Sub-series

WARRANTS TO DO JUSTICE

Catalogue reference: Sub-series within C 255

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Sub-series within C 255

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Reference: Sub-series within C 255
Title: WARRANTS TO DO JUSTICE
Note: These documents, addressed to sheriff or, increasingly from the reign of Richard II, bailiffs or officers of lesser jurisdictions, and on occasion to abbots and bishops (even the bishop of Durham (File 2 no. 4.)), show the intervention of the crown in courts of inferior but independent status in an attempt to procure for individuals justice that had been delayed. The slowness of justice is well illustrated by the returns. The first problem was to ensure that the court actually met and was not postponed for lack of adequate suitors (File 1 no. 16.) or aldermen. (File 1 no. 26.) Once met, justice could be delayed because suitors were of such contrary opinions that no judgement could be reached (File 1 no. 30.) or there were technical errors in the plea or the record. (File 1 nos. 19, 24, 28.) Even were a judgement reached, there were still obstacles to overcome. Defendants might flee beyond the jurisdiction (File 1 no. 36.) or distress prove impracticable. (File 2 no. 35.) Unfortunately it is not possible from these writs to estimate whether such intervention by the crown had any marked effect on the speed of justice in general or in the cases specifically mentioned in them.
Record URL: https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C64822/

C 255

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WARRANTS TO DO JUSTICE

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