BLACK BOOK

ZCHB/1

BLACK BOOK

1349-1411

The book was repaired and rebound probably in the late 18th or early 19th century, and for the purposes of this list, the text has been foliated from 1-32

The language of the entries is Latin except for some petitions which are in Anglo-French.

In all cases this list refers to the corresponding entries in the Pentice Cartulary list as far as they can be ascertained.

Only material new to the Cartulary has been given a full entry here.

f.1-6. As ZCHB/2 f.66-69v.

f.6. 6 Feb. year illegible.

Appointment by Thomas Pecok of R. de B. as his attorney, confirmed by the seal of the mayor and city of Chester.

f.6v.-7v.As ZCHB/2 f.69v.-70 - f.71 memorandum of exemption from jury service.

f.8. n.d.

Articles of great indictment ? being the charge to a grand jury.

f.8.-14.v. As ZCHB/2 f.71 9 July 1402 -f.77 the claim of the city of Chester.

f.15. 14 April. 7 after Henry IV.

An order not to proceed against the citizens in view of the liberties granted in their charters enrolled in the chancery. Anglo-French.

f.15-16v. As ZCHB/2 f.77v.-79 presentment of the Dee millers.

f.16v-17 n.d.

Chester, articles in itinerary ? being the heads of the charge to the jury by itinerant justices.

f.17-17v.n.d.

Articles of complaint in Anglo-French regarding the court leet of the Abbey as ZCHB/2 f.84-84.

f.17v Remainder blank

f.18 'aliqua' only

f.18v-19 Writing much faded

Appears to be as ZCHB/2 f.79v. 1400-04 presentment of fish mongers. 1408-9 return to a writ concerning Filkin of Shocklach.

f.19-20v. Returns to writs as ZCHB/2 f.80-81 directive exempting those 70 years and older from civic duties f20-20v. poor legibility.

f.21. As ZCHB/2 f.81 recognizance concerning gaol but clearly dated 20 November. ZCHB/2 reads 15 Nov.

f.21-21v. Poor legibility appears to be as ZCHB/2 f.81 4 Feb 1411 -f.81 v 1410-11 returns to writ of execution.

f.21v. As ZCHB/2 f.84v. 8 March ?1411 letter. Anglo-French.

f.22 As ZCHB/2 f.81v. 21 Apr. 1411 writ and return.

f.22 As ZCHB/2 f.84v. 8 Mar ?1411 letter see also f.21v. above.

f.22v-23 As ZCHB/2 f.81v. 23 Apr. 1411 but dated here 18 April - f.82 6 July 1331.

f.23v. Blank.

f.24-24v Letter dated 15 Feb. 1357/8 from Edward the Black Prince as ZCHB/2 f.83v.-84 here in Anglo-French and annotated that the present writ was written before.

f.24v. Temp. Henry IV.

John the cooper of Spitalboughton summoned Reginald son of ? the Welshman and accused him of breaking and entering his home and stealing 40s.

f.25 Writing very faded appears to be as ZCHB/2 f.82v. method of choosing men to supervise sale of meat.

f.25v-26 Precedents in a case of novel diseisin as ZCHB/2 .-83 writ of supersedeas.

f.26-26v. Letter to Hugh Holes as ZCHB/2 f.84v-85 but in Anglo-French.

f.26v. Writ to the bailiff of Broxton hundred as ZCHB/2 f.83-83v.

f.26v. Letter to James Strangways as ZCHB/2 f.85 but in Anglo-French.

f.27 Letter dated 15 Feb. 1357/8 as ZCHB/2 f.83v.-84 but in Anglo-French.

See also above f.24-24v.

f.27v. Writ dated 15 Nov. 1349 in Anglo-French from Edward the Black Prince quashing the indictment which follows of certain monks as appears in reverse order in ZCHB/2 f.77-77v.

f.27v-28 15 May temp. Rich ?II

Writ to Thomas Molyneux lieutenant to the justice of Chester stating that the city has jurisdiction over matters real and personal. Anglo-French.

f.28 Petition by the mayor and citizens in the case of novel diseisin as ZCHB/2 f.85-85v. but in Anglo-French.

f28v. Writing partly illegible letter dated 11 Feb. in Anglo-French and of similar tenor to that on f.26-26v. followed by the reply of Hugh Holes also in Anglo-French as ZCHB/2 f.85.

f.29 May 1405

Writ from Henry, Prince of Wales to the justice and chamberlain of Chester to refrain from intervening in the cases of novel diseisin concerning Hugh of Hope.

Anglo-French.

f.29v. blank.

f.30. 6 Nov. 1405

Writ from Henry, Prince of Wales to the justice and chamberlain of Chester concerning the case involving Hugh of Hope similar in tenor to that on f.29 above.

Anglo-French.

f.30v. 28 Nov. 1405.

Writ similar to above as ZCHB/2 f.85v.-86.

f.31-32v. Writing badly damaged possibly short pleas as ZCHB/2 f.90 onwards

Latin

The outer edges of many of the leaves have been torn and much of the writing is illegible or very difficult to read because the ink had faded.

This book compiled in the 15th century became separated from the corporation records in the course of time, coming eventually into the possession of Mr. Clement Tibbits, a solicitor, practising in Liverpool. He made it available to Canon R.H. Morris, who quoted it as "Tib" in 'Chester in the Plantagenet and Tudor Reigns' c.1894, p.iv. since then it has been returned to the custody of the corporation.

The Pentice Cartulary [ZCHB/2] in its introduction mentions an old Black Book of 30 leaves into which documents required for consultation as precedents had been copied in Latin, and that a copy of the Black Book translated into English had been compiled in another paper book during the second Mayoralty of Henry Gee, 1539-40. The latter volume has not been found, but the Pentice Cartulary was copied from it which probably accounts for omissions and additions in the text when compared with that of this volume. However the Pentice Cartulary follows the entries sufficiently closely both in matter and order from f.66 onwards for the identification of this volume as the original Black Book