Court of Augmentations

Thomas Cromwell established the Court of Augmentations, also called Augmentation Court or simply The Augmentation in 1536, during the reign of King Henry VIII of England. It operated alongside three lesser courts (those of General Surveyors (1540–1547), First Fruits and Tenths (1540-1554), and Wards and Liveries (1540–1660)) following the dissolution of the monasteries (1536 onwards). The Court's primary function was to gain better control over the land and finances formerly held by the Roman Catholic Church in the Kingdom of England. The Court of Augmentations was incorporated into the Exchequer in 1554 as the Augmentation Office.