Legal Definitions - approvement

Definition: Approvement is a legal term that has two different meanings:

1. In English law, it refers to the right of a landowner to enclose common lands partially and receive income from them. This right was granted by the Statute of Merton in 1235 and is still available today. However, a landowner must obtain the government's consent before approving land.
2. In history, it refers to the act of avoiding a capital conviction by accusing an accomplice. This is also known as turning king's evidence.

Example: An example of the first meaning of approvement is when a landowner wants to enclose a portion of common land to use it for farming or other purposes. They must obtain the government's approval before doing so and can then receive income from the enclosed land.

Example: An example of the second meaning of approvement is when a person who has been accused of a crime decides to accuse someone else of being their accomplice in order to avoid a death sentence. This is a risky strategy because the accused person must provide evidence that the other person was involved in the crime.

These examples illustrate how the term approvement can have different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. In both cases, it involves obtaining permission or making a deal to avoid negative consequences.