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Exchequer of Pleas
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===Increasing work and transformation=== [[File:Sir William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester by Circle of Hans Eworth.jpg|thumb|upright|[[William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester|William Paulet]], who as [[Lord High Treasurer]] significantly increased the power and influence of the Exchequer|alt=On a square black frame is a golden circle with a photo of a man with a brown beard and black garments with a white ruff on a starry background.]] There are few records known to date from before 1580, as bills were not dated before then.<ref>Bryson (2008) p.2</ref> Until the 16th century, the Exchequer carried out its duties with little variation in its function or practice. A small court, the Exchequer handled around 250 cases a year, compared to 2,500 in the [[Court of King's Bench (England)|Court of King's Bench]] and 10,000 in the [[Court of Common Pleas (England)|Court of Common Pleas]].<ref>Guth (2008) p.149</ref> Under [[Tudor dynasty|the Tudors]], the Exchequer's political, judicial and fiscal importance all increased. This was partially thanks to the [[Lord High Treasurer]]. Although the [[Lord Chancellor]] was more traditionally important, the Lord High Treasurers from 1547 to 1612 were politically influential figures, including [[Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury|Robert Cecil]], [[Thomas Sackville, 1st Earl of Dorset|Thomas Sackville]] and [[William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester|William Paulet]]. Since the Lord High Treasurer was head of the Exchequer, with the Treasurer's increased influence came increased importance for the Exchequer.<ref>Guth (2008) p.150</ref> The appointment of the [[Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk|second]] and [[Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk|third]] [[Duke of Norfolk|Dukes of Norfolk]] as Lord High Treasurers from 1501 to 1546 led to a gradual reduction in the Exchequer's power. The Dukes were seen by the government as too independent to be trusted with any real power, but too useful to be removed. As a result, to indirectly reduce their power, the Exchequer was deliberately weakened. When William Paulet was appointed Treasurer in 1546 the Exchequer again increased in power, absorbing the [[Court of Augmentations]] and [[Court of First Fruits and Tenths]] by 1554.<ref>Guth (2008) p.152</ref> The Exchequer was assisted in this period by [[Thomas Fanshawe (remembrancer of the exchequer)|Thomas Fanshawe]], the Queen's Remembrancer. A capable man, Fanshawe was often consulted by the Barons of the Exchequer as to the best way to administer the court, and helped standardise pleadings, allowing the Exchequer to cope during a period of increased business. Fanshawe's administrative reforms were considered excellent, and his work continued to be used as the standard until the 1830s.<ref>Bryson (2008) p.22</ref> Exchequer business increased under [[James I of England|James]] and [[Charles I of England|Charles I]], before the [[English Civil War]] disrupted the courts. With the increasing use of the [[Writ of Quominus]], which allowed royal debtors to bring a case against a third party who owed them money if it was that lack of money which prevented them paying the king and the new regime, the Exchequer actively transformed from a "tax court" dealing with civil cases to a dedicated [[court of equity]] and common law.<ref>Bryson (2008) p.25</ref> The Civil War caused four equitable courts to be dissolved. The [[Star Chamber|Court of Star Chamber]] was formally dissolved in 1641, the [[Council of the North]] and [[Council of Wales and the Marches]] had their equity jurisdiction stripped by the same Act of Parliament, and the [[Court of Requests]] became invalid after the Privy Seal was invalidated by the outcome of the [[English Civil War]], as it was dependent on the Seal for its authority.<ref>Bryson (2008) p.25</ref> After the War ended there were only two equity courts remaining, the Exchequer and [[Court of Chancery]]. The Court of Chancery was publicly reviled for its slow pace and because it was led by the [[John Finch, 1st Baron Finch|Lord Chancellor John Finch]], a political figure who had been intimately involved in the conflict.<ref>Bryson (2008) p.26</ref> As a result, the Exchequer increased in importance as a court, although it is not known whether its active transformation was a judicial or political decision.<ref>Bryson (2008) p.27</ref>
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