Edward 1: Development of Government

Also know as 'The Hundred Rolls'

• many sheriffs were removed as they were corrupt
• Edward asked the people of his country what they thought the problems were
  • complaints and returns were delivered back to London by the hundreds
• known as the Ragman Rolls because all of the seals of the witnesses were attatched and dangled below the document
• was similar to the Domesday Book, with neither surveys resulting in much change
  • however Edward did start taking action!

• the first parliament took place in Westminster, April 1275
• declared the Statute of Westminster as to "set to rights the state of his kingdom"
• biggest parliament of the medieval history
• roughly 800 people were invited, although we do not know how many actually attended
• two burgesses from each town were also invited, as well as barons, earls, knights, bishops and abbots
• showed that Edward was listening to the peoples demands

Reasons for inviting so many people:

• Edward could collect tax to help pay off a crusade
• he wanted as many people as possible to be aware of his first major piece of legislation ~ the Statute of Westminster

• initially dealt with many abuses from The Hundred Rolls
• included were provisions for dealing with unwanted guests in religious houses, tolls, abuse of wardship and purveyance (King taking what he wants to support himself), free elections, sheriffs must behave honestly, and many more
• Hue and Cry ~ everyone in the neighbourhood must be ready to pursure felons (someone who has committed a crime)should the hue and cry be raised

• landholders were asked to prove what right they had to own the land
• many people could not prove ownership and therefore lost their land

• tried to prevent land being passed onto the Church without the King's permission
• Church owned about 30% of land in England
• Edward was losing taxes as the Church didn't need to pay tax
  • people were giving the Church their land, then renting it back, so they did not have to pay tax to Edward
• attempt to close the loophole which landowners were using to deprive the King of his feudal rights

• allowed for safer travel by cutting back trees and woodland besides roads in order to prevent criminals hiding there and attacking travellers
• one provision dealt with r a p e, and another with carrying away a nun from her abode
• 50 seperate provisions
• shows that Edward is listening and taking notice of issues brought to his attention

• attempted to deal with the payment of debt between merchants
• the debtor was liable to have his goods seized or be imprisoned should he not pay the debt

• Henry III had given his wife Eleanor the taxes and rents that should have been used to repair the bridge, instead, she used them for her own personal use
• Edward promised that the bridge would be repaire, and after a large argument with his wife, the taxes were redirected to the upkeeping of the bridge
• he awarded the Corporation of the City the right to charge tolls to cross the bridge for three years in order to fund rebuilding costs

• "What touches all should be approved by all"
• one representative of the clergy from every cathedral, and two from each diocese were summoned to attend Parliament too
• Edward hoped to be granted a tax, which he got, but it was a lot lower than he had hoped
• first occassion where knights and burgesses met separately from the Lords
• the members knew they had the King in their grasp as he desperately needed money for war against France and Scotland, so was in little position to argue with them