Legal Definitions - auxilium vice comiti

AUXILIUM VICE COMITI

Ancient tax paid to sheriffs.

Auxilium vice comiti is a Latin term that refers to an old tax that was paid to sheriffs. In medieval times, the sheriff was responsible for maintaining law and order in a particular area. To help them carry out their duties, they were given a tax called auxilium vice comiti. This tax was paid by the people living in the area and was used to fund the sheriff's activities.

One example of auxilium vice comiti can be found in the Domesday Book, which was a survey of England conducted in 1086. The book recorded the amount of auxilium vice comiti paid by each county to the sheriff.

Another example can be found in the Pipe Rolls, which were records of the royal treasury in England. These records show the amount of auxilium vice comiti paid by each town or village to the sheriff.

These examples illustrate how auxilium vice comiti was an important source of revenue for sheriffs in medieval England. It was a way for the people to contribute to the maintenance of law and order in their communities.