As a corollary to my conclusions on pp. [386]-7, I should like to allude to the well-known changes in 1178-80. Great importance is attached to the passage in the Gesta Regis Henrici, which describes how the king selected five justices 'de privata familia sua' in the place of the eighteen previously appointed, who as I read the passage, were to accompany his court. I cannot think that this reform, if it took place, enured, for the central body that we really meet with from 1179 onwards is, it seems to me, distinctly different. It consists of the Bishops of Winchester, Ely, and Norwich, whom, says R. de Diceto, in a passage to which the Bishop of Oxford rightly draws attention, Henry, in 1179, appointed 'archijustitiarios regni', with Glanvill, who soon became a chief justiciar with them. These four continue to hold a position severed from that of the other justices, of whom some act with them at one time and some at another. The earliest appearance at present known to me of this well-defined central group is at Oxford, February 11, 1180. We there find the three bishops associated with five justices, headed by Ranulf Glanvill, recorded on a fine. Now, we happen to know that the king was at Oxford about this very time, for he decided there on the issue of his new coinage.[4] His presence would account for this gathering of the four leading justiciars, so that we need not hesitate to connect the two phenomena. We have then here record evidence of the true personnel at the time of the central judicial body, together with the fact of its presence with the king, the fact which had not till now been proved, on his progress through the land.
[1] A, B, and C give this figure as 3 (p 141). Their own title requires 4.
[2] A, B, and C give this figure as 3 (p. 141), but elsewhere (wrongly) as 4 (p. 101).
[3] A gives this figure as 6 (p. 101), but B and C, rightly, as 7.
[4] So Eyton (p. 230), not giving his authority; nor have I found it.
INDEX
[A] | [B] | [C] | [D] | [E] | [F] | [G] | [H] | [I] | [J] | [K] | [L] | [M] | [N] |[O] | [P] | [Q] | [R] | [S] | [T] | [V] | [W] | [Y]
(Note: The Page number is the link to the reference. Pagex indicates that the reference is only, or mainly, in the Footnote.
Footnotes on an indicated page should be checked for additional imformation.)