Legal Definitions - escot

In historical English law, an escot referred to a specific type of tax or contribution levied within boroughs and corporations. Its primary purpose was to generate funds for the general support and maintenance of the community.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of an escot:

• Imagine a bustling medieval English borough, such as Norwich, in the 14th century. The town council determines that the main bridge connecting the market square to the residential areas is in dire need of repair. To fund this essential infrastructure project, which benefits all residents and merchants, the council levies an escot. Each household or chartered guild within the borough is required to pay a set amount, with the collected funds specifically earmarked for the bridge's reconstruction, thereby supporting the community's vital transport links.

• Consider a powerful merchant guild, a form of corporation, operating within the chartered town of Bristol during the 15th century. This guild, along with others, might be obligated to pay an escot annually. These contributions would not necessarily go to a specific project but rather into a common town chest. From this communal fund, money could be drawn to pay for the town watch, maintain public wells, or provide relief for the poor, all of which are services that uphold the general welfare and order of the community.

• In a smaller, self-governing borough, the local authorities might decide that a new town hall is required to house their administrative functions and provide a space for public meetings. To finance this significant civic undertaking, they could impose an escot on the property owners and established businesses within the borough. This direct contribution from those benefiting from the town's governance ensures that the necessary infrastructure for community administration and civic life is adequately funded.