The preceding chapter has dealt thematically with various aspects of the careers of royal servants; little has been said specifically about these themes in relation to particular areas of government. This was mainly for practical reasons, in that dividing up royal servants according to the nature of their work produces a number of very small categories with some individuals recurring in several; also it is often difficult to build up lists of all holders of an office during the reign. These problems apply rather less in the case of the shrievalty than to other areas of government, sheriffs being relatively numerous, their careers well documented, and their office being of such importance in the government of England as to suggest that a separate study of appointments is desirable.

Unlike many other royal servants, sheriffs held an established office, to which they were usually appointed for a term of years. Appointments to the office were of great moment to the crown: the king needed his revenues to be collected efficiently, his orders to be. carried out promptly, and the assurance that the office was in trustworthy hands. Beyond these basic considerations, however, other factors could come into play. Was the office to be used as a way of rewarding men for past services ? Was the king to appoint men who would collect as much money as possible for him? How far did local interests have to be accommodated? Were sheriffs to be left in situ for years, or replaced fairly quickly, possibly in response to changing political or administrative circumstances? These are some of the principal questions raised by the evidence which are tackled in this chapter.