Palatinate of Lancaster: Crown Court: Recognizances

PL 45

1529-1729

This series consists of:

• Mainprise rolls, sometimes called bail rolls, for the years 1529-1546. Each file consists of a cover membrane, on which are enrolled recognizances taken before the justices at assizes sessions, and the bills or bonds. Most relate to keeping the peace but a few provide for appearance at a future session or suspension of felonious activity.
• Files of recognizances taken before justices of the peace, the condition being attendance at future assizes sessions in order to prosecute bills of indictment, or to give evidence, or to answer charges. The series covers the years 1663-1702 with many gaps, and with two files of 1715 and 1729. Occasionally informations are included on the file but in general few details of the offences giving rise to the recognizances are provided. There is also a box of undated recognizances, 1633-1800.

The series includes files of bills of mainprise and recognizances which were formerly in PL 25, PL 26 and PL 28

Public Record(s)

English and Latin

103 file(s)

Destruction of recognizances 1715-1867 was authorised in a Public Record Office schedule of 1894, which accounts for the paucity of material after 1715.