Highest court of law in England in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, called the Queen's Bench during the reign of Elizabeth I, and the Upper Bench during Cromwell's Protectorate. Along with the Court of Common Pleas, it was one of the two King's courts residing in Westminster Hall. Originally, it was the principal court for criminal cases, and the place to hear disputes between the citizens and the King. It gradually became a civil court, alongside the Court of Common Pleas, serving also as an appellate court that had the jurisdiction to uphold or overturn judgments made in the Court of Common Pleas. It is now a division of the High Court of Justice.   Court of King's Bench From a 15th century manuscript. Courtesy of Inner Temple Library. Books for further study: Bellamy, John G. Criminal law and society in late medieval and Tudor England.            New York : St. Martin's Press, 1984. Blatcher, Marjorie. The Court of King's Bench, 1450-1550 : A Study in Self-Help.            London: University of London, the Athlone Press, 1978. Repr. 1990. Maitland, Frederic William. English Law and the Renaissance.            Cambridge: University Press, 1901.            (Repr. The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd., 2000) Potter, Harold. An Historical Introduction to English Law and Its Institutions.           London : Sweet & Maxwell, 1932. (4th ed. 1958) Article Citation: Jokinen, Anniina. “Court of King's Bench.” Luminarium.              19 Feb. 2002. [Date when you accessed the page].              <http://www.luminarium.org/encyclopedia/kingsbench.htm> to Early 17th Century English Literature Manuscript illustration of King's Bench copyright © Inner Temple Library.  Used with Permission. Site copyright ©1996-2002 Anniina Jokinen. All Rights Reserved. Created by Anniina Jokinen on February 19, 2002.