Sir Edward Belknap (died 1521) was active in the service of the English crown, both on the battlefield and as a court official, during the 15th and 16th centuries.
In August 1508, he was appointed to the newly created office of Surveyor of the King's Prerogative.
[3] This office gave him the power to appropriate the lands and property of anyone who had violated the king's prerogative in some way, such as conviction for a felony.
Additionally, the king instructed Belknap to collect debts that were owing to the Crown, as well as fines which the king himself often assessed for breaches of the law.
[4] Belknap's appointment was part of an effort by Henry VII to improve the royal finances.