Legal Definitions - Pipe Rolls

The Pipe Rolls were comprehensive financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, the government department responsible for managing the Crown's finances. These historical documents meticulously tracked all royal revenue and expenditure, providing a detailed account of the King's financial affairs from the 12th century until the 19th century.

Essentially, the Pipe Rolls served as the central ledger for the English government, recording income from various sources such as:

• Rents and feudal dues owed by landowners to the Crown.
• Fines and fees collected from royal courts.
• Taxes and customs duties levied on trade and property.
• Proceeds from the sale of royal lands or assets.

They also documented the expenses incurred by the Crown, offering invaluable insights into the administration, economy, and political landscape of medieval and early modern England. These records are sometimes also referred to as the Great Rolls of the Exchequer.

Here are some examples illustrating the types of information found in the Pipe Rolls:

• Recording Feudal Obligations: Imagine a powerful baron in the 13th century, Lord Ashworth, who held vast estates directly from the King. The Pipe Rolls would contain entries detailing the annual payment, known as "scutage" or feudal rent, that Lord Ashworth owed to the Crown for his lands. This ensured that the King's financial administrators had a precise record of all such obligations and payments received.

  This example demonstrates how the Pipe Rolls meticulously documented the revenue derived from feudal holdings, a significant source of income for the medieval English monarchy.

• Tracking Judicial Fines: Consider a situation in the 15th century where a local merchant, Master Thomas, was found guilty of a minor infraction in a royal court and ordered to pay a fine. The sheriff responsible for that county would collect this fine on behalf of the Crown. The Pipe Rolls would then record this specific payment, noting the amount, the reason for the fine, and the sheriff who collected it, thereby tracking judicial income.

  This illustrates the role of the Pipe Rolls in documenting revenue generated through the legal system, such as fines and fees collected by royal officials.

• Monitoring Tax Collection: During a period of significant military expenditure in the 17th century, the Crown might have imposed a special tax on imported goods. The Pipe Rolls would meticulously list the amounts collected by customs officials at various ports across England, detailing the revenue generated from these taxes. These records would show how much was collected from each port and by which official, providing a comprehensive overview of national tax income.

  This example highlights how the Pipe Rolls served as a central record for tracking the collection of various taxes and customs duties, crucial for funding the Crown's activities.