Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Tithe of Agistment: A long time ago, churches used to charge people who let their animals graze on certain lands. This charge was called the tithe of agistment. The person who owned the land didn't have to pay, but the person who let their animals eat the grass did. It was like a tax on the animals. Agistment is also when someone pays to let their animals graze on someone else's land. Sometimes, people had to pay a charge on their land to keep the sea from coming in. This was called agistment of sea-banks.
Definition: Tithe of agistment is a historical church-levied charge on grazing land. It was paid by the occupier of the land rather than the person whose cattle grazed on the land.
Example: In medieval England, the church would collect a tithe of agistment from farmers who allowed their livestock to graze on church-owned land. For example, if a farmer had ten cows grazing on church land, they would have to pay a tithe of one cow to the church.
Explanation: This example illustrates how the tithe of agistment worked in practice. The farmer who owned the cows had to pay the tithe, even though the cows were grazing on church land. This was a way for the church to collect revenue from the use of its land.
Agistment, on the other hand, is a type of bailment where a person allows animals to graze on their pasture for a fee. It can also refer to a charge levied upon the owner or occupier of land. For example, a farmer might charge a fee for allowing their neighbor's cows to graze on their land.
Example: A rancher in Montana charges $2 per head per day for agistment of cattle on his land.
Explanation: This example shows how agistment works in a modern context. The rancher is allowing other people's cattle to graze on his land for a fee. The fee is based on a per-head, per-day rate.
Agistment of sea-banks is a historical charge on land used to pay for the upkeep of dikes that prevent the encroachment of the sea.
Example: In the Netherlands, landowners paid an agistment of sea-banks to maintain the dikes that protected their land from flooding.
Explanation: This example shows how agistment of sea-banks worked in practice. Landowners paid a fee to maintain the dikes that protected their land from the sea. This was a way to ensure that their land remained productive and safe from flooding.