Aids

In English law

A species of tax payable by the tenant of lands to his superior lord on the happening of certain events. They were originally mere benevolences granted to the lord in certain times of danger and distress, but soon came to be claimed as a right. They were originally given in three cases only, and were of uncertain amount. For a period they were demanded in additional cases, but this abuse was corrected by Magna Charta (of John) and St. 25 Edw. I. (confirmatio chartarum), and they were made payable only, — to ransom the lord's person, when taken prisoner; to make the lord's eldest son a knight; to marry the lord's eldest daughter, by griving her a suitable portion. The first of these remained uncertain; the other two were fixed by act of parliament (25 Edw. »III. c. 11) at twenty shillings each, being the supposed twentieth part of a knight's fee.

2 Bl. Comm. 64.

They were abolished by 12 Car. II. c.

24. 2 Sharswood, Bl. Conim. 77, note.