Legal Definitions - capitula coronae

Capitula coronae refers to a specific set of detailed instructions or inquiries issued to royal justices in medieval England. These justices, known as justices in eyre, traveled throughout the country to administer justice and investigate various matters on behalf of the Crown. The capitula coronae were essentially a comprehensive checklist or questionnaire that guided these justices in their investigations, particularly concerning issues that directly affected the King's interests, revenues, and authority. They were a more elaborate version of the general "articles of the eyre," focusing on the Crown's specific concerns and ensuring that royal prerogatives were upheld and royal dues collected.

• Imagine a medieval justice arriving in a county with a mandate to assess the King's financial interests. One of the capitula coronae might be a detailed instruction to investigate all instances where feudal tenants had failed to pay their due taxes or military service to the King. The justice would have to specifically inquire about overdue payments, identify the defaulting tenants, and assess the total amount owed to the Crown, ensuring no royal revenue was overlooked. This illustrates how the capitula coronae provided a precise framework for collecting royal dues.

• Another example could involve a directive within the capitula coronae instructing the justices to identify any individuals or lords who had built fortifications, established new markets, or claimed rights to collect tolls without explicit royal permission. The justices would be required to meticulously document these infringements on the King's authority, gather evidence, and report back on how these unauthorized actions were impacting the Crown's power and control. This demonstrates the term's role in protecting the King's unique rights and prerogatives.

• A third instruction within the capitula coronae might demand a thorough investigation into any cases of serious felony, such as murder or treason, that had gone unpunished, especially if local officials had failed in their duties. The justices would be tasked with reviewing local court records, interviewing witnesses, and ensuring that justice was administered according to royal law, thereby upholding the King's peace and authority throughout the realm. This highlights the detailed nature of the inquiries related to maintaining law and order in the Crown's name.