Record Rolls and Books

RYE/33

Record Rolls and Books

1475-1835

The main record of the court was kept in roll form until 1497. Rolls survive for the years 1475/6, 1476/7, most of 1482/3 and fragmentarily for 1478/9, 1481/2, 1483/4 and 1487/8. From 1497 onwards the record is kept in book form and survives for the years 1497-1504, 1530-1665, 1670-85, 1690, 1691, 1724-1835. For the period 1662-1724 the record is very incomplete and additional entries will be found in the Rough Minutes (RYE/35/6-14) for the years 1665, 1666, 1669, 1670, 1672, 1673, 1682, 1690-2. The proceedings of this court for the period 1776-1828 were entered in the Sessions Book of the period (RYE/2/9). A full description of the early rolls and the first Record book are given below; a detailed calendar of the remaining 17 volumes is available.

The entries are brief and record only the formal steps in the hearing of the case, nor is any clear indication of the outcome or verdict usually recorded. The plea with the names of parties is entered under the heading of the first court at which it is heard and all subsequent steps are added, prefixed by the date, so that the whole record of each case is in one place. From these entries one must turn to the Plea Rolls (RYE/35) for the details of the plea and process.

English

6 rolls, 18 vols.

The earlier volumes are made up of rough gatherings, bound up, or rebound in the 18th century. RYE/33/14 (1575-80) is in a larger format and the succeeding 6 volumes to 1660 measure 17½ x 12 in. and are fair copies.