Legal Definitions - hundred rolls

The Hundred Rolls were extensive historical surveys compiled in England during the late 13th century, specifically between 1274 and 1275. These records meticulously documented the various feudal landholdings (known as tenancies) and the associated duties and services (feudal obligations) that existed between lords and their tenants across different regions. Royal commissioners gathered this information by questioning local juries in the "hundred courts"—administrative divisions of the time. The primary purpose of these extensive inquiries was to identify any feudal arrangements or claims that might be encroaching upon the King's traditional rights, powers, or revenue sources.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of the Hundred Rolls:

• Example 1: Market Tolls and Royal Prerogative
  Imagine a powerful local lord, Baron Thorne, began collecting tolls from all merchants passing through the village of Blackwood, claiming an ancient right granted to his ancestors. The King's commissioners, compiling the Hundred Rolls, would investigate this claim. If the rolls recorded that Blackwood village, or the specific lands where the market operated, were held directly from the Crown with no mention of such a toll-collecting privilege for Baron Thorne, then his actions would be identified as an infringement on the King's royal prerogative to grant market rights and collect associated revenues. The Hundred Rolls would serve as evidence to challenge Baron Thorne's unauthorized collection of tolls.

• Example 2: Military Service Obligations
  Consider a situation where Sir Gareth held a substantial manor from the Earl of Warwick, and the Earl demanded that Sir Gareth provide a contingent of ten armed knights for his personal guard. However, the Hundred Rolls might specify that the land Sir Gareth held was subject to a different, direct obligation: to provide five knights to the King's army when summoned, or to pay a specific sum of "scutage" (money in lieu of military service) directly to the Crown. In this scenario, the Earl of Warwick's demand would be flagged by the Hundred Rolls as an attempt to divert military service or financial resources that rightfully belonged to the King, thereby undermining royal authority and defense capabilities.

• Example 3: Judicial Rights and Fines
  Suppose a dispute arose in the hamlet of Stonebridge regarding who had the right to try minor criminal cases, such as petty theft, and collect the resulting fines. The local lord, Lord Fitzwilliam, claimed this judicial authority, while the King's sheriff insisted it belonged to the Crown. The Hundred Rolls would be consulted to determine the precise feudal tenure of Stonebridge. If the rolls indicated that the land was held "in chief" (directly from the King) with no specific grant of judicial rights to Lord Fitzwilliam, or if they explicitly showed that such rights were retained by the Crown, then Lord Fitzwilliam's claim to jurisdiction would be deemed an encroachment on the King's judicial prerogative and a loss of royal revenue from fines.