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Which three central courts applied English common law by the 13th century?
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Common law
Henry II (left) disputing with Thomas Becket (center), miniature from a 14th-century manuscript; in the British Library (Cotton MS. Claudius D.ii).
By the 13th century, the English common law was applied by three central royal courts that emerged from the king's council. These courts were:
- Court of Exchequer: Originally concerned with financial matters, it expanded its jurisdiction to include common-law business.12
- Court of Common Pleas: Established to hear civil disputes between individuals, it became the most active of the three courts and was permanently seated at Westminster Hall.12
- Court of King’s Bench: This court handled matters of particular concern to the crown and served as a supervisory body for other courts.12
While these courts applied the same body of law, they competed with one another to attract litigants by offering more effective legal remedies, a practice that helped shape the development of the English judicial system.2