Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajput States of India v1.c18.s1.20

v1.c18.s1.20

Escuage or Scutage.—Escuage or scutage, the phrase in Europe to denote the amercement ³ for non-attendance, is also known and exemplified in deeds. Failure from disaffection, turbulence, or pride, brought a heavy fine ; the sequestration of the whole or part of the estate.⁴ The princes of these States would willingly desire to see escuage more general. All have made this first attempt towards an approximation to a standing army; but, though the chiefs would make compensation to get rid of some particular service, they are very reluctant to renounce lands, by which alone a fixed force could be maintained. The rapacity of the court would gladly fly to scutages, but in the present impoverished state of the fiefs, such if injudiciously levied would be almost equivalent to resumption; but this measure is so full of difficulty as to be almost impracticable.