Page:English Historical Review Volume 37.djvu/343

 1922 SCUTAOE UNDER EDWARD L 335 was considered by the barons to be inadequate and they were each sentenced to a fine of 10.* On 15 January 1306 writs were issued to all the sheriffs of England ordering them sicitf alias to proceed with the levy of the scutage of the twenty-eighth year, and to pay all the money arising therefrom at the exchequer on the morrow of the close of Easter next following, on pain of a fine of 40 to be raised from their personal estate. 2 These stringent measures failed, in face of the general uncer- tainty prevailing with regard to the incidence of the scutage, to produce any marked effect. Only about seventeen counties in all responded during the Easter session, the total payments on account of both levies being less than 400. 3 In the Trinity term of 1306 it was conceded by the treasurer and barons that, since those who had performed their service in Scotland in 1300 and 1303 for the fees which they recognized claimed in virtue of that service to be quit of scutage upon all their fees, they should have respite until a decision had been reached upon the point at issue. 4 The result of this compromise was that for almost a decade the levies of Edward's later year were in virtual abeyance. Tenants who had served or fined made application to the chancery, when pressed by the sheriff for scutage, for writs de supersedendo, which procured for them at least temporary relief from the demands of the exchequer. 5 The end of Edward's reign saw therefore the conflict between Crown and tenants in chief suspended but not decided. The exchequer did not sur- render its claim to scutage in addition to service or a fine, but was compelled by the opposition which the new policy aroused to agree to a postponement of the levy, which amounted in effect to a confession of defeat. The scutage for the army of Scotland of 1303 was the last actually put in charge in the lifetime of Edward I. A regular feudal summons was again resorted to in April 1306 6 with the object of providing an army to quell the revolt raised by Robert Bruce, following upon the murder of Comyn. The rapid dis- integration of the feudal military organization under the influence of the prevailing uncertainty and discontent is apparent from the complete inadequacy of the response made at Carlisle in July 1 Exch. Mem. Roll, Lord Treas. Rem., no. 76, Hil. Rec., no. 20. 2 Ibid., Brev. Ret. Hil. 3 Receipt Roll, no. 163, 34 Edw. I, Easter. 4 Exch. Mem. Roll, Lord Treas. Rem., no. 76, Comm. Trin. Rec., m. 46 d. 5 Gal of Close Rolls, 1302-7, pp. 300 seq. Exch. Mem. Roll, Lord Treas. Rem., no. 77, Mich. m. 7, Writs to Barons, ' A noster seignur le Roi prie Johane Wake dame de Lydel une lettre de respit au viscunt Deverwyk del Escouage de ses feez del an xxxi dunt ele ad bref noster seignur avaunt dit pur ceo qe sun servise de la guerre Descoce feust trove es Roules de la marchaucie et sur ceo le Viscunt del Counte avaunt dit fra lever mesme Lescuage s'il neyt comandement de surseer '. ' Parl. Writs, i. 377.