II.   Instruments & Transactions

A Tenancy (Agreement) is a formal Instrument issued under the ancient standards (Sacré Loi) of sacred instruments and writing or “Scriptura” first formed under the Carolingians from the 8th Century CE as a form of Convenia (Covenant or Venia) memorializing the Grant of Occupation, Possession, Use and Fruits (produce) of certain Lands.

The term Tenancy (as in Tenancy Agreement) comes from the Latin tenere meaning to ‘hold/keep’ which meant literally “one who holds land by tenure” – with tenure meaning “an agreement for holding immovable property (tenement), equivalent to lease.” The concept of “hold” was also significant to the Franks as the word itself denoted certain obligations namely “to keep, tend and watch over (the land)”:

(i) The Lords held tenancies under Carta (Charter) known as a Tenens in Capite (Tenant in Chief); and

(ii) Barons held tenancies under Lords under Carta (Charter) or Convenia (Covenant) called Tenens in Manor (Tenant in (the) Manor); and

(iii) Villages held common land (Culturae) in tenancy known as Tenens in Communis (Tenancy in Common) under Barons, while individual families may also have held land as Tenens ad vitam (Tenant for Life), Tenens ad annum (Tenant for Years) or Tenens ad voluntate (Tenant at Will).

Under Sacred Law (Sacré Loi), no Land may be Occupied, Possessed or Claimed in anyway except by a valid Tenancy.