Legal Definitions - hydegeld

Hydegeld was a historical legal concept in England, referring to a specific type of payment or compensation. It was made by an individual who had assaulted another person's servant, particularly when that servant was trespassing on the assailant's property. This payment served as a means to discharge or avoid legal penalties and further disputes arising from the assault.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept of hydegeld:

• Imagine a medieval farmer, John, who discovers a servant of the local baron, Thomas, poaching deer on his private woodland. Enraged by the trespass and the theft, John physically confronts and injures Thomas. To avoid severe punishment from the powerful baron for assaulting his servant, John offers a payment, known as hydegeld, to the baron. This payment would compensate the baron for the injury to his servant and prevent John from facing further legal repercussions or the baron's personal retribution.

  This example illustrates hydegeld as a payment made by John (the assailant) to the baron (the master of the trespassing servant) to discharge the legal consequences of the assault.

• Consider a scenario during a period of intense rivalry between two wealthy landowners, Sir Alaric and Lady Beatrice. One of Lady Beatrice's stablehands mistakenly rides his horse across a corner of Sir Alaric's estate while taking a shortcut. Sir Alaric, known for his quick temper, intercepts the stablehand and strikes him, causing a minor injury. To prevent a full-blown legal dispute or even a feud with Lady Beatrice, Sir Alaric's steward advises him to offer hydegeld. This payment would be made to Lady Beatrice, acknowledging the assault on her servant while he was trespassing, and would serve to settle the matter without further escalation.

  Here, Sir Alaric (the assailant) pays Lady Beatrice (the master) for assaulting her stablehand (the trespassing servant), using hydegeld to avoid a larger conflict.

• Picture a master craftsman, Master Elara, who sends her apprentice, Finn, to deliver goods to a client. Finn, unfamiliar with the area, takes a wrong turn and accidentally enters the private garden of a reclusive nobleman, Lord Kael. Lord Kael, startled by Finn's presence, shoves him forcefully, causing Finn to drop and damage some of the delivered goods. Upon learning of the incident, Lord Kael, wishing to avoid a complaint from Master Elara to the guild or local authorities, dispatches his own steward to offer Master Elara hydegeld. This payment would cover the damage to the goods and compensate for the assault on Finn, settling the matter quietly.

  This example shows Lord Kael (the assailant) offering hydegeld to Master Elara (the master) for assaulting Finn (the trespassing servant/apprentice), thereby resolving the issue and preventing formal legal action.