Origin
The treatise was most likely written by Richard FitzNeal, Lord High Treasurer of the Exchequer under Henry II. The date of the book is disputed; it describes 6 circuits of itinerant justices; academics argue, therefore, that it must have been written before 1179, when the number of circuits was reduced to 4; this requires, however, that the changes to the circuits came into immediate effect, and Richardson argues that there is nothing in the Pipe Rolls to support this assumption. Other academics suggest either 1181 or 1188 as possible years. Divided into two books and written as a series of questions and answers between a learned lawyer and his pupil, the treatise first looks at the constitution of the Exchequer, analysing the Upper and Lower Exchequers individually and giving descriptions of their officers and jurisdiction. The second book describes the Exchequer "in practice", giving a layout of the proper way to plead cases and the timetable by which a case ran.
Read more about this topic: Dialogus De Scaccario
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