Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: Droit de maitrise
Definition: In old French law, when an apprentice became a master worker, they had to pay a fee to the Crown called droit de maitrise, which means "a right of mastership".
Droit de maitrise
Droit de maitrise is a historical French law term that refers to a payment that an apprentice who has become a master worker must make to the Crown. This payment is a right of mastership.
For example, if a carpenter's apprentice completed their training and became a master carpenter, they would have to pay the Crown a droit de maitrise. This payment was required in many trades, including blacksmithing, weaving, and shoemaking.
Another example is a tailor's apprentice who becomes a master tailor. They would also have to pay the Crown a droit de maitrise. This payment was a way for the Crown to collect revenue from skilled workers and maintain control over the trades.
These examples illustrate how droit de maitrise was a required payment for apprentices who became master workers in various trades. It was a way for the Crown to benefit financially from the skills and expertise of these workers.