Exchequer In Medieval England

Medieval England is from Norman Conquest to the Outbreak of Capitalism Revolution of England. During the time, England had experienced great changes, also founded a modern England. Finance played an important role, so we have to concern its important financial organization, that is Exchequer. Exchequer system was the most effective financial institution in Europe at that time, it pushed and strengthened the feudal monarchy, it was progeny in medieval England at that specific history background. Take a look at the perspective of the development of financial organization of England, we can find it was also Exchequer as England's public financial administer section in modern time. So it was necessary to research Exchequer carefully.Contrast to us , western historians began to study medieval finance of England earlier, the contents they concerned was more and deeper, also preciser. The authorities are Dovell, Fridoric ?c ?Diz, Hariss, Unwin, Michell, Poole etc. Among them, Poole, Hariss, and Dowell concerned more about the financial organization. Dowell concerned Exchequer in the narration of tax evolution of medieval England, the analysis of Exchequer is not deep-going. Hariss concerned Exchequer in the statement of the relation of king parliament and public finance, his discourse was effected by the Constitutionalism ineluctably. Michell concerned Exchequer in the dissert of tax element, the anatomy was scattered passably. The noted scholar Poole narrated Exchequer in the 12th century specially, he detailed early time of Exchequer ,but concerned little about late time. Besides, he had tendency of Limited Signory of Feudal Contract as he analyzed the relation between kings and Exchequer. The defect was avoided in the narration of Toter, Jones etc. They centred precise and down-to-earthresearch, avoiding the concept of Feudalism. In our country, scholars did little in the specialistic research. They only concerned it in studying medieval economic, police, laws of England. It is in primary period of studying medieval finance problems of England in our country. In this article ,1 want to emphasis questioning the Exechquer, including its form, constitution, role and also the contact with monarchy, Parliament. Besides, its historic status and influence.It was Chamber that managed the finance before Norman Conquest. After it, Treasury and Exchequer were seperated from the Household in order to control finance for the kingship. They became more independent central financial organizations. Because of the expansion of the ruling territory and the increase of income and payment, and also the king's frequent floating, Chamber found it difficult to schlep the money and commodities. So the king extended the former Winchester Treasury, and ordered officials to manage it .To the tenure of William the second Treasurer was established formally, Treasury became the country's finance managing centre. After Henry's accession, tax collection was not tangibility but money, kingship's control upon treasury became more powerful, so Exchequer arose and replaced Treasury. Until Henry the second 's accesion, Exchequer developed its form scarecely.Exchequer excuted financial foot twice a year .It was called so, because in the course of reckoning, Exchequer's officials used a piece of lattice cloth on the table to reckon. The king's cost was paid out from Exchequer partly .The other part was dilivered to the chamber directly, then to Exchequer reckoned.Exchequer included Upper and Lower Exchequer. Upper Exchequer was Exchequer's leading section, it's officials were the Chief justiciar, Chancellor, Treasurer etc. Besides, kings also ordered Familia to supervise Exchequer occasionly. They had fairly big supervisal muscle, so Exchequerwas exposed to monarchy rather strict supervision. Lower Exchequer was finance concrete working section, it was also called Receipt. It had a lot of officials, who were in charge of money collection and payout, keeping, account recording etc. The officials' stipend varied according to...