The nobles were the earls and barons. They did not have noble blood, but were tenants in chief of certain land by the king's will. The king consulted them and they obeyed his summons and gave him counsel. They were entitled to be judged in cases of treason or felony, by their peers, that is, each other. Lower in status are the knights. They were active in royal justice, making thedecisions in the most important cases. Ecclesiatics were bishops; abbots; and monks, nuns, and friars, who had taken vows of poverty and obedience; and clergy. The difference between a monk and a friar was a cloistered life versus an active life. Jews came to England after the Conquest and were under the special protection of the king. All they had belonged to the king. A Jew could lend money for interest, which was disallowed for Christians. Jews were subject to the courts of justice, but could also settle their disputes by their own Hebrew law, They were expelled in 1290. Women could hold land, even by military tenure, own chattels typically beasts and coins], make a will, make a contract, and could sue and be sued. They could give evidence in court, but could not be jurors or judges. Women who had husbands had to defer to them in certain property matters.