Court of Wards and Liveries

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Acts of Parliament of predecessor states to the United Kingdom
Acts of English Parliament to 1601 Acts of English Parliament to 1641 Ordinances and Acts (War & Interregnum) to 1660 Acts of English Parliament to 1699 Acts of English Parliament to 1706 Acts of Parliament of Scotland Acts of Irish Parliament to 1700 Acts of Irish Parliament to 1800
Acts of Parliament of the United Kingdom
1707–1719 \| 1720–1739 \| 1740–1759 1760–1779 \| 1780–1800 \| 1801–1819 1820–1839 \| 1840–1859 \| 1860–1879 1880–1899 \| 1900–1919 \| 1920–1939 1940–1959 \| 1960–1979 \| 1980–1999 2000–Present
Acts of the Scottish Parliament
Acts of the Northern Ireland Parliament
Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Measures of the National Assembly for Wales
Orders in Council for Northern Ireland
United Kingdom Statutory Instruments

The Court of Wards and Liveries was a court established during the reign of Henry VIII in England. Its purpose was to administer a system of feudal dues, but as well as the revenue collection, the court was also responsible for wardship and livery issues.

It was established from 1540 by two Acts of Parliament (32 Henry VIII c. 46 and 33 Henry VIII c. 22).

In 1610 James I attempted to negotiate with Parliament a regular income of £200,000 pa in return for the abolition of the hated Court of Wards. While the negotiations failed, the episode showed Parliament that the Royal Prerogative could be up for sale. ^[1]

The Court ceased to have a function in the 17th century due to the abolition of feudal tenures by the Long Parliament in February 1646 (New Style)^[2]. The Court was abolished by a further Act (12 Charles II c. 24).

[edit] See also

William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester, first Master of the Court

[edit] References

^ Christopher Hill; God's Englishman; Oliver Cromwell...; Page 26; ISBN 0141390360;
^ 'February 1646: Ordinance for removing the Court of Wards.', Acts and Ordinances of the Interregnum, 1642-1660 (1911), p. 833. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=56121. Date accessed: 19 April 2007.