Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: HEREYELD
Definition: In the past, when people lived in a feudal system, a vassal (a person who served a lord) would give their best animal (like a horse, ox, or cow) to their lord when they died. This was called hereyeld, and it was a way for the vassal to show respect to their superior.
Definition: Hereyeld is a term used in feudal systems to refer to the best animal (such as a horse, ox, or cow) that a vassal gives as tribute to their superior upon their death.
Example: In medieval Europe, a knight who served a lord would owe certain obligations, including providing military service and paying taxes. Upon the knight's death, their best animal would be given to the lord as a form of tribute. For example, if a knight had a prized horse, that horse would become the hereyeld.
Explanation: The example illustrates how the hereyeld was a form of tribute paid by a vassal to their superior upon their death. It was a way for the vassal to show their loyalty and respect to their lord, and for the lord to receive a valuable asset that could be used for various purposes, such as transportation or farming.