Fine rolls facts for kids
The Fine rolls were special financial records kept by the English government during the Middle Ages. They started during the time of King Henry III of England (1216–1272). A "fine" meant someone was willing to pay the king a sum of money. In return, they would get a special permission or favor, called a "concession." These payments were written down on long scrolls, which is why they are called the Fine rolls.
Why Historians Study Fine Rolls
For a long time, historians thought the Fine rolls were not as interesting as other old records. They didn't often talk directly about big political events. However, these rolls were very useful for understanding the king's money. For example, they show that King John received about £20,000 each year from these payments. His son, Henry III, received less than half that amount.
More recently, historians have found new ways to use the Fine rolls. They now use them to see the effects of important events, not just the events themselves. As historian David Carpenter explained, the rolls are "central to the politics, government, and society." This is because they touched many different kinds of people.
For instance, after the Magna Carta was reissued in 1216, the king's council worried about payments owed to widows. These payments, called "dower payments," were recorded in the Fine rolls. Another example is a record about the widow of Nigel de Mowbray. Henry III agreed that she could choose to stay unmarried or marry anyone she wished.
The Fine rolls also help us see how the English government grew over time. In 1913, a historian named T. F. Tout noticed something interesting. All the Fine rolls for Edward I's 35-year reign fit into one published book. But for his son, Edward II, whose reign was much shorter, two books were needed! This shows how much the government's record-keeping expanded.
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