It originated in the fourteenth century, established in its final form by the Error From Queen's Bench Act 1584 (27 Eliz.

It was constituted of four judges belonging to the two courts that had been uninvolved at first instance.

[1] In cases of exceptional importance such as the Case of Mines (1568) and R v Hampden (1637)[2] twelve common law judges, four from each division below, sitting in Exchequer Chamber, might be asked to determine a point of law, the matter being referred by the court hearing the case rather than the parties.

[1] As a rule, a judgment of the Exchequer Chamber was considered the definitive statement of the law.

Certain judgments like Hampden (the case of ship money) caused political controversy.