Royal Revenues

Question 1

What was Royal demesne?

Answer 1

Land held by King raised money through sales of crops and livestock
Tallages were paid by peasants and were greatly resented

Question 2

What was selling offices?

Answer 2

Positions such as sheriffs were bought

Charged men to retain the offices they had bought previously

Question 3

What was scutage?

Answer 3

Paid by tenants-in-chief instead of providing knight service
The King set the amount to be paid according to the amount of land held
The money was used to hire professional soldiers during war

Question 4

What were aids?

Answer 4

Taxes payable in exceptional circumstances

Question 5

What were feudal incidents?

Answer 5

Charges the King could make his vassals pay for ransoming the King if he was captured
Also included forest fines, inheritance fines and wardship( under age children who inherited land were looked after by the King until they came of age and had to pay for their land)

Question 6

What were court cases?

Answer 6

All fees for a writ starting a court case were paid to the King
Possessions of convicted criminals went to the King

Question 7

What was the role of the sheriffs?

Answer 7

Sheriffs had to collect taxes due from the Royal demesne

They could keep money they collected above the required sum