Court of Chancery
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The Court of Chancery was a court of equity in England and Wales that followed a set of loose rules to avoid a slow pace of change and possible harshness of the common law. The Chancery had jurisdicti
c. 1725 painting of the Court of Chancery
The English king Edward I, during whose reign the chancellor's jurisdiction was established
Westminster Hall, where the Court sat almost continuously from the reign of Edward III until its dissolution in 1875
Lord Ellesmere, who worked to maintain the Chancery's ability to override the common law courts as lord chancellor
Earl of Oxford's case
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Earl of Oxford's case 21 ER 485 is a foundational case for the common law world, that held equity takes precedence over the common law.
Gargoyle of Benedict Spinola, who Magdalene College, Cambridge, believed had cheated them out of their land
Henry de Vere believed he should have title to certain land rather than Magdalene College, Cambridge. Chancery – the courts in equity – agreed; however, this provoked a disagreement between the courts, resolved by the Monarch advised by the Attorneys General.