Sentence:  He [the Sheriff] paid into the Exchequer the fixed yearly sum which formed the <WSD>farm</WSD> of the shire. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A fixed yearly sum accepted from a person as a composition for taxes or other moneys which he is empowered to collect; also, a fixed charge imposed on a town, county, etc., in respect of a tax or taxes to be collected within its limits.