Page:English Historical Review Volume 37.djvu/342

 334 SCUTAGE UNDER EDWARD I July occasions. 1 From the evidence thus provided scutage rolls were compiled, of which that for 31 Edward I alone survives. 2 It consists of a series of writs de scutagio habendo covering a period from 6 April 1305 to 16 March 1307, and directed as usual to the sheriffs on behalf of tenants who had served in person, sent their service, or fined for it, in the army of 31 Edward I. The date upon which the collection of the king's scutage was undertaken is uncertain. The actual writs for the levy of the twenty -eighth year are not to be found in the rolls, but it appears from the evidence of subsequent entries that the sheriffs had been instructed, at least as early as 7 November 1305, to proceed with the collection and to deliver the money at the exchequer by the morrow of St. Hilary next following (14 January 1306). 3 There is a writ bearing date 16 April 1306, ordering the treasurer and barons to put in charge without delay the scutage for the thirty-first year, 4 but various entries upon both chancery and exchequer rolls show that the collection, at least from wardships and honours in hand, was proceeding as early as December 1305- January 1306. 5 It soon became apparent that the collection of the new levies would be attended with even greater difficulties than had been the case with the earlier scutages of Wales. While the exchequer refused to abandon the attempt to convert the scutage into a general tax upon the knights' fees of England, the tenants in chief were none the less determined to maintain the ancient principle that service or a fine purchased exemption from scutage for the entire fief. Moreover, in addition to the resistance of the Crown vassals, the exchequer had now to contend with con- tumacy on the part of the sheriffs themselves. No scutage lists for the armies of Scotland appear in the Pipe Rolls of Edward I. On the day appointed for the rendering of the accounts for the scutage of the twenty-eighth year, it was found that little or no money was forthcoming. 6 Many sheriffs failed entirely to appear, others offered various excuses for their failure to make any pay- ment. The sheriffs of Yorkshire and Southampton pleaded that since the instructions for the levy had not authorized the holding of formal inquisitions, they had been unable to obtain particulars of the fees from which scutage was due in their respective baili- wicks, and had consequently collected nothing. Their excuse 1 Cal. of Close Bolls, 1302-7, p. 262 ; Exch. Mem. Roll, Lord Treas. Rem., no. 76, m. 36 d. 2 Cal. of Chanc. RoUs, Various, 1277-1326, pp. 277-383. 3 Exch. Mem. Roll, Lord Treas. Rem., no. 76, Comm. Hil. Rec., m. 20. 4 Exch. Mem. Roll, Kings Rem., no. 79, Writs to Barons, Easter, m. 15 d. 5 Receipt Roll, no. 162, Mich. 33-4 Edw. I, shows sums paid in on account of the scutage of 31 Edw. I as early as January 1306. 6 Ibid. During the Hilary term insignificant sums were paid in from eleven counties.