Legal Definitions - recorda

Recorda refers to a specific type of historical legal document from medieval England. These were official records meticulously kept by the Court of Exchequer, a powerful court primarily responsible for managing the Crown's finances and revenues. The recorda contained the formal written arguments (known as pleadings) presented by the parties involved in a legal dispute, as well as the final decisions and orders (judgments) issued by the court's judges, who were called the barons of the Exchequer.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept of recorda:

• Dispute Over Unpaid Taxes: Imagine a wealthy landowner in 14th-century England who is accused by the Crown of failing to pay their annual feudal dues or other royal taxes. The case would be brought before the barons of the Exchequer. The formal written complaint from the Crown, the landowner's detailed defense (perhaps arguing they had already paid or were exempt), and the final ruling by the barons regarding the payment obligation would all be carefully documented within the recorda. These records would serve as the official historical account of the legal proceedings and the court's judgment on the tax matter.

• Infringement on Royal Property: Consider a scenario where a local lord is accused of encroaching upon royal lands or illegally harvesting resources from a royal forest, thereby diminishing the Crown's revenue. This legal challenge would be heard by the Court of Exchequer. The detailed account of the accusation, the lord's formal plea (e.g., claiming the land was rightfully theirs or that they had permission), and the subsequent judgment delivered by the barons of the Exchequer, including any fines or orders to cease the activity, would all be preserved as part of the recorda. This collection of documents would provide a complete historical record of the legal action concerning royal property rights.

• Debt Owed to the Crown: Suppose a merchant who had borrowed a significant sum of money from the Crown (perhaps to finance a trading voyage) defaulted on the loan. The Crown would initiate legal action in the Exchequer to recover the debt. The formal statement of claim by the Crown, the merchant's counter-arguments or defense (e.g., claiming the debt was already repaid, that the goods were never received, or that the terms were unfair), and the ultimate decision by the barons regarding the repayment of the debt would all be recorded in the recorda. These records would be crucial for understanding the legal process and the final outcome of the financial dispute between the Crown and its debtor.