The mense (of the Latin mensa , table, meal, from where what is used to nourish) is the name of the ecclesiastical income allotted either to the bishop or the abbot (mense episcopal or abbey), or with the canons or the monks (mense capitulary or conventual). The mense is usually a real estate whose incomes are used for maintenance of sound or its holders (bishop, Abbé, canons, etc).