Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: HYDEGELD
Definition: Hydegeld was a type of payment made in England a long time ago. It was given to someone who had been hurt while trying to stop a trespasser from entering their land. It was like saying sorry for hurting them. Sometimes it was also called hudegeld.
Definition: Hydegeld (hId-geld) is a historical term used in England. It refers to a payment made as compensation for assaulting a servant who was trespassing on someone's property.
Example: In medieval England, if a servant of a lord or a landowner trespassed on someone else's land, and the owner of the land assaulted the servant, the owner had to pay hydegeld as compensation.
Explanation: The example illustrates how hydegeld was used as a form of compensation for an assault on a trespassing servant. It was a way to settle disputes between landowners and to ensure that servants were protected from harm while carrying out their duties.