Constitutions of Clarendon
In the Constitutions of Clarendon of 1164, Henry II of England laid down the principle that “If a dispute shall arise...concerning advowson and presentation to churches, let it be treated and concluded in the court of the king”. While a controversial element in his (generally controversial) demarcation of church and state, in practice advowsons remained lay property in England; and some time after the 1166 Assize of Clarendon - probably around 1179 - Henry introduced the writ of Darrein Presentment, to provide a speedy judgement in cases of advowson dispute.