scutage

Scutage was a tax collected from vassals in lieu of military service.

The tax known as scutage became particularly unpopular.

A system of special composition thus arose which largely replaced the old one of scutage.

Scutage was paid on Tracy's lands that year.

As between the tenants-in-chief, however, and their under-tenants, the payment of scutage continued.

Jocelin was one of the bishops in August 1214 who refused to pay a scutage to the king.

Henry expanded the system of scutage to reduce the monarchy's dependence on knights supplied from church lands.

Some have sent you knights and scutage and men at arms, and posted the call along to those they trust.

As feudal lord, the king had the right to collect scutage from the barons who held these honours.

Its provisions prohibited the crown from levying any scutage save by "the common counsel of our realm".

He had scutage for Poitou in 1214.

In 1161, Roger paid scutage on property in Dorset, which was probably his inheritance.

Like scutage, tallage was superseded by the subsidy system in the 14th century.

By 1219 he was assessed for scutage on over sixty knights' fees scattered over several shires.

Thus the scutage was introduced, whereby most Englishmen paid to escape their service and this money was used to create a permanent army.

This practice appears to have rested on the crown's right to decide whether to exact personal service or to accept scutage in lieu of service.

And three hundred knights is worth more than the one thousand mercenaries their fees in scutage would bring you, you will agree."

The payment of scutage rendered the crown more independent of the feudal levy and enabled it to pay for troops on its own.

The obligation was commuted very early for a fixed money payment, a form of scutage known as "castle-guard rent", which lasted into modern times.

Ay, and the King of kings, Or justice; for it seem'd to me but just The Church should pay her scutage like the lords.

Once a tenant-in-chief received a demand for scutage, the cost was passed on to the sub-tenants and thus came to be regarded as a universal land tax.

A clause of the charter provided that no scutage or aid (special tax) should be imposed without the approval of the general council of the kingdom.

The heavy scutage levy for the failed campaign was the last straw, and when John attempted to raise more in September 1214, many barons refused to pay.

On 8 October 1217 Fitzwalter's release from prison was ordered, and on 24 January 1218 the king granted him his scutage.

Scargill Bird's "Scutage and Marshal's Rolls" in Genealogist (1884), vol.