SCACCARIUM AARONIS

Lit.'Aaron's exchequer'. After the death of Aaron (the Jew) of Lincoln in 1185, a special department of the crown's *exchequer was created, his fortune and debts owed having escheated to the crown. Previously all his business had been done under royal protection. Apart from what the English king owed, among other debtors were the king of Scotland, the archbishop of Canterbury, several bishops, abbots and earls. Aaron had also provided the capital for the building of nine *Cistercian houses, and the abbeys of Peterborough and St Albans.