Studied by 3 peopleDefine the term central government
The term used to describe how the country as a whole was governed
Define the term centralisation
The process of giving particular areas of gov into the hands of specific gov departments and their ministers
Define the term delegation
the transfer of responsibility for specific tasks from one person to another
Define the term patronage
the right of a person (such as Henry) to appoint someone to a job or role
What 2 areas of government was Henry particularly interested in?
Law and finance
Henry was an itinerant king – what does this mean?
He travelled around his territories, rather than remaining in one place all the time
Approximately for how much of his reign was Henry present in England?
⅓
What were the 3 main central institutions of government?
The decision-making body, the law, and finance
What was the name of the decision-making body?
The king’s court or the curia regis
Which 2 departments were responsible for the law?
Chancery and the bench
Which department was responsible for finance?
The exchequer
What did the curia regis do?
Made important decisions of national importance, such as laws, taxes and going to war
Approximately how many times a year would it meet….and how many people would the king invite?
2-3 times a year; c. 30 people
In what ways did the curia regis change over Henry’s reign?
Less traditional barons were called; more gov ministers were called; experts in law and finance; men who were loyal to Henry; it became more professional, effective and efficient
Who was the most important gov official…and what did he do?
The justiciar; he took care of the day-to-day running of the country in Henry’s absence; he oversaw the curia regis, law and finance; he was the main point of contact between the crown and the barons
Who were the 2 famous justiciars Henry appointed?
Richard de Lucy and Robert Beaumont (earl of Leicester)
What was the chancellor responsible for?
The department of chancery which took care of the king’s written documents
Who was the famous chancellor whom Henry appointed at the start of his reign?
Thomas Becket
Which government minister was responsible for finance…and who were the first 2 appointed?
The treasurer: Nigel bishop of Ely (up to 1160), then Richard fitzNigel
Danegeld also known as the geld
A tax collected on the amount of land owned
Tallage
A tax collected by a lord (such as the king) from his tenant
Scutage
A tax collected for each knight NOT supplied to the king
Reliefs
A tax paid for inheriting land
Wardships
Money paid to Henry for the right to look after the lands of an underage heir
Advowsons
Money paid to Henry for the right to appoint someone to a church job
Dona
Gifts of money to the king for special occasions
The royal demesne
The lands belonging to the king
Purpresture
The practice of barons taking over crown lands
Escheat
Lands where the landowner died without an heir
The farm
What happened to the average farm income of the shires during Henry’s reign?
What happened to the average farm income of the shires during Henry’s reign?
It rose from c. £5,000 to c. £6,500
What did Henry do to the coins in 1158 and 1180?
Had them reminted
What did Henry do to the number of royal mints?
Reduced them from 47 to 10
Where was the exchequer based?
Winchester
How many times a year did the sheriffs come to the exchequer?
2
What were pipe rolls?
Documents which kept details of the monies brought by the sheriffs
How did the 1170 Inquest of the Sheriffs improve the financial system?
More loyal, trustworthy men were appointed; it cut down on bribery and corruption
Name the book which Richard fitzNigel wrote.
The Dialogue of the Exchequer
How much did Henry’s overall income increase?
From c. £10,000 a year to c. £23,000; it more than doubled
Common law
Law which is common throughout the whole kingdom and based
The Assize of Clarendon
The meeting at which Henry introduced fundamental changes to the legal system, bringing in common law
An eyre
Name for the area a judge toured round
Justices-in-eyre/itinerant judges
Name given to the travelling judges
A jury of presentment
A group of 12 men whom the sheriff would ask to find out if there were any serious crimes to investigate
The Assize of Northampton
The meeting at which Henry confirmed the using of common law; plus brought in some extra features
Novel disseisin
A legal action for recovering possession of land that has been wrongfully taken.
Mort d’ancestor
A procedure whereby someone could bring a case to court if they felt someone had taken land they should have inherited
The King’s Bench
Name given to the 5 permanent judges sitting at Westminster
Chief justiciars
The title of these judges
Standardised writs
A short, written document which could be bought by any free person, ordering the sheriff to investigate a possible crime – most often about land
Precedence
The practice of making a judgement in court based on previous similar cases
The Treatise
Book written by Ranulf de Glanvill about how the legal system worked
What extra powers were sheriffs given under the Assize of Clarendon?
Suspects could be arrested anywhere
In what ways was the Assize of Clarendon a turning point in the legal system?
A uniform and common system was now used throughout the whole country; everyone was now treated the same in the eyes of the law; local variation and custom were gone
Why were the procedures of novel disseisin and mort d’ancestor so popular?
Any free person could bring a case to court about land – a new feature
Where was the permanent chief court and chancery now based?
Westminster
Who was Henry’s main legal adviser in the 1170s and 80s?
Ranulf de Glanvill
Central gov became more centralised. Give 2 examples of this in each area: a. decision-making
The curia regis continued to make decisions of national significance, so no real change; however, its membership evolved to include more gov ministers and specialists in law and finance; its decision-making became more informed and effective.
Central gov became more centralised. Give 2 examples of this in each area: b. finance
The exchequer was re-introduced in Winchester and took control of the country’s finances; a logical, transparent and efficient system was introduced; sheriffs from every shire had to appear; new personnel were introduced including the staff at Winchester as well as new sheriffs (thanks to various Inquests); Henry’s yearly income more than doubled from c. £10,000 to c. £23,000
Central gov became more centralised. Give 2 examples of this in each area: c. the law
Common law was introduced thanks to the Assize of Clarendon; justices in eyre and a permanent bench were both introduced + new sheriffs; new common procedures were brought in: standardised writs, novel disseisin and mort d’ancestor
For how much of his reign was Henry absent?
⅔
Henry used his powers of patronage to delegate heavily as he was away from England so much. In each area, state who Henry delegated to run: The curia regis and oversee the day-to-day business of government
The justiciars – most famously Richard de Lucy and Robert Beaumont
Henry used his powers of patronage to delegate heavily as he was away from England so much. In each area, state who Henry delegated to run: The financial system
The treasurer – first Nigel of Ely, then Richard fitzNigel
Henry used his powers of patronage to delegate heavily as he was away from England so much. In each area, state who Henry delegated to run: Chancery and the bench
Chancery – most famously T Becket. The bench – de Lucy and Beaumont
Name 3 ways Henry exercised more political power over the barons.
Developments in the law, such as increase of writs + new procedures (novel disseisin etc); increased power of judges + sheriffs; the Cartae Baronum in 1166; the Inquests into Sheriffs; the Assize of Arms 1181
Name 3 ways Henry exercised more economic power over the barons.
Reassessed taxes eg tallage, reliefs warships etc; seized back royal lands + increased the farm; increased control over the coinage; the exchequer more effectively collected and recorded taxation; new sheriffs
Note 
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