PRESENTMENTS AT COURTS LEET

Matters presented by the constables at courts leet 1716-1798. The lordship court leet was convened at Ruthin twice a year, the Easter leet meeting in April or May and the Michaelmas leet in September or October. They consist of:

• Precepts issued to the bailiffs to convene the leet on a given date, signed and dated on behalf of the lord by his chief steward (seneschal) or recorder.
• Lists of the constables and tithingmen meeting at the leet.
• Lists of jurors appointed to hear cases (defaulters were fined).
• Presentments by each constable of non-felonious matters to be drawn to the leet's attention from their district. In most cases they have 'nothing to present', the commonest complaints otherwise relating to highway or pavement repair and enclosures. The grand jury had to consider these and make its 'grand presentment'.
• Lists of residents.

Certain documents relating to each court leet are usually to be found in every bundle in this series.