Introduction
King Henry II built the foundations of the court system as we law as it is today. Henry wanted to make England a place of peace after years of conflict. Assizes played a significant role in transforming the legal system away from a fudal system and maintaining peace. Asssize were a session, or sitting, of a court of justice. Assize of Clarendon in 1166 was the first major step in transforming English law. As trial jury was a way where evidence and inspection came before the punishment. Inquiry was my under oath by freemen. This act would be eventually known as common law.
He was always working towards making a better and less disturbed country. One of his officials, Peter of Blois, commented: "With King Henry II it is school every day, constant conversation with the best scholars and discussions of intellectual problems... He does not linger in his palaces like other kings but hunts through
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The justiciar was the kings own representative. This made it easier for all subjects to get justice. Secondly, Henry brought increasing pressure to bear on his royal officials in the countryside, the sheriffs through the exchequer. The court was strengthened and the reforms first introduced by Henry I were re-implemented. For the first time a set of financial records and the pipe rolls were now kept. Now the court had a written memory. Debts due from the sheriff and not paid within a year were carried over to the next year and sheriffs that did not pay were put in prison. Thirdly, in 1166 Henry established the eyre system, having royal justices travel throughout the country. These justices not only heard royal pleas but also checked up on the sheriff to make sure they were administrating royal justice without fear or favor. This was formally introduced as the assize of Clarendon. It established that sheriffs and county justices had to hold all murders, robberies and thefts in their