The Assize of Northampton, largely based on the
Assize of Clarendon
The Assize of Clarendon was an act of Henry II of England in 1166 that began a transformation of English law and led to trial by jury in common law countries worldwide, and that established assize courts.
Prior systems for deciding the winning ...
of 1166, is among a series of measures taken by King
Henry II of England
Henry II (5 March 1133 – 6 July 1189), also known as Henry Curtmantle (french: link=no, Court-manteau), Henry FitzEmpress, or Henry Plantagenet, was King of England from 1154 until his death in 1189, and as such, was the first Angevin kin ...
that solidified the rights of the knightly tenants and made all possession of land subject to and guaranteed by royal law.
The assize is believed to have been passed at a council held in
Northampton
Northampton () is a market town and civil parish in the East Midlands of England, on the River Nene, north-west of London and south-east of Birmingham. The county town of Northamptonshire, Northampton is one of the largest towns in England ...
in January 1176.
Clarendon extended
The assize confirmed the offences to be brought forward by the
jury of presentment according to Clarendon, and added arson and forgery to the list. It also set down new and severe punishments that could be handed down, including the removal of an offender's right hand.
Aftermath of revolt
Following as it did the
Revolt of 1173–74, the Assizes included a wide-ranging oath of fealty (Item 6), as well as items concerning castles (8 and 11), insisting especially that "the justices see to it that the castles which have been destroyed are utterly demolished."
Administrative reforms
The assize is connected with the reorganisation of itinerant justices and contains instructions for six groups of justices appointed to tour the country. Bailiffs and
sheriff
A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland that is commonly transla ...
s were made answerable for their profits, as well as given powers to hold thieves. Clause 7 dealt with the introduction of important new legislation, chiefly the king's right to have certain cases brought into his court.
The Assize of Northampton is also the first official document to contain information on the question of seisin and disseisin, anticipating the later possessory assizes of ''
mort d'ancestor'' and ''
novel disseisin''.
Revenue
Crown revenue increased significantly following the Assize, reflecting the impact of the judicial eyres. As
G. M. Trevelyan put it, "The Justices were quite as busy collecting the King's revenues as enforcing the
King's peace. They were two sides of the same operation."
[G. M. Trevelyan, ''History of England'' (London 1926) p. 161]
See also
*
Assize of darrein presentment
In English law, the assize of darrein presentment ("last presentation") was an action brought to determine who was the last patron to appoint to a vacant church benefice - and thus who could next appoint - when the plaintiff complained that he was ...
*
Inquest of Sheriffs
References
{{UK legislation
Feudalism in England
History of Northampton
12th century in law
1176 in England
Medieval English law