Everything about The Exchequer totally explained
The
Exchequer was (and in some cases still is) a part of the governments of
England (latterly to include
Wales),
Scotland, and
Northern Ireland that was responsible for the management and collection of
revenues. The various Exchequers have also developed a judicial role.
History of the Exchequer in England and Wales
At an early stage in
England (certainly by 1190), the Exchequer was split into two components: the purely administrative
Exchequer of Receipt, which collected revenue, and the judicial
Exchequer of Pleas, a court concerned with the King's revenue.
Originally the Exchequer referred to the cloth laid over a large table, by 5, on which
counters were placed representing various values. According to the
Dialogue concerning the Exchequer, an early
Medieval work describing the practice of the Exchequer, the name referred to the resemblance of the table with a
chess board.
The term "Exchequer" then came to refer to the twice yearly meetings held at
Easter and
Michaelmas, at which government financial business was transacted and an audit held of
sheriff's returns.
Under
Henry I, the procedure adopted for the
audit would involve the
Treasurer drawing up a
summons which would be sent to each
Sheriff, which they'd be required to answer. The Treasurer would call on each Sheriff to give account of Royal income in their
Shire. The
Chancellor of the Exchequer would then question them concerning debts owed by private individuals. The results of the audit were recorded in a series of records known as the
Pipe Rolls.
After the Union
The Exchequer became unnecessary as a revenue collecting department as a result of
William Pitt's reforms. It was abolished in 1834. Those government departments collecting revenue paid it directly to the
Bank of England.
By extension, "exchequer" has come to mean the
Treasury and, colloquially,
pecuniary possessions in general; as in "the company's exchequer is low".
History of the Exchequer in Scotland
The Scottish Exchequer dates back to around 1200 and had a similar role of auditing and deciding on royal revenues as in England. The Scottish exchequer was slower to develop a separate judicial role, and it wasn't until 1584 that it became a court of law, separate from the King's council. Even then, the judicial and administrative roles never became completely separated into two bodies, as with the English Exchequer.
The term
Court of the Exchequer was only used of the Exchequer department during the Scottish administration of
Oliver Cromwell, between 1655 and 1659.
In 1707, the
Exchequer Court (Scotland) Act (6 Ann. c. 53) reconstituted the Exchequer into a court on the English model with a Lord Chief Baron and 4 Barons. The court adopted English forms of procedure and had further powers added to it.
From 1832 no new Barons were appointed, and their role was increasingly taken over by judges of the
Court of Session. By the
Exchequer Court (Scotland) Act 1856 (19 & 20 Vict. c. 56) the Exchequer became a part of the Court of Session. One of the Lords Ordinary acts as a judge in Exchequer causes. The English forms of process ceased to be used in 1947.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Exchequer'.
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